Jonny Evans and future bride Helen McConnell
Clough Presbyterian church
Jonny Evans Man Utd
The tiny village of Clough is expecting some big stars when Jonny Evans marries the local minister's daughter
The tiny rural village of Clough is gearing up for the arrival of a host of Manchester United stars – as wedding bells begin to chime.
Residents of the Co Antrim village, not far from Ballymena, were tight-lipped this week as preparations for the celebrity wedding of the year near completion.
On June 1 Northern Ireland and Man United centre back Jonny Evans will say, “I Do” when he ties the knot with his girlfriend Helen McConnell.
Helen, a presenter on the club’s own MUTV channel, shouldn’t have any nerves walking down the aisle as she knows Clough Presbyterian Church pretty well – her father Ken is the Minister.
Apparently church-goers have been sworn to secrecy as the finishing touches are put to the wedding plans.
And excitement has reached fever pitch among locals as they speculate about who will attend the wedding and luxury bash that follows.
The venue for the reception remains a tightly kept secret with the smart money going on the Galgorm Manor Resort and Spa.
The guest-list is being kept top secret but a host of United stars including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs are expected to attend.
And Sir Alex Ferguson, who stepped down as manager of the club last week, is also expected to take in the ceremony.
Helen was by Jonny’s side during the team’s victory parade around Manchester on Monday having wrapped up this season’s Premier League title.
Live on MUTV Helen asked her fiance what his plans are for the summer.
“I’m getting married in about three weeks – to you Helen,” he replied.
Details of the ceremony and reception are being kept very quiet, with only a handful of people within the church privy to any information about the big day.
“It’s all whispers at the minute,” one member of the congregation told us.
“When Helen and Jonny got engaged it was kept quiet for a few weeks but it soon got out round the church.
“They’ve been much more careful this time. We know the date but that’s about it.”
Speaking previously the Rev McConnell said he didn’t want to comment on the details of the wedding.
But the Man United-supporting clergyman said he was delighted to be welcoming Jonny into his family.
“Everything about Jonny towards us has been very respectful since he started seeing Helen.
“They are a very private couple, that’s the way they are. Jonny has a very supportive family network and he’s very close to his family.
“He’s very kind, very thoughtful, and we found that since the start. He’s an exceptionally nice lad and we’re very fond of him.
“You hear these things about footballers being all bling and flash with no substance, but that’s not the way he is.”
Jonny has been to the church with Helen for Sunday services several times over the past year.
The pair – both 25 – officially became an item early in 2011.
Jonny was smitten by the blonde presenter and model for Style Academy Belfast after she interviewed him for United’s TV station MUTV.
Helen, like Jonny a lifelong United fan, landed the job as a host on the station after a stint freelance reporting on Irish League games and other sports.
Her brother Nathan is a former Cliftonville and Ballymena United player.
Jonny splashed out on a £2.2m mansion in Manchester when he became a mainstay in the squad.
But the young couple agreed not to live together until after they are married due to her strong religious beliefs.
Whispers were circulating in sporting circles of the blossoming romance months before Jonny and Helen officially announced they were dating.
After a heavy defeat at the hands of bitter rivals Manchester City last season one columnist noted that Evans “managed to escape criticism on MUTV after his red card” which played a crucial part in United getting beaten 6-1.
The columnist joked: “In the post-match analysis, fans were left wondering why such little time was spent discussing the game’s turning point.
“I think we now know... it seems pretty presenter Helen McConnell has a bit of a soft spot for the Northern Irishman, and my Old Trafford moles reckon the pair have been getting very cosy.”
His boss Sir Alex Ferguson is sure to be delighted. He previously said: “Marriage helps footballers, I’ve always thought that. I’m an advocate of that.”