JOHN McGrath must have thought his Worcester City career was over when he left the club three years ago.

The 35-year-old defender, a fixture at St George's Lane for so many years, had retired from Saturday soccer earlier this season, a succession of niggling injuries finally taking their toll.

But when City boss Graham Allner found himself short on players for Monday's Dr Mar-tens League Premier Division clash with Boston United, he knew someone dependable he could call upon.

McGrath stepped into the breach as captain, and gave an outstanding display as City won 1-0.

Injuries

Allner knew McGrath well from his three-year spell as a player at Kidderminster Harriers.

"He asked me to sign as cover because he had a few suspensions and injuries and was short of a bit of experience on the bench, which I was happy to do," said McGrath. "It was a bonus to play."

McGrath had registered for res-erve games with City and played one Central Conference game, but Allner took the precaution of putting him on Dr Martens League forms.

"I had seen enough in the reserve game to see he could still cope," said Allner. "Jock has good knowledge of the game, he knows where to be, he can still tackle and pass and can read a game very well, and he showed all those things the other night.

"I have always rated and respected him. All right, it is only one game but the Worcester supporters have seen him over many hundreds of games.

"Certainly on the performance the other night, he would have to be first on the team sheet on Saturday, providing he wants to."

City's hectic Easter programme opens on Saturday with a home derby against Bromsgrove Rovers.

They visit Gloucester City on Easter Monday (7.30) and have a glamorous Birmingham Senior Cup semi-final at home to Birmingham City next Wednesday.

City stage a charity match in aid of Leukaemia CARE on Sunday (3.0), with Jess Conrad's Allstars taking on a City select side including several showbiz personalities.

Wednesday, March 31, 1999.