A romantic event happened in a South Australian match last weekend as a player proposed to his partner after scoring a goal.
The 28-year-old had a T-shirt with the words "marry me Nik" custom-made, which he had kept hidden in his kit bag, and invited her family to come watch him play.
After finding the back of the net in the 25th minute, Flanagan ripped off his Strikers jersey and ran towards Pelliccia and her family on the sideline.
At that point, Flanagan's injured teammate Michele Lastella threw him an engagement ring as he was getting down on one knee.
"I saw him rip his shirt off and I was thinking he was just showing off like the players do on TV," Pelliccia told The Advertiser.
"As he got closer, I realised what was happening and I was speechless. I had no idea it was coming.
"After that everyone was too busy looking at the ring to watch the game."
The problem for Flanagan was that amid the commotion and congratulations, he was not sure Pelliccia said yes and had to wait until half-time to get confirmation.
She added: "When it happened, I kissed him and gave him a big hug but I didn't have time to say yes.
"At half-time he was running to the changerooms and asked me 'did you say yes or not?' I said 'yes, of course.'"
The couple are now planning a summer wedding in Adelaide, possibly early next year.
Felicia said: "It's nice that I've got the T-shirt to keep forever and we've got a video of it we can show the kids one day."
A former Manchester United trainee, Flanagan moved to Adelaide four years ago after the then-teenage prodigy's life was turned upside down following a car crash in a street racing which incensed Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 28-year-old had a T-shirt with the words "marry me Nik" custom-made, which he had kept hidden in his kit bag, and invited her family to come watch him play.
After finding the back of the net in the 25th minute, Flanagan ripped off his Strikers jersey and ran towards Pelliccia and her family on the sideline.
At that point, Flanagan's injured teammate Michele Lastella threw him an engagement ring as he was getting down on one knee.
"I saw him rip his shirt off and I was thinking he was just showing off like the players do on TV," Pelliccia told The Advertiser.
"As he got closer, I realised what was happening and I was speechless. I had no idea it was coming.
"After that everyone was too busy looking at the ring to watch the game."
The problem for Flanagan was that amid the commotion and congratulations, he was not sure Pelliccia said yes and had to wait until half-time to get confirmation.
She added: "When it happened, I kissed him and gave him a big hug but I didn't have time to say yes.
"At half-time he was running to the changerooms and asked me 'did you say yes or not?' I said 'yes, of course.'"
The couple are now planning a summer wedding in Adelaide, possibly early next year.
Felicia said: "It's nice that I've got the T-shirt to keep forever and we've got a video of it we can show the kids one day."
A former Manchester United trainee, Flanagan moved to Adelaide four years ago after the then-teenage prodigy's life was turned upside down following a car crash in a street racing which incensed Sir Alex Ferguson.
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