As if netting the all important equaliser in a Premier League fixture at Anfield didn’t make for enough of an action packed day, Norwich captain Russell Martin did it on next to no sleep having welcomed the birth of his baby boy the previous evening.
Martin initially joined up with his team on the eve of the big match, upon hearing that his wife was in labour, the defender drove back to be at her bedside – surely reason enough to skip the oncoming match you’d think.
After being informed his presence was very much required for the game, Martin got back on a plane, on the same flight as none over than Delia Smith herself, and met up with the rest of the squad.
Speaking on his eventful day post game, he commented;
“It has been a long but sensational 24 hours, I flew up with the squad yesterday (Saturday). My wife had had no twinges at that point and then she rang me at 7pm to say she had started to feel some contractions but wasn’t sure whether they were Braxton Hicks false ones or not.”
“I said “give it a couple of hours” but then she rang me at 10.30pm to say “This is it! This is happening!” – one of the sports scientists had brought my car fortunately in case I had to get back and me and our player liaison took two hours each in the car driving back.”
“I took her to hospital and we got there about four in the morning and she gave birth at 9.25am. I had to leave at 10.30am as I spoke to the management and they were keen for me to play. I love this place, the atmosphere and I had family coming so I didn’t want to let them down.”
And let them down he didn’t. After former Burnley striker looked to have grabbed the headlines along with the points with his debut Liverpool goal, Martin popped up with a looping header to earn a draw for the Canaries.
“I hadn’t slept a wink,’I was running on empty towards the end – I was absolutely gone – but it was a great day and it makes it all worth it. It will be a great story to tell the wee man. I don’t know what he’s called yet. We are still in fierce debate. I was only there 45 minutes.