ANDY Preece says he can't wait to roll back the years and step onto the St George's Lane turf in the blue and white of his hometown club.

The Evesham-born striker supported City as a boy and enjoyed two playing spells at the Lane before embarking on a successful career in the Football League.

Preece, 37, brought up in Upton Snodsbury and a student at Pershore High School, was a product of Worcester's youth team.

The teenager was released but later returned to City aged 22, following stints at Evesham United and Northampton Town, bagging over 20 goals in the 1989/90 Beazer Homes Premier League season.

Preece's prolific form and obvious talent led to Wrexham manager Brian Flynn paying City £2,000 for him.

He spent one season at the Racecourse Ground and later blossomed at Stockport County and Bury among others.

After surveying the surroundings of the Lane once again following a 15-year absence, Preece admits he is looking forward to rekindling old times.

"The ground looks almost exactly the same, nothing has changed", Preece said.

"The more I look out on to the ground, the more I want to get into the changing rooms, go out on to the pitch and see the fans. It will be like I've never been away.

"Before I played here, I used to come and support Worcester as a lad. I would watch Worcester one Saturday and Aston Villa on the other Saturday. I was down here in the year of Kevin Tudor and Nobby Clarke managing.

"I go back a long way with the club. I played here when I was 16, left and came back, and then got sold on again!

"I was only here for short bursts. I enjoyed the season in the Beazer Homes Premier, playing with the likes of John McGrath. Things went really well and I scored 20-odd goals.

"When I left for Wrexham, I still kept in touch with one or two friends from Worcester, mates from school, and my family obviously. Although it's a long time since I've been here, it doesn't seem a long time."

City chairman Dave Boddy was the club's commercial manager when Preece enjoyed his goal-laden season.

Boddy's association with Preece goes back a long way with the pair once team-mates during their teenage years at Pershore Cricket Club.

Boddy said: "I played cricket with Andy for three seasons at Pershore. He was a fine cricketer, left-arm fast medium and batted very well. I kept wicket.

"If you look back in the scorebooks somewhere, I'm sure you'll find a lot of caught Boddy, bowled Preece in there.

"He probably should have made it as a first-class cricketer as well!"