Yahoo News Caolan Boyd-Munce joins St Mirren's new dads club as midfielder opens up on life-changing moment
Caolan Boyd-Munce has joined St Mirren’s new dads club after welcoming his very own bundle of joy into the world.
The Northern Irish midfielder is one of five Buddies stars to celebrate becoming a father since the turn of the year – meaning they now have enough babies for a five-a-side team.
Jonah Ayunga, Greg Kiltie, Mikael Mandron and Kevin Van Veen are also getting to grips with changing nappies while scrapping for Premiership points.
Boyd-Munce’s partner Joanne gave birth to little Roux on Tuesday, September 3, and it has been quite the experience for the loved-up couple who met when they were aged 16 and living in West Belfast.
He said: “It has been a big week. To be fair, my missus has took the brunt of it as we don’t get the paternity leave to adjust so it’s about balancing when I need to go into the spare bed for a night.
“She asked me if I liked the name and I was happy with it. It’s something different. I think everyone was expecting an Irish name. As soon as he came out and cried for the first time, I thought, ‘Jesus, this is real now’.
“He just eats and sleeps so as long as he keeps doing that it will be alright!
“We’ve a load [of dads] here! There is Kevin, Jonah, Kilts, Mika and me all in the last [few] months. There’s a proper wee community in there and maybe a five-a-side team!
“It used to be you would talk about your nights out on a Monday morning whereas now it’s asking how the wee one slept. Some days you come in and see boys like Kilts and you are like: It’s been a long night, hasn’t it?”
Boyd-Munce stood down from the Northern Ireland squad for their latest Nations League fixtures to be with Joanne during a three-day labour – and to make sure all was okay after the wee man picked up an infection.
Caolan and Joanne have been grateful for the help from proud grannies Louise and Lisa.
And the 24-year-old thanked national team boss Michael O’Neill for his support as he admitted Roux’s arrival has put football in perspective.
“It was something I struggled with earlier in my career,” he reflected. “No matter what happened in your game on the Saturday, you always picked out the negatives.
“I would go home to the missus who I have been with for a few years and the whole weekend is consumed by it; it’s ruined. It’s not fair on her as she needs to live with it. Now the little man is here, it brings a little bit of ‘wise up Caolan!’”
Boyd-Munce was linked with Leyton Orient and Wigan Athletic in the summer but insists he was always staying in Paisley.
He added: “I haven’t worked this hard over the last two years to just jump ship. Why would I? The missus was due, I’m settled and I’m happy and I think people could see that.”
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