Bournemouth striker James Hayter has earned his place in the Football League record books after bagging a hat-trick in just 2 minutes 20 seconds during the Cherries 6-0 rout of Wrexham on Tuesday night.

Hayter's goals came in a stunning spell after he came on as an 84th minute substitute and capped a memorable week which also saw his girlfriend give birth to their son. 

Football League Communications Executive Ian Christon said: "James Hayter's feat is believed to be the fastest hat-trick on record in The Football League, beating the previous mark of 2 minutes 30 seconds set by Gillingham player Jimmy Scarth in 1952. Although the record can never be definitive as goal times were not accurately recorded in the early days of The League, Hayter's treble will take pride of place at the top of the list."

There is some dispute over the world record with some sources believing it to be 2 minutes 14 seconds recorded by James O'Connor for Irish side Shelbourne in 1967, while others cite a 1 minute 50 second hat-trick scored by Eduardo Maglioni for Independiente in the Argentinian League in 1973.

Fastest Recorded Football League Hat-Tricks

2 minutes 20 secs

James Hayter  Bournemouth v Wrexham 24/02/2004 

2 minutes 30 secs

Jimmy Scarth  Gillingham v Leyton Orient  01/11/1952 

3 minutes

Billy Lane   Watford v Clapton Orient  20/12/1933 

Jimmy Hartburn  Leyton Orient v Shrewsbury  22/01/1955

Gary Shaw  Shrewsbury v Bradford City  22/12/1990

Graham Leggett  Fulham v Ipswich  26/12/1963