Archive

  • 8/2/03 - Counsell hoping to clinch City contract

    MITCH Counsell has set his sights on winning a contract at St George's Lane. The midfielder has only made three appearances for Worcester City but has already made a favourable impression. But for the width of a post in Saturday's FA Trophy encounter

  • 7/2/03 - England call-up for City winger

    ADAM Wilde's sparkling form for Worcester City has earned him international recognition for his country. The winger has been selected for an England National Game XI to play in a friendly against Belgium in Ostend next Tuesday. Wilde becomes the first

  • 4/2/03 - Snape misses Stafford clash

    JOHN Snape is out of Worcester City's crunch clash at second-placed Stafford Rangers at the weekend. The midfielder is still struggling with knee ligament damage picked up in the 2-1 win at Tamworth. It is a blow to the ex-Hereford United player who had

  • 1/2/03 - McDonnell tipped for national honours

    DANNY McDonnell is being tipped for international honours at non-league level after a string of brilliant displays for Worcester City. The keeper has been in excellent form all season and St George's Lane boss John Barton believes he is worth a place

  • 31/1/03 - Jones and Counsell in Trophy call

    DAN Jones and Mitch Counsell are in line for starting roles in Worcester City's FA Trophy clash with Margate tomorrow. Manager John Barton has several suspension and injury worries ahead of the fourth round tie and will delay picking his team until shortly

  • 31/1/03 - Holmes looks to erase bad memories

    DAVID Holmes can go some way to erasing one of his worst FA Trophy memories by dumping Margate out of the competition at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm). The Worcester City forward was part of the Gloucester City side that was within three minutes of

  • 28/1/03 - Hadley to return after 10 months

    STEWART Hadley makes his first team return after a 10-month absence in tonight's Worcestershire FA Senior Cup second round clash at Halesowen Town (7.45). The Worcester City forward will play up front alongside Duncan Willetts, while long-term injury

  • Mum's plea to send gifts to the Gulf

    THE mother of an RAF woman posted in Iraq, is urging people to send basic toiletry supplies to those serving in the Gulf. Kath Hewlett's 22-year-old daughter Rachel, a Senior Aircraftwoman, has been in the war-torn country since March. Mrs Hewlett, of

  • 22/1/03 - Barton lines up Counsell transfer

    MANAGER John Barton is hoping to finalise a deal to bring Mitch Counsell to Worcester City. The Bishop's Cleeve player is described as a box-to-box midfielder and should be in City's squad to face Moor Green on Saturday. Counsell has already trained with

  • Prison officers push car for cash

    TWO prison officers from Long Lartin Prison, near Evesham, are hoping to break a world record today and raise as much money as possible for charity. Brian Davies and Jeremy Mole are aiming to push a 928kg car as far as possible in 24 hours to raise funds

  • 21/1/03 - Five-figure City bid fails

    WORCESTER City have had a five figure bid for a 21-year-old midfielder rejected. It is the second time in recent months that the St George's Lane club has been prepared to break its record transfer fee in order to bolster their championship challenge.

  • Grant for streamlining

    IN a bid to make access to council services easier, Worcestershire Partnership has been awarded £650,000. The partnership between Worcestershire County Council and the six district councils in the county aims to improve services across council boundaries

  • Top chef in action at show

    A POPULAR TV chef is to head up the cast of culinary wizards dishing up some top tips at this summer's Malvern Three Counties Countryside Show. Lesley Walters from Ready Steady Cook will be rolling up her sleeves for an exciting programme of demonstrations

  • 17/1/03 - City ace agrees to new contract

    JON Holloway has handed Worcester City a huge lift ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Dover Athletic by agreeing a two-year contract extension. The influential Holloway has been an integral part of City's successful season and despite interest from several

  • 17/1/03 - Excellent week can get better for City

    WORCESTER City can wrap up a good week for the club with victory over Dover Athletic at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm). Rivals Tamworth and Stafford Rangers dropped points in the title race while John Barton's side progressed to the fourth round of the

  • 15/1/03 - City knocked off top by Tamworth

    WORCESTER City were knocked off top spot in the Dr Martens Premier Division by Tamworth last night but only on goal difference. Darron Gee's side drew 1-1 at home with Tiverton Town and the result leaves the Staffordshire side on level points with City

  • 14/1/03 - Barton breathes sigh of relief

    MANAGER John Barton admitted his Worcester City side nearly blew it in last night's third round FA Trophy clash with Newport County. The St George's Lane eventually triumphed 3-2 after squandering a three-goal advantage against 10-man Exiles and now face

  • 13/1/03 - Margate reward if City can win

    WORCESTER City have the incentive of an FA Trophy fourth round home clash with Conference outfit Margate on February 1 if they can overcome Newport County tonight (7.45). City's rearranged match with the Exiles at St George's Lane has beaten the weather

  • Poet paying tribute to city peace campaigner

    POET and outspoken critic Tom Paulin will be giving his first lecture in the Faithful City to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Worcester's most famous historian. Paulin, who is a regular on BBC 2's Newsnight Review, will be giving this year's

  • 13/1/03 - Cheltenham sack Allner

    FORMER Kidderminster Harriers and Worcester City manager Graham Allner has been sacked as manager of Division Two side Cheltenham Town. Allner took over at Whaddon Road last summer, but the team have struggled this season following promotion through the

  • FOSTERING: One hundred enquiries = 10 carers

    IF you could choose anyone to be your parents Ben and Mary Smith would feature high on your list. Among the families dotted around Worcester this couple have probably had the most children. At the last count it was 18 since they first took on the role

  • 9/1/03 - Blount plans for future

    WORCESTER City's loan signing Mark Blount admits if he fails to win back a first team place at Burton Albion he would have to consider his future. Burton boss Nigel Clough sent the defender to City to boost his fitness after a spell out through injury

  • Landlord organises free family fun day

    A Fun day at Bengeworth First School, near Evesham, has been organised by a housing association for its tenants. The free family day will be the fourth staged by Evesham and Pershore Housing Association at the Burford Road school, on Friday, May 30. Children's

  • Dietary tips on offer

    EATING healthily and taking regular exercise are just some of the top tips being given by a Worcestershire health group to both prevent and treat diabetes. The Kidderminster Diabetes Team is holding an open evening as part of a national campaign to increase

  • They're pitting their wits with piles of pots

    HISTORY buffs are being encouraged to dig deep and dust off any old bits of pottery or coins for an archaeology roadshow. The Four Parishes Archaeology Group (4PAG) has a variety of experts on standby to scrutinise any unusual objects which appear at

  • 4/1/03 - Barton pays tribute to City's midfield magician

    JOHN Barton admits a shudder runs through him at the thought of Worcester City without John Snape. The ex-Hereford United has been a brilliant signing for the St George's Lane club and City's boss is first to pay tribute to the midfield tyro. Despite

  • Fans will not be exterminated

    FANS of the popular TV series Dr Who celebrated the 40th anniversary of the show at the Worcestershire hall where the original episodes were filmed. Visitors to the convention at Woodnorton Hall, near Evesham, had the chance to meet Colin Baker, the sixth

  • 3/1/03 - Rivals' boss turns up heat

    TAMWORTH manager Darron Gee has turned up the heat on Worcester City by insisting tomorrow's match is more vital for their rivals. The Lambs head into tomorrow's showdown with a two-point lead over John Barton's side with two games in hand. Gee has been

  • 1/1/03 - City set sights on new league

    WORCESTER City have applied to join a proposed new Nationwide Conference feeder league. The St George's Lane club is one of a number of Premier Division clubs from the Dr Martens, Ryman and Unibond leagues invited by the Conference to join. They would

  • 28/12/02 - Davies turning his sights on Tamworth showdown

    ALLAN Davies insists Worcester City can still bounce back in the title race despite slipping to their third defeat of the season at Newport County. But the full-back admits the Tamworth clash next Saturday takes on huge importance after their defeat in

