24 January 2012 Last updated at 10:03 ET

Stafford Rangers goal scorer leaves to see child born

Stafford Rangers striker Chris Morris said it was "the best day of his life"

A footballer opened the scoring for his team - before dashing off at half time to be at the birth of his first child.

Stafford Rangers striker Chris Morris, 22, was in the thick of the action when he got a message his girlfriend Claire Anderson had gone to hospital.

Minutes later he netted against Stocksbridge Park Steels on his home debut and headed off at the interval.

He turned up at Stafford Hospital still wearing his kit and was there to see baby Savannah being born.

He said: "My girlfriend started getting contractions on Saturday morning.

"She phoned the midwife. She said to stay at home and go through your normal routine, so I carried on getting ready for football."

The couple's baby had been due to arrive a week later, on 29 January.

Chris received the message about Miss Anderson 30 minutes into the game.

Mr Morris said: "There was about 15 minutes before half time and I thought I need to get there.

"Five minutes later on my home debut I scored. There were so many things going round my head.

"I got my stuff and drove off with the Stafford Rangers kit still on. There was mud everywhere."

Chris made it to his girlfriend's bedside to watch the birth of Savannah, who weighed six pounds and half an ounce (2.73kg).

Chris said it had been an "amazing" day.

He added that if the baby had arrived just a day before her due date it would have been more difficult to get to the hospital, with Stafford scheduled to play away at Chorley.

Back at Stafford Rangers' Marston Road ground, the home side went on to beat Stocksbridge Park Steels 5-1 in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.