MY DAD’S A MIRACLE!

Boro star Adam Clayton on his father’s battle for life that ended with an NHS standing ovation

FEW footballers have ridden an emotional rollercoaster more during the Covid-19 crisis than Middlesbrough’s Adam Clayton.

The midfielder and his family have gone through hell, with his father Steve on the brink of death during a harrowing 51 days in intensive care having been struck down by coronavirus in March.

But this week, Clayton shed tears of joy watching doctors and nurses give his dad a guard of honour as he left North Manchester Infirmary’s ICU unit after winning his survival battle.

It has been a bittersweet period for the 31-year-old, who before lockdown was embroiled in a relegation dogfight at the Riverside.

Two months before sport ground to a halt, Clayton’s wife Mandi gave birth to daughter Bea, but joy was laced with despair when his father became ill.

And for the past seven weeks, the family have felt helpless. “Dad was in an induced coma 22 years ago and probably just as close to passing away back then,” said Clayton.

“He had underlying health conditions so there were days when we wondered if we would get the worst news.

“One day, his heart failed and the nurses managed to bring him around. Another day his kidney went, and another day his lungs.

“Every two days something was going wrong so I spoke to the doctor and said, ‘Look, tell me straight, do I need to get my mum ready for the worst?’.

“His response wasn’t brilliant – he was saying it is below 50-50 but in my head it was already lower than that.

“I thought it was 10 per cent. So when he said 50-50, it was kind of a relief weirdly.

“I know the sort of mentality my dad has so after that day I didn’t stop worrying but I thought he’d make it.”

It was an agonising time for

Clayton, and even worse for his mum.

“The silent side of this disease is I couldn’t go around and give her a cuddle,” he told BBC Five Live.

“She only has my younger brother in the house, while I’ve a new-born. For her, it’s been murder. It’s a really tough one day to day for the loved ones.”

But there was a joyous ending for them all with Clayton senior being wheeled out of hospital to return to his Manchester home.

The Boro star added: “We got an idea he was leaving about an hour before and they Facetimed Mum as it was happening. Then we got the videos in the next five or 10 minutes.

“After the long journey we have been on, just to see him, moving, talking and on the road to recovery, it brought a tear to the eye.

“I think we must have watched it about 50 times in the last four or five hours.”

With Championship clubs due to resume training soon, no footballer is better qualified to talk about Project Restart than Clayton.

He admits having mixed feelings with so many people still dying of Covid-19.

“It’s a tough one,” he added. “No one wants to be out on the pitch more than me. I’ve missed football unbelievably.

“But it’s what it can do to loved ones. I don’t think the fear in football is getting it ourselves but it could still have damaging effects. It’s more about if I go to work and bring it back to my daughter or my dad, that’s the worry I have.

“Ultimately it’s up to players to make the decision.”

here are determined to do is not become embroiled in the public rows that have engulfed Scottish football since Covid-19 reared its ugly head. Along with the top flight clubs in Northern Ireland, IFA chief executive Patrick Nelson (left) took part in the video conference to discuss the thorny subject of funding for Irish League sides. After the meeting the IFA issued a statement declaring that any return to training for players and competitive fixtures “must be signed off by our own medical advisers and those from the government”. Due to the coronavirus pandemic there has been no Irish League football since early March and there is growing pressure among clubs that the powers that be should end this season and then come up with a way to decide on titles, European places, promotion and relegation. Linfield are four points clear of Coleraine at the top with seven games left while at the bottom Institute trail Warrenpoint Town by three points. UEFA must be informed by May 25 if an extension is required to finish the Irish League season though there are suggestions that deadline may be extended. The Championship, Intermediate and Women’s Premiership committees will meet today with NIFL hoping to make an announcement tomorrow though whether it will make the situation FAMILY MAN Adam with father Steve, who won his battle for life, and (left) the football ace with wife Mandi and their daughter Bea any clearer remains to be seen. Outlining that Nelson and chief operating officer Sean Murphy had been invited, the IFA stated: “We welcomed the opportunity to discuss how the IFA has responded since the outbreak of Covid-19 and how we have strived to support and protect football at all levels. “This included sharing insight with the Northern Ireland Executive around ensuring football is included in the different financial support schemes available. “We agreed the health and well-being of participants is the most important aspect of any plans to return to training and competitive fixtures. They must be signed off by our medical advisers and those from the government.”