  • 27/12/02 - Barton: We're not out of it yet

    WORCESTER City go into tomorrow's home Welling United clash (3pm) with manager John Barton insisting they are down but not out after losing ground on leaders Tamworth in the Boxing Day games. The St George's Lane club trail Darren Gee's side by six points

  • 24/12/02 - City bid to grab Newport double

    WORCESTER City travel to Newport County on Boxing Day (1pm) looking for only their second Dr Martens League double of the season. It marks the start of three huge games for the St George's Lane club in the space of six days as they bid to stay in contention

  • 23/12/02 - City link to new pyramid format

    WORCESTER City could become part of the biggest shake-up of non league football in the last 20 years. The Football Conference has unveiled plans to increase competition for up to 66 teams, starting next season. The move follows Conference disillusionment

  • 20/12/02 - Darren is targeting festive booster

    DARREN Middleton has some unfinished business with visitors Chelmsford City at St George's Lane in the Dr Martens Premier Division tomorrow (3pm). A combination of the crossbar and wayward shooting denied Worcester City's leading scorer a hat-trick in

  • 17/12/02 - City take on Malvern in cup

    MARK Owen and Asa Charlton will be among the first teamers in action for Worcester City at Malvern Town tonight (7.45). The two teams are competing in the second round of the Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup with West Midlands Premier Division Malvern currently

  • 13/12/02 - City in battle to beat the bug

    A VIRUS has hampered Worcester City's preparations for tomorrow's top of the table clash at Chippenham Town (3pm). Goalkeeper Danny McDonnell and Jon Holloway were suffering last night but John Barton is confident they will be fit. "A bit of a virus has

  • 12/12/02 - City chairman confident

    WORCESTER City chairman Dr Mike Sorensen is confident of meeting the 18 stringent conditions needed to build the new Nunnery Way stadium. These include traffic and parking issues as well as the size of the B&Q retail development and will be thrashed

  • 11/12/02 - City fail in record transfer attempt

    JOHN Barton has revealed ambitious Worcester City were prepared to smash their transfer record to boost the club's title challenge. The St George's Lane manager said a five-figure fee to sign a player had been rejected but paid tribute to Dr Michael Sorensen

  • 9/12/02 - Middleton and Carty pep City

    TOP scorer Darren Middleton and experienced defender Paul Carty return for Worcester City's crunch encounter with Crawley Town at St George's Lane tonight (7.45). The pair will be added to the squad after missing Saturday's 2-2 draw with Hinckley due

  • City launch scheme for community

    FOOTBALL coach Claire Maslen has been given the job of putting Worcester City into the heart of the community. She has been appointed community officer by the St George's Lane club with a brief to bring the sport to as many youngsters as possible. It

  • 6/12/02 - Charlton ready to make City start

    ASA Charlton will make his first league start for nearly three months against Hinckley United tomorrow (3pm). The Worcester City defender replaces suspended Paul Carty who will serve a one-match ban for picking up five bookings. Darren Middleton is also

  • 6/12/02 - City on course for key period

    WORCESTER City embark on the most crucial 28 days of the season to date with the visit of Hinckley United tomorrow (3pm). John Barton's table-topping side face a testing eight matches over the Christmas and New Year period that will have a massive impact

  • 5/12/02 - City boss waiting on Snape

    WORCESTER City manager John Barton will be hoping John Snape emerges intact from training tonight. The influential midfielder has a slight groin niggle but his presence against Hinckley on Saturday could be vital with Paul Carty and Darren Middleton ruled

  • 4/12/02 - Shail set to play

    MARK Shail will have a run-out with Worcester City reserves at Gresley Rovers on Saturday. The defender has been sidelined from first-team action since September after when he picked up a knee injury at Crawley Town. City manager John Barton expects another

  • 3/12/02 - Newport next for City at the Lane

    WORCESTER City and Hereford United have landed plum home ties in the third round of the FA Trophy. The St George's Lane club line up against Newport County while the Bulls play Nationwide Conference leaders Yeovil Town. City's assistant manager Mick Tuohy

  • 2/12/02 - Barton's boys in mood for glory

    JUBILANT Worcester City manager John Barton admits a mood of optimism surrounds the club following their FA Trophy success against Aldershot Town. The St George's Lane club reached the third round with a rousing 1-0 home win in front of 1,500 spectators

  • 27/11/02 - Darren targets Trophy mission

    WORCESTER City ace Darren Middleton is on an FA Trophy mission after missing out on a cup final appearance two seasons ago. The midfielder had to sit on the sidelines after being cup-tied for Forest Green Rovers' 1-0 defeat to Canvey Island at Villa Park

  • 22/11/02 - City wait on Snape

    WORCESTER City are waiting on the fitness of midfielder John Snape before finalising their side to play at Hastings United in the Dr Martens Premier Division tomorrow (3pm). Snape is rated as "50-50" by manager John Barton after missing their last game

  • 22/11/02 - Hastings may feel backlash from City

    HASTINGS United could feel the full backlash of Worcester City's frustration at their recent goalscoring drought. That's the view of newcomer Adam Wilde as second-placed City prepare for a long trip to the Sussex coast in the Dr Martens Premier Division

  • 15/11/02 - Shail on comeback trail

    MARK Shail will have his first competitive game for nearly two months when Worcester City's reserves visit Boldmere St Michaels in the Midland Combination tomorrow (2.45). The defender has been sidelined since picking up a freak injury in the first minute

  • 11/11/02 - Barton worried by City decline

    WORCESTER City manager John Barton fears his players are lapsing into the bad habits that undermined their season last year. The St George's Lane club were held to their third successive goalless draw at Weymouth and as a result were knocked off top spot

  • 9/11/02 - City make FA Trophy decisions

    WORCESTER City have decided not to make their FA Trophy tie with Aldershot Town on November 30 an all-ticket game. City fans will be able to pay at the gate, but the St George's Lane ground will be segregated. The match will only be all-ticket for Aldershot

  • 7/11/02 - International clash at the Lane

    INTERNATIONAL football returns to Worcester City's St George's Lane ground after a 52-year absence tonight when Macedonia take on Moldova (7.30). The clash is part of the UEFA U19 Championship and it will only be the second time in the club's history

  • 4/11/02 - City goal famine causing concern

    WORCESTER City's faltering form in front of goal has seen their advantage slide at the top of the Dr Martens Premier Division. John Barton's side were held to a goalless draw Ilkeston, allowing rivals Tamworth to reduce the deficit to one point with a

  • 2/11/02 - Wilde determined to help City step up challenge

    ADAM Wilde had no qualms about signing for Worcester City especially after tipping them for title success before the season kicked off. The 23-year-old predicted a showdown between John Barton's side and Tamworth and is more than happy to lend his weight

  • 30/10/02 - City ace Foy hit by injury setback

    DAVID Foy's hopes of an early comeback following routine keyhole surgery have been dealt a blow after cruciate ligament damage was discovered. The Worcester City midfielder underwent surgery on Monday to cure a small cartilage problem but a slight tear

  • 25/10/02 - Danny is back on familiar territory

    DANNY McDonnell has withstood some pressure situations in his time but none more so than when he made his debut for Worcester City's opponents tomorrow Halesowen Town. It was the last game of the season in 1995-96 and the Yeltz were snapping at the heels

  • 18/10/02 - City rocked by Foy op verdict

    WORCESTER City have been dealt a big blow with the news that midfielder David Foy will need a cartilage operation. Foy suffered a knee injury playing against his former club Tamworth last month, and a trip to see a specialist yesterday revealed the worst

  • 14/10/02 - Injuries add to City woe after cup exit

    WORCESTER City's FA Cup exit at the hands of Hucknall Town at the could prove doubly costly for the club. The 1-0 defeat left them £10,000 poorer and also with further injury worries. Pat Lyons was stretchered off with a neck injury following a collision

  • 12/10/02 - Willetts determined to be big hit for Worcester

    A CLOSE inspection of Worcester City's substitutes' bench at the weekend will reveal not just a group of talented footballers but also a gifted cricketer. Teenage striker Duncan Willetts is the man in question as both star with bat and football. Willetts

