THERE was a rare double for Hartlepool United at the weekend when two star players took part in perfect matches.

Midfielders Ian Clark and Mark Tinkler swapped the football pitch for the church aisle on Saturday as they both tied the knot.

Ian and his bride, Lindsay Baverstock, were first up the aisle at St Michael's Church, Norton-on-Tees.

They were accompanied by their three-year-old daughter, Megan, as bridesmaid.

The couple met six years ago and fixed their wedding date before Ian's team-mate proposed to his girlfriend, Julie-Anne Peacock.

Sadly the clashing fixtures meant the team-mates could not cheer each other on as they enjoyed the biggest day of their lives.

Mark and Julie exchanged vows at St Andrew's Church, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, with their daughter, Olivia, as bridesmaid.

Both grooms had been in vigorous training to give their wedding speech as had Ian's best man, Hartlepool's central defender, Graeme "Spike" Lee.