CITY'S record scorer John Inglis had a pleasant surprise on Saturday - he discovered he'd scored even more goals than he realised.

The 56-year-old was back at St George's Lane along with Bob Bache, Barry Kelcher and Peter Hensman as part of the club's centenary celebrations.

During his seven-year association with the club he plundered an impressive 189 goals in 324 games.

"I had no idea it was that many," said Inglis, now a mortgage broker in Leicestershire.

"I thought it was about 150 so it was a pleasant surprise when the announcer said how many I'd actually scored."

Inglis would undoubtedly have scored many more but for a serious head injury, which ended his career at aged just 30.

Ironically he sustained it scoring against Wellingborough Town in 1977. In heading the goal he was clattered by team-mate Barry Williams knocking him cold for 20 minutes.

On the advice of a neurologist he never played again.

"It wasn't worth the risk but I was only 30 and I felt I was cheated of a good three or four years at City where I was really happy," he said.

Inglis started his career at Aston Villa, making a dozen first team appearances over three years, before joining Third Division Crewe Alexandra.

His desire for a career outside of football led to him signing on a part-time basis for Eddie Stuart at Worcester.

It was a match made in football heaven, and bar an unhappy sojourn at Hereford United, Inglis enjoyed seven successful seasons in the Faithful City.

"In my seven years I felt so comfortable and was scoring for fun," he recalls. "Ironically I had come to Worcester in pursuit of a job but initially didn't get one of substance and the great John Charles came in for me from Hereford.

"I went there but it just didn't click, and it just proves you have to be happy in your environment to play your best football."

The late City chairman George Goode eventually helped Inglis launch a career in financial services while on the pitch he continued to excel alongside City legends such as Lionel Martin and Williams.

"One of the big disappointments was that we didn't win more because we had quite a good squad," recalls Inglis.

Painful memories include an FA Trophy quarter final defeat to South Shields - 'I think we froze' - to relegation from the old Southern League Premier Division in 1973/74.

"We needed to beat Maidstone to stay up and were winning but with 10 minutes to go they scored two goals in two minutes. We equalised but that wasn't enough."

Despite those setbacks Inglis has nothing but good things to say of his time at St George's Lane. "I consider myself a Worcester City man and of all the clubs I played for that's where I was happiest," he said.

"It remains a friendly club with none of that dog eat dog environment you get at some places. I enjoy my time here and I was delighted to return and meet up with some of the old guys."