  • 11/10/02 - Teenager Jones on cup standby

    NINETEEN-year-old defender Dan Jones could make his debut in Worcester City's crucial FA Cup clash at Hucknall Town tomorrow. Manager John Barton revealed that the teenager is in the frame for a start in the third qualifying round match with City's squad

  • 10/10/02 - Injuries threaten City cup ambitions

    WORCESTER City's FA Cup hopes hover in the balance with news that John Snape and David Holmes are both carrying knocks. The St George's Lane club visit Hucknall Town on Saturday with £10,000 at stake for the winners. The influential duo picked up ankle

  • 8/10/02 - Victory vital for veteran Heeley

    CARL Heeley will make his 400th appearance for Worcester City tonight but admits victory at bogey side Bath City is much more important. The St George's Lane club have failed to beat Bath in their last 10 meetings and suffered a double defeat last season

  • 30/9/02 - Tough draw ahead for City

    MANAGER John Barton will look to tighten up his Worcester City defence to book a potentially lucrative FA Cup clash away at Hednesford Town or Hucknall Town. City face a difficult third qualifying round tie on October 12 but there will be £10,000 at stake

  • 20/9/02 - City seek win to celebrate in style

    STAFFORD Rangers dashed Worcester City's debut 100 years ago with a 2-1 victory and are poised to chuck a spanner in tonight's centenary celebrations. Ex-Wolves star Phil Robinson brings an in-form Stafford to St George's Lane already having claimed the

  • Feeling they've been left behind

    THERE'LL be many elderly folk in our communities who've already embraced the brave new world of computers and, at the very least, come to grips with the most rudimentary of skills. But we wouldn't be surprised if we found that, for every silver surfer

  • 19/9/02 - City close on new signing

    WORCESTER City are locked in transfer talks with two left-sided players as manager John Barton seeks to bolster his injury-hit squad before tomorrow's centenary clash with Stafford Rangers. The St George's Lane club also need to complete the signing before

  • 17/9/02 - Heeley warning for the leaders

    WORCESTER City must be mentally tough to prevent unfashionable Hinckley inflicting a first defeat of the season on John Barton's side tonight (7.45). Captain Carl Heeley will stress that to his team-mates ahead of the clash at one of the least alluring

  • 13/9/02 - Toughest test yet for top of table City

    CRAWLEY'S Broadfields Stadium may be a dream set- up but it harbours nightmares for Worcester City who shipped a goal after just 58 seconds in last season's clash. A year on and tomorrow John Barton takes his much-improved City side to Sussex as leaders

  • 12/9/02 - City miss out on Blackwood

    MANAGER John Barton has dismissed hopes Michael Blackwood might return for Worcester City at Crawley Town on Saturday. The 23-year-old winger played in a reserve game for Stevenage Borough last night and Third Division Lincoln City are also believed to

  • 10/9/02 - City set to lose young winger

    TALENTED winger Michael Blackwood is set for an early exit from St George's Lane with a Football League and Conference club after his services. The 23-year-old was a surprise omission from Worcester line-up against Tamworth last night which ended goalless

  • 7/9/02 - Middleton making up for lost time

    THEY say form is temporary and that class is permanent which would be a pretty apt way to sum up Darren Middleton. Worcester City's leading scorer has enjoyed a superb start to the season with five goals to his name and a series of impressive displays

  • 6/9/02 - City bid to stretch unbeaten sequence

    ANOTHER gruelling trip beckons for Worcester City with tomorrow's visit to Folkestone Invicta (3pm) but spirits are high and the omens look good for the St George's Lane club. John Barton's side have produced the club's best unbeaten start to a season

  • 30/8/02 - Webster fit for City

    ADAM Webster will return to Worcester City's squad tomorrow to give John Barton a selection headache ahead of the trip to Welling United. With new signing Asa Charlton, Allan Davies and Leon Jackson also clamouring for a place, Barton will have his hands

  • 28/8/02 - Charlton may have to wait

    NEW signing Asa Charlton is not used to sitting on the bench but admits he could have quite a wait after Worcester City's promising start to the season. The 24-year-old former Stourport Swifts player has been drafted as left-sided cover but the in-form

  • 26/8/02 - Newport to test City title chances

    ADAM Webster has been ruled out of Worcester City's mouth-watering clash with early season leaders Newport County at St George's Lane tonight (7.45). The striker has been laid low by tonsillitis but Mark Owen stands by to continue up front alongside Darren

  • 23/8/02 - New boy Lyons out to sparkle for City

    JOHN Barton believes he may have unearthed a diamond in the shape of midfielder Pat Lyons who will be looking to sparkle against Chelmsford City tomorrow (3pm). Worcester City's new signing has featured prominently in the opening two games of the season

  • 23/8/02 - Barton signs Swifts ace Asa

    MANAGER John Barton has boosted his Worcester City squad with the signing of Asa Charlton from Stourport Swifts. The 24-year-old left-sided defender will be included for tomorrow's trip to Chelsmford City after agreeing a deal to join the St George's

  • 21/8/02 - Barton targets Tiverton lock-out

    SUNNY Devon may be the destination but John Barton is in no holiday mood ahead of Worcester City's clash with Tiverton tonight (7.45). The St George's Lane manager is demanding his side display a ruthless streak and keep a clean sheet against a team he

  • 19/8/02 - Barton's gamble pays off for City

    MANAGER John Barton's gamble of playing Pat Lyons and David Foy paid off as Worcester City sneaked a last minute winner against Hastings United. The St George's Lane boss admitted he had taken a chance on playing the duo, who were both short of match

  • 15/8/02 - City boosted by Blackwood

    EXCITING winger Michael Blackwood has handed manager John Barton a massive boost by agreeing a move to St George's Lane. The 22-year-old will make his debut for Worcester City in Saturday's opening league clash against Hastings United. Blackwood made

  • 14/8/02 - Barton chasing twin targets

    MANAGER John Barton is chasing two transfer targets ahead of Worcester City's home clash with Hastings United on Saturday. The St George's Lane boss is confident of signing one of the duo before the season opener and hopes to wrap the other deal up next

  • 10/8/02 - Heeley grabs City winner

    WORCESTER City recorded their second pre-season victory in a week against Dr Martens Western Division opposition last night when they beat Solihull Borough 2-1 at a rain-swept Damson Parkway. City took the lead in the 18th minute when Mark Owen's glancing

  • 7/8/02 - Webster pops up with City winner

    AFTER four games without a win Worcester tasted victory for the first time last night with a 2-1 win at Stourport. The old adage in friendlies is that results do not matter but anything less than a win against City's lower league opponents would have

  • 7/8/02 - Burrow blow for Barton

    JOHN Barton is keeping his fingers crossed that last year's injury hoodoo does not dash Worcester City's chances this time round. The St George's Lane boss saw Marc Burrow stretchered off within minutes of the start of last night's friendly at Stourport

  • 5/8/02 - City suffer injury scare

    MANAGER John Barton admitted fearing the worst after Pat Lyons was carried off during a reserve team game over the weekend. However, the St George's Lane boss is hopeful Lyons will make his first team debut for Worcester City at Stourport Swifts tomorrow

  • 3/8/02 - Wyatt targets number one spot

    PAUL Wyatt has set himself the target of emerging from the shadow of number one 'keeper Danny McDonnell. The 21-year-old enjoyed a run of 18 games at the start of last season during which Worcester City lost just three times. However McDonnell returned

  • 30/4/03 - Number one shirt stays in Danny's safe hands

    THEY say nice guys don't come first but Danny McDonnell dispelled that myth by capturing the supporters and players' player of the year awards. It was richly deserved for the City goalkeeper who has been simply brilliant at times throughout a long, hard

  • Down the Lane - 2002/3

    Last season's articles can be found by following the archive link (left). Alternatively click here.

