Perfect hat-trick

Star scores twice, gets himself subbed off... then races to hospital to see his son born

HOW about this for a little belter from footballer Ryan Colclough…

The Wigan Athletic star scored two goals then rushed from the pitch just in time for the birth of son Harley Thomas.

After netting his first against Doncaster, Ryan spotted his dad in the crowd gesturing that wife Steph had gone into labour – which left his “head a bit battered”. So when he netted again in the 58th minute – and celebrated by cradling an imaginary baby – his manager substituted him and he drove straight to the hospital, in full kit.

Ryan got there with 30 minutes to spare. The winger, 22, said: “I went off, straight down the tunnel, grabbed my keys and phone and got off to hospital.

“I panicked a little bit and got there as quick as I could. I got there just in the nick of time. It’s been a great feeling to be honest, both on and off the pitch. It’s one I’ll never forget.” Ryan, who has another son, Miller, three, said both mother and child were doing well.

He tweeted following Tuesday’s drama: “I’m so happy to mark the birth of my second son with two goals and the win he made it a hat-trick for me.” After Wigan won 3-0, his teammate Max Power posted on the club’s website: “He couldn’t wait to get off the pitch, he was knackered.”

The League One side’s chairman, David Sharpe, tweeted: “Congrats to Ryan Colclough who scored a brace in our win before being substituted to make it in time to see the birth of his son.”

And assistant manager Leam Richardson added: “At half-time we got the message that his missus’ waters had broken. As soon as he got his second goal he was off the pitch, because his head was somewhere else.”

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YOUTH TEAM Ryan in full kit with son at hospital GOAL His joy