NEWPORT COUNTY goalkeeper Joe Day kept a clean sheet in his side’s historic FA Cup victory over Middlesbrough on Tuesday, before discovering his wife had given birth to twins.
After Irishman Pádraig Amond scored to seal the famous win against a team ranked 57 places above League Two’s County, television cameras showed Day racing off the pitch.
He then discovered his wife Lizzie had given birth to twin daughters Sophia and Emelia during the first half.
Twin daughters born at the Royal Gwent Hospital, an FA Cup giant killing, and a clean sheet all in one special night.
Read more from when @NewportCounty Joe Day and wife Lizzie spoke with the Health Board https://t.co/cXf4jzul4j pic.twitter.com/fo3b5XSrss
— Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (@AneurinBevanUHB) February 6, 2019
“We always knew there was a chance the birth would fall during the match, but Lizzie backed me and made it an easy decision for me to play the game,” Day told the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
The keeper had missed the original tie against Middlesbrough to be with his pregnant wife but returned for the replay.
Despite her waters breaking as Day was travelling to the game, she told him to focus on the match.
👶👶 | A huge congratulations to ‘Keeper Joe Day and his wife Lizzie who gave birth to twins Sophia Grace Day and Emelia Lillie Day last night.
Mother Lizzie and the two girls are all healthy and already looking forward to the #EmiratesFACup Fifth Round! 🏆#OneClubOneCounty 💛 pic.twitter.com/dzJu9oMCRS
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) February 6, 2019
Checking on her at full-time, she revealed the children had already been born and Day headed straight for the Royal Gwent Hospital.
“The care here at the Royal Gwent Hospital has been amazing – with Joe not being here, they couldn’t have looked after me more,” said Lizzie.
After becoming a father to twins and keeping a clean sheet to help his side to the FA Cup fifth round for only the second time in their history, Day and the Exiles now have a date with Premier League champions Manchester City.
The sides meet in the next round of the FA Cup on Saturday, February 16 at County’s Rodney Parade ground in a game that could take the League Two side’s cup earnings to more than £1million.
See More: FA Cup, Joe Day, Newport County