  • 22/7/02 - Edwards impresses in City's defeat

    JAMIE Edwards, who impressed for Worcester City during their 3-0 friendly defeat against Cheltenham Town on Saturday, will have a trial at Exeter City tomorrow. The Welsh under 19 international was one of four trialists on show at St George's Lane, playing

  • 20/7/02 - Jackson is raring to go after injury-hit season

    LEON Jackson is back refreshed and raring to go after an injury plagued start to his first season at St George's Lane. The former Bilston Town midfielder was troubled with ankle and knee problems that hampered his form and fitness soon after scoring his

  • 2/4/03 - Goal king returns to City

    CITY'S record scorer John Inglis had a pleasant surprise on Saturday - he discovered he'd scored even more goals than he realised. The 56-year-old was back at St George's Lane along with Bob Bache, Barry Kelcher and Peter Hensman as part of the club's

  • 13/7/02 - Carty has left-back spot in his sights

    PAUL Carty is preparing to stake a claim for Worcester City's left-back spot in the coming Dr Martens Premier Division campaign. No player has succeeded in making the position entirely their own since the days of Jason Burnham who didn't miss a game for

  • 19/3/03 - Barton's test of leadership

    JOHN Barton will face a stiff test of his leadership skills in the next few weeks as he bids to stop his City side running out of steam. Ironically given the generally successful year the St George's Lane club have enjoyed to date there is a grave danger

  • 10/7/02 - Hadley ruled out of training

    STRIKER Stewart Hadley has been ruled out of Worcester City's early pre-season training programme as he undergoes further treatment on his Achilles. However the 28-year-old is on course to be fit for the start of the new campaign and admits he is raring

  • 12/3/03 - Quick-fire Middleton on course for Tivvy

    DARREN Middleton has special cause to remember Tiverton and it's not the nice pies they do at the Devon club either. The Worcester City ace bagged a goal after just 29 seconds in last season's fixture between the two clubs at St George's Lane. It was

  • 10/7/02 - City players put through paces for new season

    PREPARATIONS for Worcester City's forthcoming assault on the Dr Martens Premier Division got under way in earnest last night with a lengthy workout at Brickfields Park. Under the watchful eye of assistant manager Mick Tuohy the players, including a clutch

  • 6/7/02 - Barton's men begin their bid to hit the heights!

    WORCESTER City begin their pre-season training programme on Tuesday - and there won't be a football in sight! John Barton's new-look squad will spend their first two sessions building up their general fitness on the Malvern Hills rather than sharpening

  • 26/2/03 - Big crowd expected for title showdown

    IF Worcester City want to retain any outside hopes of winning the Dr Martens Premier Division title, then they've simply got to win Saturday's top-of-the-table showdown with Chippenham Town. It will be third against second in the division's match of the

  • 3/7/02 - City start at home

    WORCESTER City start the new Dr Martens League Premier Division season with a home game against newly-promoted Hastings United on Saturday, August 17. John Barton's men visit Tiverton Town on Wednesday, August 21 and Chelmsford City on Saturday, August

  • 5/2/03 - Barton faces some difficult decisions

    BEING a successful manager boils down to making the right decisions at the right time -- and John Barton will have to make some ahead of Saturday's vital clash with Stafford Rangers. After months of seeing the team pick itself due to injuries and suspension

  • 26/6/02 - Barton chases winger

    WORCESTER City manager John Barton hopes he may be close to filling one of his problem positions on the left wing. Barton is in talks with an unnamed winger who has just been released by a Football League club, and believes he has a chance of landing

  • 13/6/02 - £250,000 to update City

    WORCESTER City will be faced with a £250,000 repair bill to upgrade St George's Lane if they don't secure a ground move inside five years. This summer the club has splashed out £25,000 on rebuilding the Brookside perimeter fence to crush barrier standards

  • 8/6/02 - McDonnell batting his way towards new term

    THE demands of football, even at non-league level, leave little time for other sports but during the brief summer recess a few of Worcester City's players enjoy swapping shinpads for batting pads. Not surprisingly there are a few good cricket players

  • 18/12/02 - Title bid needs finishing touch

    IT'S apt at Christmas time to pay tribute to City's Scrooge-like defence but nagging doubts persist at the other end of the pitch. John Barton's wheeling and dealing has forged the nucleus of a championship-winning team together - almost but not quite

  • 27/11/02 - Wilde targets 10-goal return

    ADAM Wilde has set himself a target of 10 goals for the season after opening his Worcester City account on Saturday. The flying winger earned rave reviews for his display at Hastings United where he hit the net after just seven minutes. Wilde is delighted

  • 20/11/02 - Goal drought must be ended

    JUST how are Worcester City going to arrest their goalscoring drought? It's now six hours and nine minutes of competitive action since they last found the net - Mark Owen in the 2-0 win over Cambridge City on October 19. Four subsequent games have brought

  • 13/11/02 - Barton works City miracle

    IT'S three years since John Barton replaced Graham Allner as manager at St George's Lane -- though after Saturday's blank at Weymouth he did admit it felt more like 33 years. The transformation in that time has been nothing short of remarkable with Worcester

  • 9/10/02 - Holloway eyes midfield return

    JON Holloway has been doing an admirable job shoring up the centre of Worcester City's defence in place of the injured Mark Shail -- but he still hankers after a midfield slot. Despite impressive displays at right-back and as a centre-back alongside Carl

  • 2/10/02 - Stetson clad vicar a one-off

    ONE of City's most colourful supporters is Stetson clad vicar Dennis Griffin who can be seen (and heard) hollering support for his beloved team both home and away. I had the pleasure to meet Rev Griffin at last night's FA Cup replay and he truly is a

  • 25/9/02 - City support warrants move

    A TERRIFIC spectacle at St George's Lane on Friday and a 2,711 fingered salute to anyone still intent on denying City a switch to a stadium worthy of that support. Okay it was a centenary one-off but not one Conference club attracted a bigger gate the

  • 11/9/02 - Time to invest in the future

    CASH-strapped they maybe but Worcester City's board must wring out every last penny to support John Barton's brilliant start to the season. Dr Michael Sorensen and co are faced with a dilemma which, given the bank's tight hold on their purse strings,

  • 4/9/02 - City look like contenders

    FOUR wins out of six, a stint at the top of the league and still the players predict they can get better -- has life at the Lane ever been sweeter in recent years? Three wins on the trot have confirmed initial impressions that John Barton's shrewd transfer

  • 28/8/02 - Temperatures rising at Lane!

    CITY'S hot streak, both on and off the pitch, if you include Saturday's coach fire, continued with a terrific victory against Newport County. It was as good a game as I've seen in a long time and City's fight back was testimony to the spirit currently

  • 21/8/02 - Holloway back to his best

    IT was nail-biting stuff at St George's Lane on Saturday but entirely fitting that City's most committed player grabbed the winning goal. Jon Holloway endured a mixed season during his first year at Worcester, never quite justifying the billing, but has

  • 19/3/03 - City have chance to make amends

    THERE'S no sense in ducking the issue -- we were awful against Tiverton. Throughout the season we've talked about the attitude of the players, their honesty and commitment but none of those were on display on Saturday. I've only felt let down in two games

  • 5/3/03 - Team deserves a rewarding finish

    AS a manager you are always looking to improve the team but over the close season this squad probably needs the least amount of surgery since I've been at the club. Of course it's always healthy to bring in a couple of new players especially ones that

  • 19/2/03 - Tempers can fly in heat of battle

    FERGIE'S dressing room fireworks hit the headlines this week and all managers have their moments from time to time. I'm not sure how I compare with the Manchester United manager - you'd have to ask the players for that - but we all care passionately about

  • 12/2/03 - Still 13 games to lift our fortunes

    ON the back of the Stafford Rangers defeat people are writing our title chances off -- but there are still 13 games to go with plenty of twists and turns to come. Of course, for us to put ourselves back in contention we need to put a very good run together

  • 29/1/03 - Another Trophy clash to relish

    IT'S FA Trophy time again on Saturday and the visit of Margate provides us with the prospect of another exciting tie. The competition has been good to us so far this season with consecutive home mat-ches against Aldershot and Newport County. Both were

  • 22/1/03 - Players can't be faulted for effort

    THE Dover defeat was an undeniable blow to our title challenge. At the end of the match the disappointment was there for all to see -- but I am not going to criticise the players. We didn't play well and I wouldn't try to kid anybody otherwise, but I

  • 15/1/03 - Players respond to difficult times

    ADVERSITY can bring the best or worst out of people but it has certainly worked in a positive vein for us in recent weeks. One way or another we have managed to overcome a crippling list of injuries and it is quite frightening to think about what we have

  • 18/12/02 - Xmas crunch time for City

    THE Christmas and New Year period is not only one of the most hectic of the football calendar but also the most important. It can shape the rest of your season depending on how well you do so while everyone can relax and enjoy themselves we have to keep

  • 4/12/02 - Double-header crucial for City

    IT'S a big, big weekend for the club with two huge games in the space of 72 hours. Firstly we face Hinckley United at St George's Lane followed by Monday's visit of Crawley Town. Tempting as it is to think about the 'what ifs' regarding our league position

  • 27/11/02 - Team hit on right recipe!

