CARL HEELEY will go down in Worcester City history as a legend. The inspirational defender ended his 11-year stay at City to begin the final chapter of his playing career at Hinckley United. Here, Heeley talks to GARY YORK about his time at St George's Lane and one of the defining moments that

lent itself to his hero-worshipped status.

There are hundreds upon thousands of pictures of Carl Heeley mixing it on the football field.

Whether it's a crunching tackle or a towering header, each one captures a steely and determined defender intent on winning his battle in Worcester City colours.

But for all the last-ditch clearances, the mid-air tussles and the brave blocks, it took a simple hospital ward snapshot to fully paint the courage and character of 'King Carl'.

City fans probably won't need a second guess to the picture's time and place -- October 1998 in Bristol's Frenchay Hospital.

It was taken days after City's 1-0 win at Mangotsfield United in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, a game St George's Lane supporters will never forget.

Early in the tie's second-half, Heeley suffered horrific facial injuries when taking a boot to the face in an accidental challenge. An eight-hour operation quickly followed as five metal plates were inserted into his face to repair both cheekbones and nose.

Most footballers would fail to recover from such severity. But not Heeley. The fact he emerged from his hospital bed 11 weeks later to star for Worcester only served to endorse his legendary status on the terraces.

"It's incredible really, when I look back, to think that I played again," explained Heeley. "I can take a lot of courage from that. Any injury I sustain should not really bother me, but that was pretty horrific.

"My face was in a bit of a mess. It did not really sink in how bad it was until my family saw me in that condition after the operation. I think it shocked them.

"I remember the challenge clearly. I went to head the ball away and their player came in and volleyed me clean on the bridge of the nose.

"Straight afterwards, I remember a gush of blood coming from my nose. I was totally conscious. I went to bite my teeth together and the back teeth at the bottom were hitting the front ones at the top.

"At that stage, I knew I had a pretty serious injury and I remember going down on one knee, trying to focus to stay calm and not panic.

"When I was lying on the stretcher, it seemed like an eternity before the ambulance came to take me from the pitch. I remember looking up at George Rooney and Chris Greenman and their expressions told me everything.

"An injury like that does get you remembered, but that's what I'm all about. I'm not blessed with sublime skills and I can't split defences from 50 yards. It's about putting my head and body in to challenges and giving 100 per cent commitment."

Unsurprisingly, Heeley, 35, rece-ived the Player of the Year award that season, one of four collected during a fantastically loyal City career.

Since signing from Sutton Coldfield almost 11 years ago, the father-of-two withstood the test of time to clock up 521 first-team appearances, falling second to Bobby McEwan's record of 596 games.

There were honours along the way. Heeley picked up his first medal in 1997 as City clinched the Worcestershire Senior Cup and, as skipper, he lifted the Dr Martens Cup in 2001.

His favourite highlights include taking Worcester to the FA Cup First Round proper in 2001, when they hosted Rushden & Diamonds, and, of course, being handed the captain's armband.