All timeless love stories document how two people overcome adversity and defy the odds to live happily ever after - but the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has found a tale that makes Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet look like a children’s bed-time story!
Lisa and James Collis have been happily married for two years but fate has conspired to test whether these two star-crossed lovers are meant to be, in the form of a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.
In a twist that couldn’t be imagined by the best script writers, Lisa and James will be attending Wembley on March 25, not with each other, but with their respective clubs of Chesterfield and Swindon Town!
Both have followed their teams fiercely since early childhood and couldn’t believe what was unfolding before their eyes as this year’s competition progressed to the latter stages.
“As it was coming closer to the final, we couldn’t believe that both Swindon and Chesterfield were in with a chance of making it to Wembley.
Once we realized they were both still in the competition at the Area Finals stages, we definitely had a feeling that they would meet in the final and decided there was no chance we would be sitting together,” said die-hard Chesterfield fan Lisa.
The couple met nine years ago when James moved from Swindon to live in Chesterfield. From there the relationship blossomed, with James even taking Lisa to a Swindon Town match against Sheffield Wednesday for a second date!
And this wasn’t to be the last time the pair’s love-quest would intertwine with the Robins and Spirerites.
As newly-weds, the couple travelled to New York on their honeymoon, which happened to clash with Swindon Town’s fateful League One playoff match against Millwall, which James managed to watch from across the Atlantic!
The football loyalties, or perhaps more accurately divisions, have been passed down to their two young children too. Sophie Collis, aged 6, has followed in her mother’s footsteps by inheriting the blue gene; while five-year-old Jack is a passionate Swindon Town follower.
But as history has taught the world, love conquers all!
Lisa continued: “We’re very loyal to our football teams but even closer as a family. We’ll be on opposite sides for ninety minutes or so but like all good love stories there’ll be a happy ending when we get home… especially if Chesterfield win!”
So forget the House of Montegues or Capulets. The House of Collis is the classic love story of our time!
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