Little Liam Mark Bedwell may not know it yet but his entry into the world came on the day Brighton and Hove Albion won promotion.

For football-mad father Mark, 39, his son's timing was spot on. He promptly named him after two former players.

With wife Debbie, 33, he chose Liam, after former Albion manager Liam Brady, who resigned in November 1995, and Mark, after former player Mark Lawrenson.

Mark, of King's Ride, Burgess Hill, said: "Debbie wanted something short and I wanted something with a football connotation.

"Debbie said Liam because that would suit her and I was thinking Mark because Mark Lawrenson was my all-time favourite player.

"I have been watching the Albion for 28 years. I am a season ticket holder and have seen them play about 800 times all over the place."

Liam arrived at 3.10am last Sunday weighing a healthy 8lb 10oz, hours before it became certain the Albion were going up to Division One.

Mark, who has lived in Burgess Hill for nine years, said: "He was early - he should have arrived on April 18.

"I went to Peterborough to the match. Debbie told me her back was aching more than normal but she was fine so off I went.

"I got home about 8.20pm and then it sort of speeded up. We went to the hospital just before midnight and Debbie had Liam at 3.10am.

"I think it is excellent the Albion have gone up.

"I was hoping it was going to be on Saturday but if they had gone up then I think I would have ended up in a pub instead of being here.

"For Liam to be born on the day they went up was wonderful. It was very good timing."

The day the Albion won Division Three last year also has special significance for Mark - it was his daughter Emma's third birthday.

And Emma is turning out to be a bit of a football fan herself.

Mark said: "I have had more interest from Emma about football than I have had from Debbie.

"She keeps saying 'Daddy, Daddy, take me with you'."