A half-time FreshChoice phone call they’ll never forget: Crusaders game turns into a special proposal

Last Friday night’s clash at One New Zealand Stadium delivered plenty on the field, but it was half-time that truly stole the show. 

During the FreshChoice Phone Call activation, longtime Crusaders fans Samie and Fee experienced a moment neither of them will forget in a hurry.  

The FreshChoice Phone Call has been lighting up Crusaders home games all season. One lucky fan who’s scanned into the game receives a call at half time. Answer it from your seat and you score a $1,000 FreshChoice voucher and a bag of goodies.  

On Friday night, Samie Beattie received that call. 

It quickly became something far more special and turned into a life changing “yes”, as Samie dropped to one knee and proposed in front of thousands of fans after receiving the call.  

Samie and Fee have been together for 15 years and have three children together – Ollie (15), Archie (11) and Millie (8). Despite all those years, Samie says marriage hadn’t really been on his radar. 

“I’d never really thought about weddings or getting married, until Christmas Day last year,” Samie says.  

“Fee had a few wines and told me what she thought about it, so I thought I’d better get into action and do something about it.” 

When the FreshChoice Phone Call rang out across the stadium, Samie knew exactly what he wanted to do. 

“I didn’t want to do a boring proposal and I always thought doing it on the big screen at a Crusaders game would be cool, so when I won the FreshChoice phone call, I took my chance to ask Fee to marry me,” he says. 

For Fee, the moment was overwhelming in the best possible way. 

“When he asked me, I couldn’t believe it, I was in shock and couldn’t stop shaking!” she says. 

The surprise didn’t stop there. Along with the proposal came the $1,000 FreshChoice voucher, which Fee says made an unforgettable moment even sweeter. 

“Getting engaged was special enough but to get a $1,000 FreshChoice voucher really topped it off,” she says. 

Being surrounded by red and black, with their children by their side, made it even more meaningful for the family. 

“We are huge Crusaders fans so to experience a life moment like that at a game was so cool and it was really special to have the kids there with us to witness it. A family memory we will never forget,” says Fee.  

Samie echoes that sentiment, reflecting on a lifetime of support for the club. 

“We have been Crusaders fans our whole life, right from the Jade Stadium days. It’s been more special since having kids and bringing them along to enjoy the games too.” 

FreshChoice says moments like this are exactly what the partnership with the Crusaders is about. 

“Our partnership with the Crusaders is all about connecting with local communities and sharing in the moments that matter to Kiwis. The FreshChoice Phone Call has been an incredibly fun way to bring stadium crowds together all season, but Friday night took it to a completely new level, and we never imagined the activation would host a live proposal. 

“To play a small part in such a massive, life changing milestone for two fans was an absolute privilege. We are absolutely thrilled for the happy couple, and it’s fair to say this is one activation the FreshChoice team will never forget.” 

And on a night that already delivered a big result on the field, the unforgettable “yes” in the stands made Friday one for the history books.