    WE found the winning formula in style at Hastings and we need to reproduce that kind of form week in, week out. I described that performance as awesome and deep down we always felt that with the quality of players that we have that someone, somewhere

  • 13/11/02 - Net failings but plenty of progress

    SATURDAY was a disappointing draw -- again --and when you look at the fixture list we would have earmarked Halesowen, Ilkeston and Weymouth for maximum points. The fact we are so upset at not picking up three points at the Wessex Stadium is a measure

  • 6/11/02 - Goals required to keep pack at bay

    AT the risk of stating the obvious -- we have to score goals and start sooner rather than later. We've been involved in a number of no score draws, but while being disappointed with a point in games we should have won, at least we keep the points ticking

  • 30/10/02 - We must set our stall for long haul

    AFTER a fantastic start to the season the key for us now is to finish the job in hand. We have put ourselves in a good position in the league but we must sustain the challenge and see it through to the last match in May. City have had a few compliments

  • 16/10/02 - Goals dry up as injuries increase

    GOALS or lack of goals returned to haunt us on Saturday and saw us knocked out of the FA Cup. We are not delivering on that front and for a side that is joint top of the league we are eight to 10 goals short of where we should be. The finishing on Saturday

  • 9/10/02 - Rocket required for Cup lift off!!

    FOUR days, two games and two totally contrasting performances have left us with a big task to lift the players ahead of Saturday's FA Cup tie at Hucknall Town. Where we finished strongly against Havant & Waterlooville for a terrific comeback, last

  • 25/9/02 - Barton's buoyant despite first loss

    STAFFORD spoiled the celebrations on Friday but we remain upbeat and there is definitely more to come from this side. Although we lost 3-0 some of the football played in the first half is some of the best I've seen in my time and that includes my spell

  • 4/9/02 - Buzz of optimism returns to club

    THERE is a buzz around St George's Lane at present and long may it continue. Although Monday's win against Moor Green put us top the season's first real marker comes after 10 games when you can sit down and gauge your progress. Hopefully we will have

  • 14/8/02 - City trio will hold the key to success

    SATURDAY heralds the start of another soccer season and with batteries recharged we are raring to go. After two-and-a-half years with the club I've assembled the best set of players since my return to St George's Lane and I would certainly hope we can

  • England sevens call-up for Roke

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's Duncan Roke is included in England's squad for this weekend's Cardiff Sevens. The Sixways full-back is called up after scoring a record 26 tries in National League One last season. England flanker Pat San-derson returns to the side

  • OEs hopes hit by rainy conditions

    WORCESTER'S Old Elizabethans lost a low-scoring game in Saturday's Birmingham League Second Division West clash at Fordhouses. The rain played a part once again in the outcome of the game as the start was delayed by over an hour and OEs were invited to

  • Kidderminster collapse at Orton

    KIDDERMINSTER slumped to a shock five- run defeat after skittling hosts Water Orton out for just 128 in Birmingham League Division One on Bank Holiday Monday. The visitors won the toss and were in pole position after bowling them out in 50 overs to earn

  • Julian's at the double to grab plaudits

    TEME Willow and Julian Pritchard grabbed the plaudits at the Albrighton Woodland point to point meeting on Bank Holiday Monday. The duo won the Chaddesley Corbett event's mixed open with a pillar-to-post triumph in which Teme Willow adopted his usual

  • 27/5/03 - England sevens call-up for Roke

    WORCESTER Rugby Club's Duncan Roke is included in England's squad for this weekend's Cardiff Sevens. The Sixways full-back is called up after scoring a record 26 tries in National League One last season. England flanker Pat San-derson returns to the side

  • 27/5/03 - Brain will continue to plot title chase

    JOHN Brain will spearhead Worcester Rugby Club's promotion challenge next season. The Sixways director of rugby has told chairman Cecil Duckworth he intends to stay on as Worcester bid for another shot at promotion to the Premiership. Brain's contract

  • Dover Athletic 2 Worcester City 1

    Saturday, May 3, 2003 WORCESTER City's season was concluded in controversial fashion as they lost 2-1 at Dover Athletic and ended the game with nine men following the second-half dismissals of Jon Holloway and Carl Heeley. The defeat means that John Barton's

  • Worcester City 2 Bath City 1

    Saturday, April 19, 2003 JOHN Snape returned to inspire Worcester City to a 2-1 victory over Bath City and end a 13-year Romans hoodoo. The St George's Lane club had not managed to beat Bath in 11 league games since 1990. But goals from Stewart Hadley

  • Cambridge City 1 Worcester City 0

    Saturday, April 5, 2003 WORCESTER City ended with only nine men as their late-season slide continued with a 1-0 defeat at Cambridge City. Young defender Dan Jones was dismissed for a second bookable offence in stoppage time, while midfielder David Foy

  • Worcester City 1 Halesowen Town 1

    Monday, March 24, 2003 MICHAEL Blackwood came back to haunt his old club as Worcester City's poor form continued last night. The winger, who starred in City's first seven games of the season before moving to Stevenage Borough, scored a last-gasp equaliser

  • Worcester City 0 Chippenham Town 0

    Saturday, March 1, 2003 RIVAL managers John Barton and Tommy Saunders both know the value of good defence. It's underpinned their respective success for Worcester and Chippenham this year but it made for a devil of a job to provide a winner on Saturday

  • Grantham Town 2 Worcester City 3

    Saturday, February 22, 2003 ALFRED Hitchcock may have been the master of suspense but Worcester City produced enough thrills and spills at Grantham Town to rival even Psycho. Poor defending had gifted the Gingerbreads a two-goal lead inside 19 minutes

  • Stafford Rangers 2 Worcester City 1

    Saturday, February 8, 2003 AN appalling pitch, a lousy referee, or just plain bad luck - the excuses for defeat are legion but the upshot is that Worcester City's title hopes lie in ruins. For much of an absorbing contest at Marston Road, City had the

  • Worcester City 0 Margate 2

    Saturday, February 1, 2003 IF there was any justice Worcester may well have been plotting a trip to Kent tomorrow night. But as Terry Venables will tell you football is anything but fair and two quick second half goals inside two minutes killed off City's

  • Halesowen Town 2 Worcester City 1

    Tuesday, January 28, 2003 MITCH Counsell staked a claim for a starting role in Saturday's FA Trophy clash despite Worcester City's 2-1 defeat at Halesowen Town last night. The midfielder was one of nine changes made by manager John Barton for the Worcestershire

  • Dover Athletic 0 Worcester City 1

    Saturday, January 18, 2003 IT is a good job the January sales are still on because without a bargain or two to spruce up his side John Barton will be struggling to maintain Worcester's title interest. City's nightmare run of injuries finally took its

  • Worcester City 3 Newport County 2

    Monday, January 13, 2003 ST George's Lane was not a place for the faint-hearted last night. A nervy Worcester City edged past Newport County 3-2 after enduring a fraught final 11 minutes having contrived to throw away a three-goal lead against ten men

