FOOTBALLING legend John Connelly has scored another hat-trick after celebrating the birth of three grandchildren in one day.

Former Burnley, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester United and England star John, now 63, of Sandy Hall Lane, Barrowford, learned of the three new additions to his family when his daughter and daughter-in-law gave birth within nine hours of each other.

Son Jonathan, 33 and his wife Gaye, 32, who live in Gisburn Road, Higherford, celebrated 7lb 6oz Jake Henry's birth at 1.45am.

Then daughter Debra Wood, 38 and husband Clive, of Beverley Road, Blacko, welcomed twins Michael John and Rebecca Jenny, weighing 6lb and 4lb 2oz, into the world at 10.20am and 10.40am.

John, who has run Connelly's Plaice fish and chip shop in Colne Road, Brierfield, with wife Sandra for the last 29 years said: "It's unbelievable, because there was a few weeks' difference in timing when they were due. But it all happened at once.

"It all started on Wednesday when my daughter-in-law went into labour. My daughter went to visit her but a few hours after she got home she felt a few twinges herself. "My wife said 'I hope that's your last hat-trick,' as I've had hat-tricks in every team I've played for!"

New grandson Jake Henry, Gaye and Jonathan's first child, is now home with his mum and dad while the twins, brother and sister to two and a half-year-old Alexander, are under observation in the special care baby unit at Burnley General Hospital, where their cousin Jake Henry was also born.

The twins are not in incubators but are being drip fed until their strength builds up.

John and Sandra now have a total of seven grandchildren -- the couple's eldest daughter Nicola Connelly has three daughters aged between four and fourteen.

n Connelly was well known for his skill and pace as a winger

n Started his football career with St Helens Town in the 1950s

n He was made a professional footballer with Burnley when he was 18 in 1956 after starting an apprenticeship as a joiner

n During the season 1958/59 he was the second top scorer for Burnley behind Ray Pointer with 12 goals

n Won his first championship medal when Burnley topped the table in the 1959-60 season

n Signed for Manchester United in 1964 for a fee of £56,000

n He netted 15 goals and picked up his second championship medal in five years when United pipped Leeds in 1964-65

n Played as a winger on the opposite side to George Best at Manchester United

n He then went to Blackburn Rovers in 1966 for a fee of £40,000

n He was a member of England's 1966 World Cup winning squad but only played in the first match against Uruguay

n Signed for Bury in 1970 before retiring in 1973

n He gained 20 full England caps from 1959 to 1966