Burnley FC legend Ian Britton marries

Ian Britton (58) wed Eileen Bayliss (63) at Burnley Register Office in Todmorden Road on Friday in front of 60 guests from around the globe.

Ian, who lives in Barrowford, scored the most important goal in Burnley Football Club’s history to keep the Clarets in the Football League in 1987.

He was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and has been told his illness is incurable.

But the dad-of-four was all smiles as he married Eileen, who wore a gold-coloured knee-length dress and matching jacket and fascinator, before boarding a white double decker bus with the message “Congratulations Mr & Mrs Britton” to the reception venue, the Cross Gaits in Blacko. The wedding party also stopped off for a glass of bubbly at Turner’s in Barrowford along the way.

Former Clarets Willie Irvine and Andy Lochhead were among the wedding guests, along with David Stride, who played football with Ian at Chelsea.

Ian, who has two grandchildren, said they had had the perfect day and thanked wellwishers for their support.

“It couldn’t have gone any better,” he said.

“It was absolutely brilliant. It was great for all the family to be together. I had family come down from Scotland and two of Eileen’s friends came over from Australia. Eileen really enjoyed it and she won’t even have to change her initials.

“Her son was there too and we’d like to thank everybody who came to the wedding, everyone who’s supported us and all the doctors, they have been brilliant.”

The couple planned a weekend full of celebrations before travelling to Jersey for their honeymoon.