  • Worcester City 1 Welling United 1

    Saturday, December 28, 2002 IT'S not over till the Fat Lady sings but she came close to a performance on Saturday. Worcester's title challenge wobbled at home to Welling but ultimately remained intact thanks to David Holmes' audacious strike which rescued

  • Newport County 2 Worcester City 1

    Thursday, December 26, 2002 FOOTBALL'S thin line between success and failure was emphasised in cruel fashion for Worcester yesterday. Feted as heroes last week John Barton's side became pantomime villans after coming unstuck in a mud-spattered 2-1 defeat

  • Worcester City 5 Chelmsford City 0

    Saturday, December 21, 2002 TITLE contenders? You bet! If further proof were needed about Worcester's championship credentials it was emphatically delivered at St George's Lane in the most one-sided contest since Mike Tyson crumbled at the fists of Lennox

  • Worcester City 2 Hinckley United 2

    Saturday, December 7, 2002 IT hasn't happened too often this season but defences lapses struck with a vengeance to force Worcester to share the spoils with Hinckley in a 2-2 draw. All four goals owed something to the generosity of defending so John Barton's

  • Worcester City 1 Aldershot Town 0

    Saturday, November 30,2002 MANY more displays like this and City are in danger of being re-dubbed The Entertainers. John Barton's rejuvenated Worcester team slayed the ghosts of recent 'big game' disappointments to defeat Aldershot Town in a gripping

  • Why not use Earls Court?

    BUILDING a superstore on Malvern Road will be extremely disruptive for residents, although Sainsbury's plan would appear to be the lesser of the two evils. Why can't the stores be built at Earls Court Farm? As for Tesco's statement that St John's "has

  • Why can't they just take it in turns to be head?

    SO our elected councillors are already arguing over who is going to be the Mayor. Well, I'm not surprised. How do we end up with these people? I know they don't care about our city, otherwise they wouldn't make such a mess. If they argue about that, well

  • Weymouth 0 Worcester City 0

    Saturday, November 9, 2002 TOP of John Barton's Christmas wish list must be several pairs of new shooting boots. City's manager will also be tempted to add a few coaching videos detailing the art of possession and self help books in a bid to boost his

  • Cecil isn't thanked enough

    YOU'VE printed some letters criticising the fountains at the Quayside recently. Apart from the mean-spirited attitude the writers displayed, a good part of the project was funded through the generosity of Cecil Duckworth. I can only think your correspondents

  • Worcester City 0 Ilkeston Town 0

    Saturday, November 2, 2002 IF Worcester City are to be serious Dr Martens Premier Division title contenders, then they can't afford to drop points in games like this. The table-toppers would surely have expected to beat rock-bottom Ilkeston Town, who

  • Attack on swans horrifying

    I'M so horrified I had to write to you regarding the extremely tame, resident swans being attacked in Gheluvelt Park, once again. The female had been sitting on six eggs for more than four weeks and they were hatching when these mindless thugs exterminated

  • Still time to prevent a blight on our lives

    THE residents living on the boundary of the diabolical Sainsbury's plan need no reminders what an environmental disaster it would be for our pleasant area, home for many of us for 40 years. The destruction of the oldest tennis club in the city, plus the

  • Hucknall Town 1 Worcester City 0

    Saturday, October 12, 2002 ONE question, and one question only will haunt the minds of Worcester City's players this week -- how did we lose to Hucknall Town? The FA Cup dream may be over, and the club £10,000 poorer, but what will hurt Worcester most

  • Bath City 1 Worcester City 0

    Tuesday, October 8, 2002 A FURIOUS John Barton tore into his players after Worcester's woeful 1-0 defeat at Bath City last night. City's manager branded the display poor and locked his side in the dressing for a lengthy inquest following the clash at

  • Worcester City 3 Stamford 3

    Saturday, September 28, 2002 LEON Jackson added a bitter-sweet FA Cup memory to his collection after putting Worcester City 3-1 up and then being red carded for violent conduct. Stamford then heaped further misery on the City ace when they snatched a

  • Folkestone Invicta 1 Worcester City 2

    Saturday, September 7, 2002 CITY have well and truly discovered the winning habit and needed it against a pacy and lively Folkestone side. A goal down after 15 minutes Worcester's newly found belief and growing confidence was put to the test and they

  • Worcester City 2 Newport County 1

    Monday, August 26, 2002 JON Holloway capped a pulsating match at St George's Lane with a sensational winner to bring unbeaten Newport County crashing down to earth. The sight of the bare-chested full back, twirling his shirt in celebration, usually signals

  • Willenhall Town 2 Worcester City 0

    Tuesday, July 30, 2002 STEWART Hadley's Achilles injury has dashed Worcester City manager John Barton's hopes of rotating his strike force. Barton had planned to alternate Mark Owen, Adam Webster with Hadley but the former Kidderminster Harriers forward

  • Worcester City 2 Kidderminster Harriers 2

    Saturday, July 27, 2002 TWO late strikes in the space of a minute denied Worcester City a deserved victory over rivals Kidderminster Harriers at St George's Lane in an entertaining 2-2 draw. With John Barton's side two up with three minutes left on the

  • 27/5/03 - England duo to take on Worcs

    ENGLAND have made all 11 of their contracted players available to their counties to take part in the fourth round of the C&G Trophy tomorrow. This means that the Yorkshire duo of pace bowler Matthew Hoggard and batsman Michael Vaughan will both be

  • 27/5/03 - County facing Hayward decision

    A QUESTION mark hangs over whether pace ace Nantie Hayward will be included in Worcestershire's team for tomorrow's Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy fourth round clash with holders Yorkshire at New Road (10.45am). The South African's fitness has yet

  • Match reports - 2002/3

    Last season's match reports can be found by following the archive link (left). Alternatively click here.

  • 24/5/03 - Davies is eager for title win

    ALLAN Davies has reiterated his desire to stay at Worcester City and win the league. The 30-year-old full-back has been close on three occasions, picking up runners-up spot each time with Burton Albion, and remains as ambitious as ever to overcome the

  • 17/5/03 - Barton is attracting stars to the Lane

    JOHN Barton has used his extensive contacts to put together an exciting pre-season programme for Worcester City players and supporters alike. The St George's Lane manager has succeeded in luring Premiership hopefuls Wolves as well as Queen's Park Rangers

  • 14/5/03 - Bright future tipped for City youngsters

    WORCESTER City manager John Barton is predicting a bright future for three of the club's rising stars. Barton was speaking after Dean Smith, Dan Parker and Liam McDonald all signed full contracts with the St George's Lane club. The trio are the first

  • Development squad trio sign for City

    THREE of Worcester City's Football Development squad have signed contracts with the club for next season. Liam McDonald, Dean Smith and Dan Parker have all impressed for Ray Woods' side and have frequently been on the subs bench for first-team games.

