The ex-England winger has passed away

John Connelly, who played for England in the 1966 World Cup, has passed away at the age of 74.

John was a winger who could play on either flank and he was turning out for Southport’s ‘A’ team when he was just 15. He signed for Burnley as a professional at 18 in 1956 and won the League Championship with them four years later. The Clarets haven’t won it since.

He was Burnley’s outside-right in the 1962 FA Cup Final when they went down 3-1 to Spurs at Wembley.

After seven years and more than 200 League appearances, he switched to Manchester United for a £56,000 fee and picked up another League winners’ medal. He later played for Blackburn Rovers and Bury.

He was capped 20 times for England, making his debut against Wales in Cardiff in 1959 when he was 21.

Alf Ramsey chose him for his 22-man squad for the 1966 World Cup and he played in the opening match against the ultra-defensive Uruguayans at Wembley.

John Connelly was two-footed, direct and a keen snapper-up of scoring opportunities. His 181 goals in 570 League matches was an excellent return for a winger. On his retirement he opened a fish and chip shop, ‘Connelly’s Plaice’, near Burnley.