‘Hero’ goalie was simply doing his job

NEWPORT County goalkeeper Joe Day had a clash of interests: an important FA Cup match against Middlesbrough, versus the possibility of his wife Lizzie going into labour with their twins during the match. What were the chances? What to do? Thank goodness Joe put his football duty first. He even had a clean sheet in his team’s historic 2-0 shock victory over the bigger club. Afterwards he roared off in a taxi to the hospital to meet his baby daughters, Sophia and Emilia. A lovely story, for which Joe has been hailed a hero — but why? Surely his duty lay with his team-mates, the club and the fans? Even in these days when giving birth has become a spectator sport and dads need even more time to recover from the ordeal than mums. Actually, lots of women I know would prefer just to get on with it themselves, rather than having Hubs fainting in the delivery room and generally making a nuisance of himself. And I am sure lots of men, given the choice, would prefer to be playing football instead, too. Hang on. This just in. Apparently Joe turned his mobile phone off during the match, further testament to his dedication. What?? Players are allowed to take phones onto the pitches? I blame David Beckham. For everything.