Chelsea ace Frank Lampard was in the high-brow Wine & Co. (pictured above) during his visit with new WAG Christine Bleakley to Northern Ireland last week. Beeb beauty Christine no doubt had her new man over to meet the 'Ma and Da' in their native Newtownards. In an attempt to win them over Frank even splashed the cash in a local shop by picking up a quick gift for Mr and Mrs Bleakley, allegedly. I bet you can't get 10 Curley-Wurley's for a pound in Harrods!
As expected speculation had been rife in the seaside town regarding a potential move for the highly rated England star in the up-and-coming January transfer window. However, the negotiations apparently broke down when Frank was informed he couldn't be guaranteed first-team football. It was a tough call from the Holywood FC management, but the right one in my opinion. Maybe Bangor Swifts would be interested?
The town itself is famous for its Maypole (a big pole people dance around once a year) just next to the venue the loved-up couple were visiting. Its origin is uncertain, but according to local folklore it dates from 1700, when a Dutch ship is said to have run aground on the shore nearby, and the crew erected the broken mast to show their appreciation of the assistance offered to them by the townsfolk.
For me, Frank Lampard was the biggest foreign import to hit the streets of Holywood since the falling of that much-loved Maypole in the mid-ninties! Although, I'm not so sure about Christine's decision to whisk 'Funtime Frankie' off to the Dirty Duck Ale House to round off the night. The last time I was there I was told to cover up my football shirt as it was "strictly a rugby bar" - I wonder what they thought of an actual footballer gracing their hallowed egg-ball supporting surroundings.
Anyway, thanks for dropping by Frank and Christine. It just goes to show, Posh & Becks weren't the only ones to take
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PS: Cheers for the picture Bernard! ;)
