WHEN Eric Delderfield left Worcester City in 1949, little did he know it would be 60 years before he once again set foot inside St George’s Lane.

The goalkeeper spent just a few months at the club during the 1948/49 season, making his debut in a 4-3 home victory over Bath City.

But on Monday he returned as the guest of honour for the Blue Square South match against Weston-super-Mare, a game City won 4-1, as he celebrated his 90th birthday.

“It was arranged by my son and it was the first time I have gone back in 60 years,” he said.

“Over that period I was always looking at the results to see how they were getting on. I have always been fully aware of what has been happening at the club.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see the vast difference with the pitch and the surrounding area.

“It took me quite a while to try and remember parts of it. To me, the present day club was much neater than it was in my day.

“The pitch was as good as any professional club. I can remember it being like a ploughed field and in those days they didn’t have the equipment to maintain it.

“The speed of the game also surprised me and as fast as the players were they hadn’t really got the technical ability but they played with a real determination.”

Eric was brought to the club by manager Jack Vinall in November 1949 after impressing against Worcester for previous club Birmingham City Transport, where he worked as an electrician.

But he fell out with his work side, but got in touch with Vinall and was handed his chance with Worcester.

However, signing professionally for the club cost him a shot at international honours as he had been called up to represent England at amateur level just days before but had not been informed.

He said: “I phoned Birmingham City Transport to say not to pick me because I had signed professional forms for Worcester and the secretary said he had been sent a letter from the amateur arm of the Football Association picking me for an international cap.

“I couldn’t stop the form going forward and so I lost my opportunity of playing for England.”

After leaving City, Eric went on to play for Bromsgrove Rovers and Lye Town before returning to Birmingham City Transport and finally hanging up his gloves at the age of 36.

He added: “Without intending to boast, I knew I was a talented player but unfortunately I was never encouraged as a boy by anyone. My father died when I was three.”