Blind Date contestant Warren failed to find love in Russia - but he still got a match for his football team.
Warren Root, 26, of Hainault Avenue, Rochford, was picked from three hopefuls in a new episode of the TV show, to be screened this autumn.
He was whisked off on an all expenses paid trip to St Petersburg in Russia with Fiona from Manchester.
But although love didn't blossom with Fiona, Warren said he had a great time, and would be returning to St Petersburg with his football team, Rayleigh Lodge Athletic, of which he is captain.
He said: "Fiona was very nice - there was no romance or anything, but I found a very good friend.
"While I was out their I got talking to the tour guides and arranged for my team to fly to St Petersburg and take part in a tournament."
Warren, who is service manager for Essential Fire Protection in Hertfordshire, auditioned for Blind Date when the show came to the Cliffs Pavilion looking for hopefuls.
He added: "I was surprised Fiona picked me though - there were three of us and we were all fairly good looking, but what made it funny was Fiona said she didn't like posh guys, the Welsh or cockneys, which counted us all out!"
Bootiful - Blind Date contestant Warren lost out on love in Russia, but set up a soccer match
Picture: ANDY PALMER
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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