Boston couple support different teams, sit at opposite ends of stadium

By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS

A married couple will attend an FA Cup soccer semi-final after traveling more than 3,000 miles from home - but will be sitting at opposite ends of the stadium.

Caroline Oatway, 32, is a Manchester City fan but hubby Shaun Littler, also 32, is a diehard Sheffield United supporter.

The couple were watching the moment when the teams were drawn to play against each other at Wembley on April 22 live from their home in Boston, MA.

They decided to get tickets - in their clubs' respective ends.

The pair will even travel down to Wembley Stadium separately as Caroline plans to go with her friends while Shaun will travel with his family.

But they've said they will meet up before the match for a friendly beer and to 'wish each other luck.'

Caroline, originally from Manchester, UK, is confident her side will win but admits it's 'going to be a long flight' back home next week for whoever's team loses.

She said: "I certainly hope City are going to win.

"On paper, they definitely should but football (soccer) doesn't work that way and I've followed City long enough to know that they don't always work that way.

"It should be comfortable for us...but who knows.

"We keep saying it's going to be a long flight for one of us.

"We don't actually fly until next Thursday so there is a little bit of a cooling down period from now and then."

She added: "We were watching the draw live and we just knew it was going to happen.

"I wish we had recorded our reactions because there was about 30 seconds of silence with our heads in our hands.

"It was the draw neither of us wanted really because Sheffield United obviously wanted the best chance of reaching the final.

"The next couple of weeks are going to be interesting living with Shaun and then seeing his family of Sheffield United fans."

Shaun, who works in financial recruitment, said that the couple didn't want the draw initially, but they realized it would be a 'great day' for them both.

He said: "It's a funny one really because it's the draw neither of us wanted."

"I think then we realized what a great day it will be for us as individuals and as a couple and for our families as well."

Shaun thinks Sheffield United will 'probably get beaten by about four or five goals' and that Manchester City will win.

Shaun, originally from Sheffield, UK, said: "My head says that we will probably get beaten by about four or five goals.

"My heart says that you never know and it's 90 minutes.

"I look back at the Wigan FA final in 2013 and they beat Manchester City - they were massive underdogs.

"Nobody ever gave them a slight chance of winning and they ended up beating them with a last-minute goal.

"We'll just be hoping for the best."

Caroline, a sports journalist, said: "We are planning to have a pint together and it will be me and my Manchester City friends and Shaun and his family.

"We said we would have a friendly pint and wish each other luck.

The couple, have been together since 2009 after meeting on MSN.

Sheffield United and Manchester City have played each other just four times since Shaun and Caroline got together, and every single time Manchester City won.

After a game in 2019 where Sheffield United's goal was disqualified, Caroline said that after the match, Shaun came 'stomping up' to her, and his face 'was like thunder.'

She said: "It's good fun actually because City has won every game which is obviously good for me!"