A debut England goal is a special moment for any player – but Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ header against Ireland on Sunday might make his wedding awkward.
That’s because he is engaged to Roy Keane’s daughter Leah – and the Manchester United legend was watching in the stands as England eviscerated Ireland.
The Southampton defender planted a header in the corner of the goal 79 minutes into the Nations League clash after coming on as a substitute.
Fortunately Harwood-Bellis and Keane have a good relationship, as the 22-year-old revealed ahead of the clash at Wembley.
‘It’s good and I take a lot of advice,’ he said of his bond with Keane.
Harwood-Bellis was with his fiancée when he got the call from Carsley to tell him he’d been selected. ‘I couldn’t quite believe it at first,’ he added. ‘It was a feeling of pride. I was with my partner. Then I phoned my dad and he was very proud, the fact I had played for England through the age groups and now I was in the seniors. All my family were delighted.
Football runs in the Harwood-Bellis family, not just with the in-laws. His sister Rebecca was once a Great Britain youth basketball international. His uncle Steve is president of their local team Stockport County while his dad used to spend matchdays as the Vernon Bear club mascot – a cuddlier dad, then, than his future father-in-law.
More to follow.
