IAN Cottrill is celebrating becoming the latest member of Worcester City's 300 club in some style.

The industrious midfielder made his 300th first-team appearance for the club in the recent FA Umbro Trophy game at Fisher.

And in each of the three subsequent games he has found the net, all with his head.

Cottrill, the only Worcester-born-and-bred player currently in the first-team squad, came through the youth ranks at St George's Lane to establish himself as a regular.

But for a three-year spell at Nuneaton and two knee operations, he could easily have been pushing the 450 mark by now.

He said: ''There have been quite a few over the years but there are not many who have played 300 times and for your local club as well.

''I think the biggest high for me was the first year I really broke into the first team. I played 30-odd games and we finished fourth in the league.

''A couple of seasons later after Ally Robertson had taken over, I played a season at sweeper in a back three. That was different, but we have a good season that year up until Christmas.''

His two knee operations -- one while he was at Nuneaton -- rank as the low point. ''I had the two knee operations inside 18 months which doesn't help, but the last one I had was three years ago, so hopefully that is past me now. As long as I stay injury-free there will be a few more games to be played yet.''

Cottrill says he is very happy with life at his home-town club. ''Living in the town and with a young family, I don't want to travel up and down motorways two or three times a week -- I am happy as I am.''

He is still not ruling City out of the title stakes this season even though they have fallen some way behind leaders Nuneaton.

''What we need to do now is put a run together like the one we had this time last year. I honestly believe we are more than capable of that.''

City's busy week continues with their Dr Martens Cup tie at Bilston, followed by a trip to Halesowen Town in the Dr Martens League Premier Division on Saturday and a home clash with Bath City next Monday.

Wednesday, December 2, 1998.