THERE was double delight for soccer star Fraizer Campbell.
The former Stile Common Juniors player made his England debut and became a dad for the first time – all in the space of a few hours.
And last night, as Fraizer and girlfriend Emma enjoyed time with their daughter Isla Rose, his proud Huddersfield mum admitted: “It’s the best feeling ever.”
Bernadette Baptiste, of Longley, was in the 76,283 crowd at Wembley to watch Fraizer, 24, get into the action against Holland.
She and his dad Keith were joined by more than 30 relatives and friends to see their son make his debut as an 80th minute substitute.
And then they joined Fraizer in a mad dash immediately after the final whistle to get him to Emma’s bedside in a Sunderland hospital.
All three were whisked to Luton Airport for a flight to the north-east, arriving in Sunderland in the early hours.
“It was an absolutely wonderful day,” said Bernadette.
“I can’t begin to tell you how proud I was, watching my son run out at Wembley in an England shirt and then seeing him hold his baby daughter.
“He and Emma have been together since they were teenagers and it was very emotional for them.
“She’s a beautiful, beautiful baby.
“Emma was due to give birth on March 5 but decided against travelling down to London to watch the game. She went in to labour earlier in the day but Fraizer and she decided he should stay with the England squad for the match.
“His aunt Maxine, who lives in Huddersfield, is a midwife and she went up to Sunderland to be with Emma and her family through the day before the baby was born late on Wednesday night.
“Both Emma and the baby are absolutely fine so it is fantastic news.
“I’m just so happy for Fraizer, after all his injury woes of the past 18 months. To play for your country is the pinnacle of every player’s career and to round off the day with a baby is just so unbelievable.”
The Sunderland striker – back in Martin O’Neill’s team after his injury hell – tweeted his delight hours after the game: “Delighted to earn my first international cap and the very same moment I became a dad to Isla rose campbell! #cloud9”.
