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Groom made football mascot on his stag do

Charlotte Benton
BBC News, West Midlands
Felicity Kvesic
BBC Radio H&W
Chris Jepson A man in a red and white stripe football shirt walking out from the tunnel onto a football pitch. He is also wearing a red team scarf and black gloves. There is a football player in grey behind him and the crowd can be seen to the right. The man is wearing glasses and is looking to the right of the shot. Chris Jepson
Vincent van der Lugt was visiting Birmingham and decided to head down to the Victoria Ground

A stag-do groom from the Netherlands was given a surprise when he and his friends attended a match in Worcestershire - acting as team mascot and leading players out onto the pitch.

Vincent Van Der Lugt from Weert had the starring role at Bromsgrove Sporting FC after his friends spent months talking to the club to plan the surprise.

"I thought it was just hilarious and exactly something my friends would arrange for me," he said.

The group of university friends now live all across Europe and chose to travel to nearby Birmingham for the get-together as it was "an easy location" for everybody to travel to.

The best man, Adam Otway, said he first had the idea for his friend to be a mascot after Mr Van De Lugt mentioned he wanted the stag do to involve either football, or Formula 1.

"Seeing as I'm a Yorkshire man I decided to throw Formula 1 out of the window as I knew it would cost a fortune, so I started to reach out to football clubs," he added.

Matt Foden from Bromsgrove Sporting said they were the first to get back to the group.

"By chance we play in the same colours as Vincent's team in the Netherlands," he added.

Mr Van De Lugt supports the professional Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, who also wear red and white.

Chris Jepson A group of men standing together on a football pitch. Two men are on one knee at the front, with eight others around them in a semicircle. The sky is grey in the background and the top of a few trees and buildings can be seen. The men are all wearing winter coats and dark trousers, aside from the man in the centre who has his arms crossed and is wearing a red and white striped football shirt. Chris Jepson
The stag do were taken on a tour of the stadium before meeting the club's players and manager.

The club arranged for the stag do to take part in their half-time game of "chip the bin" which is normally played by a member of the junior team.

"I was so surprised, but also excited. Everybody knew who I was and they were singing 'You're getting married in the morning'. It was a great day and very memorable," said Mr Van Der Lugt, whose wedding is in April.

The club's fans and volunteers made the day "particular special" for the group, Mr Foden said.

"They reserved an area for them in the bar, sorted out a full kit and some memorabilia for Vincent, then I took them on a tour of the stadium and to meet the players and manager."

Listen: Netherlands man has stag do at Bromsgrove Sporting

Sadly Saturday's game ended in a 1-0 loss for Bromsgrove against Leiston in the Southern League Premier Central, but the stag do remained in high spirits.

"Everybody in Bromsgrove was so friendly and made Vincent so welcome. They even arranged to the play the Dutch national team song over the PA. It was just the best day", Mr Otway said.

"We will definitely be back, we used to meet up to watch the FA Cup but now we're going to come to Bromsgrove", he added.

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