STEVE Pope is determined to put his bad luck behind him and make his first appearance in the Nationwide League Division Three for Kidderminster Harriers.

A place on the substitutes bench is all the 24-year-old defender has managed so far this season following a number of frustrating setbacks.

He arrived at Aggborough from Crewe Alexandra in February, 1998, and soon began to impress.

However, his career was cruelly interrupted for 12 agonising months in July, 1998, when he tore a crucial ligament in a pre-season friendly at Bloxwich.

He battled his way back from the crippling injury, however, only to be frustrated by another problem. This time he injured his Achilles tendon at Boston United in Kidderminster's last pre-season friendly.

It then emerged that Pope had a medical condition which impaired the sight in his right eye in which he has only 30 per cent vision without contact lenses.

He has been told that he may need a cornea operation at some point in his life.

He said: "The contact lenses have helped quite a bit. I managed to play through the recent reserve match against Worcester without much problem."

Stoke-born Pope is delighted to be back in full-time soccer after a two-year absence after leaving Crewe. Now he is eager to get his career back on track. He said: "Getting paid to play football is something many people would love to do and there is a tremendous spirit among the lads."