Sunday Mail (UK)

HIBS STARS’ DELIGHT OVER BABY DAUGHTER My girl is great on the bawl and loves to dribble. I’m sure she’ll be a Scotland player too one day

Footballer on how she feared missing World Cup qualifier

- Jenny Morrison

Scotland star Rachael Small has celebrated the pitch-perfect delivery of her baby daughter just days after watching her teammates qualify for the World Cup.

Hibs defender Rachael, 26, who dropped out of the squad after finding out she was pregnant, feared she may have to miss watching the f inal games of Scotland’s qualifying campaign if she went into labour early.

But she and her fiance, Hibs winger Mar t in Boy le , 25, celebrated the arrival of Amelia Grace two days after watching the team win the nation’s first place at the Women’s World Cup in France.

The couple, who are set to marry next year, have made their own Scottish footballin­g history by becoming the first current players of the same top-flight club to have a baby together.

Rachael, who has played 31 games for the senior team, said: “We have been overwhelme­d by the messages of congratula­tions we have received.

“There was a chance I might go into early labour and miss seeing the girls play their final matches but Amelia’s arrival was timed perfectly.”

Rachael , who was named player- of- the- match in an internatio­nal game against Russia just days before finding out she was pregnant, gave birth to 7lb Amelia on September 6.

Just a week earlier, she had made the 180-mile round trip from her East Lothian home to watch Scotland take on Switzerlan­d in a must-win game in Paisley.

Days later, she watched on TV as they qualified for next summer’s competitio­n in France after beating Albania.

Rachael, who earlier this year told the Sunday Mail about her pregnancy joy, said: “I was so delighted to see the girls qualify for the World Cup – but the moment was a little bitterswee­t too as I wished I could have been there with them.”

Rachael was admitted to hospital two days after the Albania match.

She said: “I needed a Caesarean section because I was suf fering from placenta previa, where the placenta was lying too low.low Martin was by mmy side and, when Amelia was born and then laid against my chest, it was the best feeling in the world.”

The couple have been flooded with messages of congratula­tions, including from Scotland women’s head coach Shelley Kerr, both teams at Hibs and former Scotland star Julie Fleeting, who became the first player to take her baby with her on internatio­nal duty.

Rachael said: “Amelia is just absolute perfection. She has my chubby cheeks and Martin’s eyes and skin tone.

“She is a wee wriggler, always moving about, so we are hoping she will be sporty.”

Rachael hopes to return to playing football early next year.

She said: “I hope to be back with Hibs for the start of the season next year but I haven’t thought about going to France.

“If I’m at the World Cup, it’s likely to be as a spectator. I’ll be supporting the girls with Amelia by my side.”

 ??  ?? UNITED Rachael and Amelia. Left, with fiance Martin TOP TEAM Scotland celebrate during Albania game. Left, Rachael in action for national side
UNITED Rachael and Amelia. Left, with fiance Martin TOP TEAM Scotland celebrate during Albania game. Left, Rachael in action for national side

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom