FRIENDLY rivalry crept into the maternity unit at Preston's Sharoe Green Hospital with the birth of Blackpool Football Club's youngest fan.

For little Georgia May's mum is none other than Gill Bridge, managing director of Blackpool Football Club - and she was looked after by the wife of a staunch Preston North End fan.

The Tangerine tot, who weighed a healthy 8lb 2ozs, made her debut on Sunday (September 7), 15 minutes before the start of Blackpool's match with Carlisle.

Says Gill: "Diane Phillipson looked after me when I first went into the hospital and again in the night.

"We had a joke when I discovered what team her husband supported and we talked about football quite a lot during the labour.

"It all went really well. I was in labour for 12 hours and it was a lovely feeling to hold Georgia in my arms at the end of it.

"The labour was like the Man City match, painful at the time but well worth the end result!"

She added: "We called her Georgia just because we liked it and May after my grandmother who died last year."

Husband Gary was said to be "thrilled to bits" with his daughter and had a very important role to play after the birth.

"I kept sending him out to check on the Blackpool score," laughs Gill.

"We did say we wanted the baby to be born before 3pm so we could keep in touch with the match."

Mother and baby returned home on Tuesday and since then have been swamped with gifts.

"We have had so many lovely cards and flowers and I want to say thank-you to everyone.

"Also thanks to Diane, the midwife Angela Crozier and staff on ward M3. They really looked after me."

Gill now intends to return to work at Bloomfield Road as soon as possible.

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