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A bridge too far for earl's daughter
FOR any Chelsea fan, the towering football stadium of Stamford Bridge is an unmistakable and iconic image.
But the west London ground proved to be a bridge too far for one of Earl Spencer's daughters, who found herself in Yorkshire instead of the home of the Blues for a Premiership showdown with Arsenal.
A blunder with satellite navigation saw a taxi hired to take the teenager and a friend on the 85-mile trip from Northamptonshire to the capital end up instead at Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire.
The Althorp estate, which is owned by the Earl, yesterday confirmed the mistake, but stressed that the matter was being sorted out "amicably".
However, Paul Achiampong, the red-faced owner of the firm involved, Northampton-based Mayfair Taxis, was yesterday due to meet the Earl, the brother of Diana, Princess of Wales, to apologise for the embarrassing mistake.
Mr Achiampong said: "We do 20,000 journeys a month and mistakes do happen every now and again. But I admit this is a big one. But the fault was with my control staff, not the driver.
"He ended up there by putting Stamford Bridge into his sat-nav and it said it was in the north of England.
"He checked that was right and it was confirmed by the controller.
"I'm still trying to figure out how that was possible, it's baffling."
Earl Spencer's daughter had managed to get tickets for one of the Premiership season's most eagerly-anticipated fixtures when Chelsea faced Arsenal on Easter Sunday.
But instead of witnessing The Blues' dramatic comeback, which saw Didier Drogba's double inspire Chelsea to a 2-1 victory over Arsenal, the teenager found herself 229 miles away on the border of East and North Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire village of Stamford Bridge, eight miles east of York with a population of about 3,500, was the scene of a fierce battle between English forces and Viking invaders in 1066 – but is far removed from the hustle and bustle of west London.
Retired social worker Bryan Lawson, who has lived in the village for 20 years with his wife, Patricia, is a former parish councillor and is the chairman of the Stamford Bridge In Bloom committee.
Mr Lawson, an Arsenal fan, said: "The village is a wonderful place to come and visit, but sadly you will not get to see a lot of Premiership football up here. We do have a village football team, but it is not quite up to the standard of Chelsea.
"I must admit I was disappointed with the result, and in many ways I am glad I was up here rather than the other Stamford Bridge to see Arsenal lose."
The Stamford Bridge stadium, on the border of Fulham and Chelsea, has a capacity of 42,055, and its complex includes two hotels, apartments, bars and a restaurant.
A spokeswoman for the Althorp estate declined to confirm which of the Earl's three daughters had been involved in the sat-nav mix-up.
But she added: "One of Earl Spencer's daughters and her friend had tickets for Chelsea versus Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Easter Day.
"The driver, from Mayfair Taxis, took them to Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire instead, so they missed the game.
"Mayfair's owner has apologised, and has promised to sort this matter out amicably."
Althorp, which is about six miles to the north-west of Northampton, has been the home of the Spencer family since the late 15th century.
Tens of thousands of visitors have travelled to the estate to see the grave of Princess Diana, who is buried on an island surrounded by a lake in the grounds of the stately home after she died 11 years ago with her lover Dodi Fayed following a car crash in Paris.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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