It was the save of the season for Kingsley Banks.

The Heybridge Swifts goalkeeper showed what a safe pair of hands he has when he dived in at the right moment as wife Wendy started to give birth to baby Sophie in a hospital car park.

Helped by a sweeper from the hospital and some passers-by Kingsley, still holding baby Sophie's head, got Wendy into Clacton Hospital in time for the midwives to arrive.

And before you could whistle for extra-time and penalties, Wendy's fourth child was born.

Kingsley said: "Wendy's contractions started and we are only six or seven minutes away from the hospital. By the time we got to the car park her waters broke and we hurried towards the hospital doors.

"But all of a sudden she said it was too late. Luckily she was wearing leggings and I was able to get my hands there as the baby's head was popping out.

"It made quite a sight as you can imagine. A cleaner came to help and some women held on to Wendy while I was holding the baby."

Banks is rated as one of the top keepers in the region but Wendy was not so confident of his handling.

He said: "I was a bit affronted when she told me not to drop it and if it had not been so serious at the time I may have had some banter with her.

"I have had to take some stick from the lads at work then even more at the club."

Wendy said: "I'm confident of his ability now. Kingsley was calm throughout and had the foresight to check the cord wasn't around her neck and everything turned out fine.

"It all happened so fast but there was no panic or anything like that."

The couple, from Holland-on-Sea, already have two girls, Kerry, aged five, Georgia, aged two, and a boy, Ryan, aged four.

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