John Connelly

He played for Blackburn Rovers for four years, but was unable to help get them back into the top division. He was released by Blackburn in May 1970 and signed for Bury. He stayed with Bury for three years and retired in May 1973. In later years he owned a fish and chip shop in Brierfield, known as "Connelly's Plaice". Connelly was chosen among 25 former Burnley players for a "Wall of Legends" at Turf Moor. Connelly died at home on 25 October 2012, at the age of 74. Burnley Football Club released a statement: "One of Burnley's most prolific and popular wingers, he died peacefully at home on Thursday morning." Turf Moor's flag flew at half mast in his memory. Players wore black armbands in respect of his death.

Connelly was born in England and was of Irish descent. He made his England international debut whilst still a Burnley player, on 17 October 1959, against Wales at Ninian Park. He played twenty games for England in all and scored seven goals. He was a member of the England squad that was sent out to Chile to take part in the 1962 FIFA World Cup, but he was not selected to play in any match during England's participation in the tournament. Four years later he was a member of the England squad which won the 1966 FIFA World Cup. He played in the opening game against Uruguay at Wembley Stadium, but the match was a goalless draw and England's performance was regarded as disappointing. For subsequent games Alf Ramsey, the England manager, decided to drop Connelly from the starting team, tried other wingers (Terry Paine, Ian Callaghan) and subsequently organised the team without wingers. This proved to be his last international game. Connelly was one of four England players to play for England during the tournament but not in the final itself, the others being Terry Paine, Ian Callaghan and Jimmy Greaves. In the 1966 World Cup final only the 11 players who played in the 4–2 win over West Germany received winners' medals. Many years later, following a Football Association led campaign to persuade FIFA to award medals to all the winners' squad members, Connelly was presented with his medal by Prime Minister Gordon Brown at a ceremony at 10 Downing Street on 10 June 2009. Connelly was…

Burnley

Football League First Division: 1959–60 FA Cup runner-up: 1961–62 Manchester United

Football League First Division: 1964–65 England

FIFA World Cup: 1966