A beauty queen and a footballer tied the knot as one of the biggest games in British sporting history kicked off in 1966.

Celebrating 50 years of marriage this year, Vi Wyatt and John Cunningham met at the altar of Our Lady Christian church in Rickmansworth on July 30 1966, just as England were gearing up to play West Germany at Wembley.

As well as the couple becoming man and wife on the same day as the monumental match, the ceremony itself began as the first whistle sounded at 3pm.

Mrs Cunningham, 73, said: “At any chance they could, guests would rush to their cars to tune in to the radio to catch up on the score. We actually booked our wedding before the world cup date was announced, so my husband was not very happy.”

Mrs Cunningham worked for the NHS at Harperbury Hospital and Leavesden Hospital and Mr Cunningham, now 79, was the captain for Cassiobury College football team and worked for a window fitting company. The couple met at a dance at Oakley Studios, Clarendon Road in 1960.

She said: “He saw me and he was with his friends. They jeered at him to come over to me. So, he came over. We danced and at the end of the night he asked me if I would see him again, when I said yes I think he was quite surprised!”

Looking back on her wedding day, Mrs Cunningham said: “All the dinners were cold because the men were at the bar, they were only there to listen to the football. Guests kept having to go out to fetch people to make their speeches.

“When England won the match the whole reception went mad, the drinks were flowing in celebration. My manager at the time had popped in to say hello. He had so much to drink that we had to take him back home with us at the end of the night and put him in a cab!”

Mrs Cunningham came second place in a Miss Rickmansworth competition in 1960 and won Princess of Service for all the shops in a competition in which the contestants were tested on their sales techniques and manner.

As well as being Cassiobury captain, Mr Cunningham played for Watford Labour Club F.C.

The couple have lived in Garston for 50 years and are planning their first move this July to Salisbury. They have two daughters – Caroline Offord and Sharon Cunningham.

Mr and Mrs Cunningham are planning a low key celebration for their golden anniversary with their family on July 30.