AMBITIOUS Worcester Rugby Club chairman Cecil Duckworth predicts an economic boom will accompany on-field success and Premiership status.

Tomorrow's top-of-the-table clash at Sixways, between National One heavyweights Worcester and Rotherham, will almost certainly see the winner promoted to the top flight and pocketing up to £2m in sponsorship deals and TV money.

Mr Duckworth is certain the result will not only boost the city's sporting prestige, but will have wider implications for the community and the economy.

"It will help put Worcester on the map," he said.

"Getting into the Premiership means playing the best teams in the country and, in Leicester, one of the top in Europe.

"Bigger matches and attendances will bring far more people which, in turn, will boost the business of hotels, restaurants, bars and shops throughout the city centre. This success would bring larger companies and firms to Worcester.

"It would also mean far greater media coverage for the city, with national newspapers and television companies paying greater attention."

And though Sixways is already a symbol of years of hard work and millions of pounds of investment, the promised land of Premiership rugby would see improvements.

"We have a number of plans for the stadium, which will involve improving the conference and hospitality facilities," the chairman said.

"We will also be adding other facilities at the ground, starting with the East Stand and then the North Stand."

Turning rugby into Worcester's premier sport was Mr Duckworth's intention when he took over at the club nine years ago. After years of near misses, he finally believes Worcester are ready.

"We are on the edge and as confident as you can be before one of these matches," he said.

"But I think the club is now ready to take the next step, which will be a tremendous boost for the whole economy of Worcester."

Too tense to enjoy it

RUGBY fans will be on the edge of their seats for tomorrow's Sixways clash, and Worcester chairman Cecil Duckworth will be no exception.

Though he has been the catalyst for the club's development over the last nine years he finds it impossible to relax and enjoy the excitement of crunch matches.

And for Worcester fans young and old, matches do not come any bigger than this weekend's multi-million pound clash between the top two teams in National One.

Mr Duckworth will be as anxious as the 5,700 capacity crowd at Sixways and thousands of people watching the game live on TV.

"I've seen one or two big games at Sixways in the last five years and it's very difficult to try and just enjoy them," he said. "This game is worth a huge amount."

Operations director at the club, Mike Robins, also noted a positive mood in the camp during the week before the game, but neither would predict a score.

"A one point win will be enough for me," said the chairman.

Top ten City sporting events

Don Bradman brings Worcester to a standstill - April 29, 1948

Queues extended more than 200 yards across Worcester Bridge hours before the match between Worcestershire CCC and Australia was due to start, as New Road filled with its biggest ever attendance - 15,000.

The Don hit 107 as the tourists won by an innings and 17 runs.

Worcester City beat Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup - January 15, 1959

15,111 fans witnessed one of the greatest shocks in football history, as Worcester City became - and still remain - the only non-league side to knock the Reds out of the FA Cup.

Worcester City earned promotion from the Southern League - 1979.

The club's first real success was confirmed with a 3-0 home victory over Kettering. Fans at the game confirm the crowd was more than 10,000.

Nicolaus Silver wins the Grand National - 1961

Nick the Silver became only the second grey to win the National, becoming the second of trainer Fred Rimell's four winners.

Worcester County Cricket Club claim county championship - 1964

Don Kenyon captained Worcestershire to its first ever County Championship success, after the club had been trying for almost 70 years. After this barren spell, the county retained their title in 1965.

Alan Edwards wins the ABA light middleweight title - May 5, 1967

Edwards, 22, achieved his lifelong ambition of becoming the first city boxer to claim an ABA title, after surviving a knock down in the first round to out-point London fighter Eric Blake. He was then selected to box for England.

Graeme Hick hits his 100th century for the county - May 31, 1998

Hick made an imperious 132 against Sussex at New Road, his 100th hundred in a glorious career for Worcestershire.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club win the Benson & Hedges Trophy - July 14, 1991

Worcestershire ended their six-game Lord's jinx by overcoming Lancashire by 65 runs to lift the cup. Hick top scored with 88 while Neal Radford claimed three wickets.

Worcester Rugby Club beat Bristol 15-13 - January 13, 1998

The club's first high profile clash with a top-flight team confirmed their rise in stature.

The second division underdogs beat Bristol in the Tetley's Bitter Cup and earned a glamour tie with Newcastle.

Worcester Rugby Club lost to Newcastle 10-0 - January, 1998

The club enjoyed its most important match to date - a Sixways cup clash with Premiership-title chasing Newcastle. They lost out but Worcester rugby was firmly on the map.