LOYALTY is not always a word that can be applied to the world of football.

How many times have we seen players turn their backs on contracts or rock up at another club before their name has even been printed on the replica shirt? Sol Campbell and Dietmar Hamann to name but two.

Likewise, managers are also no strangers to jumping ship when a better offer comes along. Gary Megson or Iain Dowie anyone?

So the service that Adam Webster has given Worcester City since joining the club in December 2001 should be praised.

Webster, after making his 250th appearance for the club against AFC Telford, is now the third longest-serving player on the books - behind Danny McDonnell and assistant boss Carl Heeley.

Nick Colley is fourth after reaching the 150-mark as a substitute at Redditch on New Year's Day.

During his six years at St George's Lane, which included missing the majority of last season with a broken ankle, Webster has netted 94 goals and earned the fans' respect.

The 27-year-old said: "I wasn't really aware of the appearances until it got to about 247 and I was looking through the programme.

"I may have got there sooner had it not been for my ankle injury but it has come around quite quickly.

"When you sign for a club you look for the first 50 appearances then 100 and so on but it hadn't really crossed my mind since 150.

"I am glad I have made that many appearances in a reasonable amount of time.

"One goal every two-and-a-half games is not too bad but I'd like to think I have helped in other areas by working hard or setting up team-mates."

Webster's dedication to the club goes far deeper than just pulling on the shirt every week as he travels three times a week from Leicester, where he lives and works.

He said: "Players like myself just want to play football at the highest standard possible.

"I don't think about the travelling any more, it's like being on autopilot.

"Every Tuesday and Thursday I go to Worcester to train and on Saturdays I go there to play football."

Webster, currently being employed on the right side of midfield by manager Richard Dryden, is also confident Worcester can make a push for the play-offs between now and April.

He added: "We would have liked to have got off to a better start when Andy Preece was here but that wasn't to be.

"Richard has come in and he's gradually bringing his own ideas into the side, which is a good thing. He's not trying to bombard us with things and new players, he's gradually trying things step-by-step.

"He's got off to an extremely good start and we are going to try and carry that on to the back-end of the season.

"If we can get some good results and beat teams around us we could be in with a shout at the end of the season."