Forget the Busby Babes - here come the Beeding Babes.

Four players at Upper Beeding Football Club and their partners have recently become proud parents of baby girls.

Scott Redfern, Matt Andrews, John Burgess and Vic Gretton couldn't believe it as each of them saw their partners give birth in just six weeks.

It was a hive of activity at the club from the time Scott and his wife Lisa had Maisie on August 6, until Vic and girlfriend Kelly Wheatland had Imogen on September 23.

Rumours are rife in the sleepy village that manager of the West Sussex League team Micky Barry slipped Viagra into the players' half-time tea during the Christmas period.

John Burgess, team captain, said: "It was either him or the landlord of the local boozer who must have spiked our drinks."

Micky denies any such wrongdoing. Instead he cites the King's Head pub being closed over the Christmas period as the influencing factor.

He said: "Instead of using the old power cut excuse, they can blame the pub being closed. They all had to probably stay in and occupy themselves."

Sandwiched between the Redferns and Grettons, John and wife Katie had Olivia and Matt and Karen Andrews became proud parents to Maddie.

Matt admits the birth of all girls is beyond belief. He said: "If I'd put a bet on all four being girls, the odds would've been terrific. It's an amazing coincidence."

Vic said: "When the first one was a girl, we thought nothing of it. Then the next two came out as girls and everyone thought that surely we'd be able to produce a future Upper Beeding star.

"Before Imogen's birth, I thought if Kelly gives birth in the morning it'll be a girl, because she'll want to go shopping.

"If the baby was born in the afternoon, it'd be a boy because he'd want to play or watch football.

"She was born just as Football Focus was starting on the television. When they told us it was a girl, I asked them to check again, because it was unbelievable."

The four tots were all born at Worthing Hospital and it is hoped they could all one day form a netball team.

Scott has suggested the pub set up a creche so everyone can still enjoy their post-match tipple.

But landlord Graham Parrish jested: "I'm not sure about that. It's already crazy enough with the footballers."