COUNTY cricket legend Phil Neale believes Worcester City’s FA Cup success could be the catalyst to bring the club back home.

Neale spent 16 years with Worcestershire, including nine as captain, and led the New Road side to back-to-back County Championship Division One titles in 1988 and 1989.

But he also played 14 times for City during the 1986-87 season following a football career that began at Scunthorpe United, who Worcester visit in Sunday’s cup second-round clash (2pm).

The 60-year-old, who has been operations manager for the England cricket team since 1999, reckons City can repeat their giant-killing of Coventry City — a 2-1 win at the Ricoh Arena last month — in the Glanford Park clash.

He also hopes the interest generated by the Blue and Whites’ success can enthuse supporters to back the club.

City, currently in exile at Kidderminster Harriers’ Aggborough ground, are ready to submit plans to Worcester City Council over a proposed new stadium on playing fields at Perdiswell.

“Of course Worcester can win,” said Scunthorpe-born Neale, who scored three goals from midfield in his spell at City.

“They have lots of belief from the last round and Scunthorpe have everything to lose.

“I hope it is a great day for the club and all their supporters. I hope this FA Cup run can be the catalyst to get Worcester City back playing football in Worcester.”

Neale started out as an amateur footballer with Scunthorpe in 1972 at the same time as joining Worcestershire at New Road.

He signed a professional cricket contract with the County after finishing university in 1975 and also a football deal at Lincoln City following his release by Scunthorpe.

Neale went on to enjoy 10 years with the Imps, while also excelling with Worcestershire, eventually being named New Road skipper on February 11, 1982, the same day as the birth of his son Craig.

After leaving Lincoln, Neale, who met his wife Chris while at Scunthorpe, linked up with City at St George’s Lane.

He explained: “I only played around half-a-season for Worcester.

“John Jones signed me there but was sacked before I had finished my duties with Worcestershire so, when I reported to St George’s Lane, Tony Larkin was in charge. We had a good team spirit and I really enjoyed my few games, helping Tony mould a team that did pretty well at the start of that season.

“Unfortunately, Tony did not get the job full-time and the incoming manager George Rooney and I had very different views on how we should be playing so we parted company before the end of the season.

"When John signed me we had agreed I would have some input into how the team played and where I was expected to play but that was no longer possible so it was best to move on.”

Neale is not the only link between Worcester and Scunthorpe.

Another County cricket legend Ian Botham, who also starred for England with the bat and ball, joined the Iron in 1980 as a centre-half and made 11 appearances in the Football League.