  • 10/5/03 - Heeley in 'madness moment' apology

    WORCESTER City skipper Carl Heeley has issued a public apology to the club and its fans for what he describes as a "moment of madness". Heeley was sent off in last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Dover for two bookable offences. But he has admitted that he was

  • 9/5/03 - Keeper Wyatt told he can go

    PAUL Wyatt is the only casualty in Worcester City's end-of-season retained list. City's second-choice goalkeeper has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent after talks with manager John Barton. All other players have been retained although Barton

  • 6/5/03 - City to appeal red card

    WORCESTER City are to appeal to the Football Association against Jon Holloway's sending-off in their final day defeat at Dover Athletic. City hope to clear the defender's name after viewing video footage which showed a case of mistaken identity. Carl

  • 2/5/03 - City can follow in Yeovil's footsteps

    MARK Shail believes Worcester City should aspire to emulate Nationwide Conference champions Yeovil Town. The defender had a spell with the Glovers after leaving St George's Lane in the mid 1980s and while City have stifled in the Dr Martens Premier Division

  • 25/4/03 - Webster poised for City return

    IN-form Adam Webster is set to hand Worcester City a boost by declaring himself fit for their final home game of the season against Grantham Town tomorrow (3pm). The striker missed the Bank Holiday programme with a virus but is expected to have recovered

  • 25/4/03 - Danny is looking to finish on a high

    DANNY McDonnell will keep a wary eye on Grantham Town's Stuart Wilson during the opening exchanges at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm). The Gingerbreads' striker put the ball past the Worcester City keeper twice in the opening 19 minutes during February's

  • 22/4/03 - Ten out as City squad suffers

    JOHN Barton admitted Worcester City's injury situation is becoming ridiculous after watching his side lose 2-0 at Hednesford Town yesterday. Late strikes from David Moss and Steven Piearce sank a spirited if shot-shy City but the number of casualties

  • 21/4/03 - Barton in blast at poor City pitch

    MANAGER John Barton praised his Worcester City side after toppling Bath City 2-1 but slammed the state of the St George's Lane pitch. The City boss branded it a disgrace and said he had apologised to the visitors for its poor condition. "The pitch is

  • 19/4/03 - City hope to climb the table in style

    WORCESTER City's hopes for their highest finish in 18 seasons will be decided in the next 48 hours. Victories against Bath City at St George's Lane later today and on Monday at Hednesford Town will be crucial in helping City beat the fourth place they

  • 19/4/03 - Carty is backing Barton outburst

    PAUL Carty insists John Barton was right to unleash a few home truths following Worcester City's 3-2 defeat to Ilkeston Town last weekend. The St George's Lane manager kept the players back for more than an hour in a bid to thrash out the root cause of

  • 18/4/03 - Snape poised for City return

    MANAGER John Barton aims to unleash John Snape on Bath City at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm). The influential Worcester City midfielder made his comeback in the reserves last week following a spell on the sidelines after groin surgery. Barton believes

  • 16/4/03 - Sponsor boost for City coffers

    WORCESTER City have struck a new two-year shirt sponsorship deal with local firm E & E Engineering. The Blackpole-based long-standing family business will pay a five-figure sum each year to display their name on City's new shirts. E & E proprietor

  • 15/4/03 - Barton threat to wield axe

    MANAGER John Barton is threatening to axe several of his under-performing players in a summer reshuffle after their latest defeat to struggling Ilkeston. The Worcester City boss has seen his side's hopes of a top two finish virtually disappear following

  • 14/4/03 - City boss blows his top after setback

    JOHN Barton read the riot act to his misfiring Worcester City team following Saturday's 3-2 defeat to relegation-battling Ilkeston Town. The St George's Lane manager held the players back for more than an hour after the game, questioning their commitment

  • 11/4/03 - City on sick parade

    WORCESTER City's treatment room is fast resembling Emergency Ward 10 with five players now booked in for operations. But three of the players booked for surgery -- David Foy, Allan Davies and Mark Owen -- will be involved in City's Dr Martens Premier

  • 11/4/03 - Webster looks to stay on goal trail

    ILLNESS sidelined Adam Webster during Worcester City's flying start to the season but he has bounced back to become a key figure in the side. While collectively City's form has dipped of late Webster has remained a model of consistency built on his incredible

  • 7/4/03 - Double red card setback for City

    WORCESTER City's hopes of a top two finish have been dealt a blow by the double dismissal of David Foy and Dan Jones in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Cambridge City. Foy will miss three key games after his red card for violent conduct in stoppage time which

  • 5/4/03 - Middleton beats spot kick nerves

    DARREN Middleton exorcised a few spot kick de-mons last weekend with two penalties on his way to a match-winning hat-trick. The Worcester City midfielder confessed to a few nerves before taking the first of the penalties against Weymouth after missing

  • 31/3/03 - Barton targets runners-up spot

    WORCESTER City rekindled hopes of a top two finish with a 3-1 victory over Weymouth at the weekend inspired by a Darren Middleton hat-trick. Manager John Barton was relieved to see his side claim their first win in five games although he admitted it had

  • 29/3/03 - Tuohy in backing for City's Counsell

    MITCH Counsell could prove to be a real gem, according to Worcester City's assistant manager Mick Tuohy. The 20-year-old arrived from Hellenic side Bishop's Cleeve at the end of January but has started eight of City's last nine games. Tuohy has been impressed

  • 28/3/03 - Mick tips City to finish in fine style

    MICK Tuohy believes Worcester City have the mental strength to emerge from a poor run of results and finish the season strongly. City's assistant manager admits to being puzzled by their dip in form but with professional pride at stake is confident the

  • 24/3/03 - Burrow decides to quit City

    MARC Burrow has been forced to quit Worcester City due to work commitments. The 25-year-old revealed he has been struggling to juggle the demands of his job with playing football. Worcester-based Burrow is training to be a quantity surveyor but is also

  • 24/3/03 - Barton targets goals reward

    WORCESTER City manager John Barton has urged his players to be ruthless in front of goal ahead of tonight's clash with Halesowen Town at St George's Lane (7.45). Barton's misfiring side have managed just two league wins in their last eight games and paid

  • 22/3/03 - City boss backing Owen to find form

    MANAGER John Barton believes next season will be make or break for Worcester City ace Mark Owen. The prolific forward has still to recapture the form that saw him plunder more than 100 goals for the club but the St George's Lane boss is not giving up

  • 21/3/03 - Middleton back for City

    JOINT leading scorer Darren Middleton, with 14 goals, returns to Worcester City's line-up tomorrow to inject some much-needed goal threat. Manager John Barton is poised to hand the 24-year-old his first start in seven weeks at Havant & Waterlooville

  • 21/3/03 - Heeley backing City to find form

    CARL HEELEY is backing City to rediscover the winning habit at Havant & Waterlooville tomorrow and reignite their charge for runners up spot. Worcester's captain is the first to admit last week's Tiverton display was dire but refuses to allow that

  • 20/3/03 - Snape targets early return

    JOHN Snape is on course to return to first team action before the end of the season. The Worcester City midfielder is making good progress after recovering from groin surgery and will begin a rehabilitation programme next week. The 33-year-old underwent

  • 7/3/03 - Snape targets quick return

    JOHN Snape believes Worcester City's title chances have been damaged by too many draws but has not ruled out a late challenge to leaders Tamworth. The midfielder, ecovering from a groin operation this week, predicts a shoot-out with Chippenham Town and

  • 3/3/03 - Barton sees red in card verdict

    AN ugly melee threatened to spoil Worcester City's top-of-the-table clash with Chippenham Town on Saturday. Striker Martin Paul sparked angry protests by City players following a late lunge at goalkeeper Danny McDonnell after the forward had over-run

  • 1/3/03 - Hot-shot Middleton aiming to win City shoot-out

    DARREN Middleton is hoping to declare himself fit this weekend to resume his shoot-out with Adam Webster to become Worcester City's leading scorer. Both players have scored 14 times in league and cup action but recently Middleton has been hampered by

  • 28/2/03 - Counsell adapting well to City life

    MITCH Counsell has undergone a steep learning curve in his brief Worcester City career but is adapting well thanks to some verbal rockets from his new team mates. The 20-year-old has made a seamless transition from the Hellenic League to the Dr Martens

  • D27/2/03 - efender may stay with City

    WORCESTER City manager John Barton is in talks to extend Mark Blount's loan spell at the club. The Burton defender has been at St George's Lane since Boxing Day. Under Dr Martens Lea-gue rules, players can be on loan for a maximum of 92 days and Blount

  • 26/2/03 - Barton agrees extended contract

    MANAGER John Barton has pledged to continue Worcester City's revival after signing a two-year contract extension. The 49-year-old former Everton and Derby County full back has agreed to a deal which will keep him at the club until 2005. Barton has masterminded

  • 25/2/03 - City slip back to third spot in the table

    WORCESTER City have slipped back to third place in the Dr Martens League Premier Division. Chippenham leap-frogged them into second after a 3-1 win at Hednesford last night, setting up a mouth-watering clash between the two sides at St George's Lane on

