Proud father Michael Owen poses with his new daughter, Gemma Rose, and partner Louise Bonsall just days after their first child was born.
Speaking after little Gemma was delivered at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Michael said the birth was a "totally unbelievable experience". "People have asked me to compare it to scoring a goal or achieving a big football win. With those you have a sudden feeling of elation and a rush of adrenaline, but Gemma's birth came with an excitement unlike anything I've ever known," he said. "I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear. In fact, I'm proud to say it. I spent a couple of minutes with my head on Louise's shoulder and we wept tears of joy. Everyone I spoke to told me not to miss the birth of my children, especially the first one. They were right."
The family is now preparing to move into their new home, a £1.6 million mansion in north Wales. They are hoping to have "at least two more" children when the time is right.
And the Liverpool and England striker says he's already looking forward to when he can play football with little Gemma. "I've never had any better times in my life than going down the park on a Sunday afternoon for a kickabout," said the 23-year-old. "That's what I want to do with my kids too."
