NEW Year’s Day football is a great tradition in British sport as thousands swell attendances at their teams’ grounds across the country.

But Blackburn Rovers had to wait until the day after in 1994/5 - their title winning season - for their slice of New Year action.

But it was worth the wait as, unsurprisingly their talisman Alan Shearer came to the fore.

Who can recall the 4-2 victory over West Ham United on January 2, 1995?

It was a vital three points gained as Rovers ended up pipping Manchester United to a glorious Premiership triumph by a single point.

Shearer grabbed a hat-trick 24 years ago, including two penalties, and Graeme Le Saux scored the other as Rovers put the East London visitors to the sword.

Until Le Saux equalised, Rovers had been trailing 2-1 thanks to goals from Tony Cottee and Julian Dicks.

But goals from Shearer in the 75th and 79th minute sent the Ewood Park hordes home happy and perhaps look the edge off a few lingering New Year hangovers.

When West Ham returned to Ewood Park 11 months later, there was a distinct feeling of deja vu for them. Shearer scored another hat-trick in a, you’ve guessed it, 4-2 victory.

This time he was supplemented by a Mike Newell goal, while former Rover Robbie Slater was on target for West Ham.

Who would’ve thought that two decades later Shearer would have a road outside Ewood Park named after him?