RETIRED David Leatherdale is confident Worcestershire will soon recreate the glory years of the late 1980's, writes Gary York.

All-rounder Leatherdale made his senior breakthrough at New Road in 1988, the season Worcestershire scooped the first of back-to-back County Championship titles.

That title-winning side, which included Leatherdale's idol Ian Botham, also secured the 1988 Sunday League crown during the club's glorious period.

One-county man Leatherdale, who yesterday ended his 18-year playing career to focus on his role as Worcestershire's commercial director, looks back on that successful era with pride.

And the popular 38-year-old, affectionately known by his nickname 'Lugsy', hopes the County's current squad can begin turning hard-luck stories into silverware.

"The 1988 and 1989 seasons were fantastic for me personally," explains Leatherdale. "In 1981, I was there on the sides at Headingley when Ian Botham hit 149 not out against the Aussies.

"Then, low and behold, I was playing with him in the Worcestershire side. It was what dreams are made of.

"We achieved so much success. I made my first-team debut in 1988 and it was a fantastic experience to be part of. I would like to think we can rekindle those days with the current squad."

Statistics with bat and ball stack up to highlight Yorkshire-born Leatherdale's fine career.

During the 2005 season, he smashed the 5,000-run barrier in one-day games, having passed 10,000 first-class runs the previous year, and took 315 wickets in both forms of cricket.

He is also remembered as one of the best ground fielders of the modern game.

Leatherdale ended his first-class career in 2003, his benefit year, but continued to play one-day cricket.

Appearances were limited last season while combining his on-field role with the task of commercial manager, but his experience was still seen as crucial, emphasised when he agreed a one-year extension to his contract in August.

Leatherdale said: "I suppose things have moved on quite a bit over the last few months. I just felt it was the right time to focus on the commercial side of the club.

"The contract was there to play if I wanted and it was still something the club wanted me to do. It was always going to be my last year playing at the club, but at some point in my life I had to move on.

"When you combine playing with being commercial manager, there will be problems along the way. For example, the Elton John concert lies on the same day as a one-day game at Edgbaston. I cannot be at two places at once.

"I've had 18 or 19 good years and I would like to think it was the right time to move on at Worcestershire."

Leatherdale admits his stunning bowling performance of 5-10 against Australia in 1997, which helped crush the visitors in a five-wicket victory, ranks among his favourite individual County moments.

He added: "That will always be one of them. Then there was the 5-9 against Durham in the Sunday League a few years ago.

"But it's not just those one-off individual performances that stick out. Sometimes, it's the games we've won where I've made a considerable contribution.

"For example, the B&H semi-final against Hampshire. Gavin Haynes and myself put on a lot of runs when chasing a lost cause. That took us to the final."