Forest Green Rovers: Defender Jelly Boyapo gives birth to his baby boy

Forest Green Rovers defender Jelly Boyapo will return to help strengthen his squad – just two days after the birth of his child.

The 22-year-old went up in the early hours of Thursday morning when his wife went into late-stage labor and he didn’t have time to take her to hospital.

According to Forest Green boss Robbie Savage, Boyabo called him at 06:50 GMT on Thursday morning to tell him he had delivered his baby before paramedics could get there.

“Gili Buyabo called me at a quarter past twelve [on Wednesday] Savage told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: “I said I should take my partner to hospital on time but it was a false alarm.”

“He woke me up this morning at 10 to 7 and said, ‘Oh my God, I just had the baby.’ I said, ‘What are you?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’”

“He was with his partner, the contractions started and he didn’t have time to get to hospital or get the paramedics there, so Gilly actually delivered the baby.

“When the paramedics got there, he got on the phone and said, ‘Tell him.’ They said yes, the baby was born. I’m so proud of him at 22. That he did that is a great story.”

The mother, baby and defender are all in good condition according to Forest Green boss who said Boyapo will have the rest of the day off before returning to training.

Forest Green, who are fifth in the National League and bidding for promotion, face Aldershot at home on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Boyapo, who has been on loan from Sheffield United all season, is on course for a starting position.