FORMER U’s player Joey Beauchamp was celebrating this week – but his joy had nothing to do with football.

The ex-Oxford United, Swindon Town and West Ham winger and his wife Millie were enjoying their success off the pitch, as proud parents of the Oxford Mail’s Baby of the Year.

The contest, which saw entries from the parents of 479 children, was won by the player’s daughter, 18-month-old Jessie Beauchamp, whose whole family turned out to cheer her on at a ceremony at the Debenhams store in Magdalen Street, Oxford, on Thursday.

And proud dad Joey revealed it was a double celebration for him and his wife, Millie.

He said: “We found out a few days ago that Millie is pregnant with our second child and we are so happy. It was a bit of a shock, but we are both over the moon.”

Mrs Beauchamp, from Titup Hall Drive, Wood Farm, Headington, Oxford, laughed: “Now we’ll be back to win it again next year – with the new addition.”

They were joined at the ceremony by grandparents Joe and Doreen Beauchamp, and Jan Heapy.

The two grandmothers said they were very impressed by their granddaughter.

Ms Heapy said: “We are two very proud nannies right now.

“Jessie is such a happy child and is always smiling.”

The family won a three-day trip to Disneyland in Paris to see the park’s Bonfire Spectacular this November.

They also won a framed photo, courtesy of Fraser Portraits, which took all the entrants’ photos, and £100 of Debenhams vouchers.

Mr Beauchamp said the photograph would now take pride of place in their dining room, where an Oxford United shirt currently hangs.

The runners-up of the competition were Shaqueesha Edwards, two, and six-month-old Samuel Nally-Carr, who both received £50 in Debenhams vouchers.

Shaqueesha’s mum, Acleva White, 19, from Cowley, Oxford, said she was delighted by her daughter’s achievement.

She added: “I am so proud of Shaqueesha coming second out of all the children who entered. I think we’ll be entering the competition every year now.”

Samuel’s mum, Lucy Carr, 20, from Grove, near Wantage, said she was also very proud – especially as her son was the only boy to win. She added: “Unfortunately Samuel just seems to want to chew his trophy.”

Oxford Mail newspaper sales manager Margaret Marsh said: “This year’s contest has been a big success and hundreds of the county’s bonniest babies entered. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all the sponsors for making this year’s contest better than ever before.”