  • 22/2/03 - Owen determined to win his battle for fitness

    WORCESTER City ace Mark Owen has vowed to put nearly 18 months of injury misery behind him and win his battle for fitness. The 25-year-old has been dogged by niggling injuries since recovering from a broken leg in October 2001, the latest a stomach muscle

  • 21/2/03 - Hadley hit by injury hoodoo

    INJURY-jinxed Stewart Hadley is out of Worcester City's side to face Grantham Town tomorrow. The striker, only just back from nearly a year out with an Achilles problem, is suffering from a sore groin. Adam Webster, last week's hat-trick hero in the 6

  • 18/2/03 - Barton waits on Worcester injury updates

    MANAGER John Barton is being forced to play a game of wait and see with Worcester City's injury list. Training was scrapped last night to concentrate on treatment of players carrying knocks, but the St George's Lane boss will have a clearer idea of availability

  • 17/2/03 - City in six-goal title reminder

    WORCESTER City banged out a six-goal reminder that their season is far from over. John Barton's side romped to a 6-0 win at St George's Lane which plunged Folkestone to the bottom of the Dr Martens Premier Division. Striker Adam Webster stole the glory

  • 14/2/03 - Shail is poised for City recall

    MARK Shail is poised to make a dramatic return to first team action for Worcester City against lowly Folkestone Invicta at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm). The veteran defender has not featured in the Dr Martens Premier Division campaign since limping

  • 14/2/03 - City ace hopes for another call-up

    IT'S unlikely the red carpet will be rolled out for Adam Wilde at St George's Lane tomorrow but it wouldn't matter anyway - the winger is still walking on cloud nine after his England appearance. The 24-year-old represented the National Game XI against

  • 12/2/03 - Wilde creates history for City

    ADAM Wilde made history last night in England's National Game XI 3-1 defeat against Belgium's U20 team in Ostend. The winger became the first Worcester City player to represent his country while playing for the St George's Lane club. Wilde, signed from

  • 6/2/03 - Willetts leaves City

    TEENAGE striker Duncan Willetts has been released by Worcester City. The 18-year-old arrived at St George's Lane as a trialist in the summer but has failed to win a place in the first team. He made just two starts for City with three substitute appearances

  • 3/2/03 - City pay for two minutes madness

    BOSS John Barton admitted Margate's two goals inside two minutes had knocked the stuffing out of his Worcester City side. The St George's Lane club crashed out of the FA Trophy 2-0 -- but for 70 minutes proved equal to the challenge posed by their Nationwide

  • 1/2/03 - Sorensen remains hopeful

    WORCESTER City chairman Dr Mike Sorensen remains hopeful that a two feeder league to the Conference will be introduced sooner rather than later. The Football Association has scrapped Nationwide Conference plans to introduce a similar scheme next season

  • Runaway lovers in hiding

    RUNAWAY lovers Matthew Brooks and Naomi Mills are in hiding as they look set to make thousands from their headline-grabbing relationship. The former police officer and his schoolgirl fiance told a Sunday newspaper how they planned to marry, and more of

  • 30/1/03 - Kinnear puts the pressure on City

    MARGATE manager Chris Kinnear has no fears about playing at St George's Lane in Saturday's FA Trophy clash. Every match this season has been an away day for the Nationwide Conference club who are ground-sharing with Dover Athletic while their Hartsdown

  • Art student is making a mark

    LECTURERS at University College Worcester are backing one of their students to win the fourth series of hit reality TV show Big Brother. Head of art and design Maureen Gamble was stunned to see Annuszka Nowak, of Malvern, starring in the Channel 4 show

  • M-bike rider dies in crash

    A BIKER died after his motorcycle was in collision with a car in Eckington. A female driver and male passenger in the car were released by fire crews. The woman was taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital, while the man was airlifted to Selly

  • 27/1/03 - Barton: Don't write us off yet!

    JOHN Barton refused to write off Worcester City's title hopes despite seeing his side slip up at Moor Green at the weekend. The St George's Lane club wasted a glorious chance for victory when Darren Middleton missed a 77th minute penalty and now lie five

  • Pensioners up in arms over changes

    PLANS to scrap pension books have angered elderly residents who see the new scheme as inconvenient and unsafe. The Department for Work and Pensions is replacing benefit books with a scheme where cash is paid directly into a bank or building society account

  • 25/1/03 - City step up plans to sniff out talented youngsters

    WORCESTER City is in the process of selecting their next batch of promising youngsters for their academy. The St George's Lane club has the first of three trial dates starting next month on February 17 at County Sports. Academy youth development officer

  • 24/1/03 - Mitch set for his City debut

    NEW signing Mitch Counsell is expected to make his debut for Worcester City in tomorrow's clash at Moor Green (3pm). The midfielder, who has signed from Hellenic side Bishop's Cleeve, impressed during a full-scale practice match last night and City's

  • Police pelted as they break up rave party

    AN illegal rave party that drew 3,000 revellers to a hamlet throughout the Bank Holiday weekend is being investigated by police. Hordes of people first flocked to an area of Herefordshire farmland on Saturday night, West Mercia police said. Though some

  • 24/1/03 - Skipper Heeley is relishing challenge

    OLD foes Carl Heeley and Rob Elmes will renew rivalries in Worcester City's game at Moor Green tomorrow (3pm). The two veterans have locked horns several times down the years and City's captain is preparing himself for another bruising encounter with

  • Journey to the past provides plenty of fun

    VISITORS to Avoncroft museum, near Bromsgrove, were transported back more than 60 years when a re-enactment group put on a Fabulous Forties fun event over the Bank Holiday weekend. The Eye on the Past group set up a fully- furnished 1946 prefab house,

  • 23/1/03 - Sneekes rejects City

    EX-West Brom star Richard Sneekes has rejected a chance to join Worcester City and instead announced his retirement. Manager John Barton had been in talks with the Dutch ace, who had been playing in the Danish League until Christmas. The 34-year-old former

  • Paramedics train to conquer floods

    PARAMEDICS are preparing to fight back with a pioneering new water safety strategy after being left high and dry by floods over recent years. Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service is determined not to be found wanting if floods strike again in the

  • 20/1/03 - City to discuss racism reports

    DOVER goalkeeper Paul Hyde was accused of racially abusing and spitting at Paul Carty during Worcester City's 1-0 defeat at St George's Lane. City's board are due to discuss the matter at a meeting tomorrow and referee Stephen Castle has documented complaints

  • Liz does her bit for the planet

    THE Worcestershire Member of the European Parliament will this week officially launch a new ecologically-friendly scheme run by a charity that works with disabled people. Liz Lynne will open Worcestershire Lifestyle's LIFEtech Project on Friday, which

  • 18/1/03 - City midfielder set to step up recovery schedule

    DAVID Foy is set to lift spirits in the Worcester City camp in the next two weeks with a return to training after more than four months on the sidelines. The 30-year-old midfielder was carried off with a knee injury in the 0-0 draw with Tamworth on September

  • Women set to lose out over pensions

    DOZENS of widows and older women in Worcestershire are facing a triple blow to their pensions due to a number of problems that occurred several years ago. People who chose to rely on pension provision through their husband's National Insurance Contribution

  • Chance to see life in the roar with the Lions

    TIME is an increasingly rare commodity but those people who do have some spare are wanted by a local charity organisation. The Worcester Lions Club is run by volunteers who give their time and energy to help people who need it. The Lions' motto is "we

  • Toddlers are urged to step out to raise charity cash

    GET your toddlers toddling and help raise money for disabled children in Worcestershire. Actor Christopher Timothy has launched the Foresters Big Toddle for Barnardo's to encourage under-fives to take little steps for a giant cause. The Toddle is the

  • Town votes for unique statue

    Residents of Evesham have been urged to flock together to remember the town's most famous son. A three metre high statue of herdsman Eof, whose visionary experience of the Virgin Mary led to the building of Evesham Abbey, is planned for Market Place.

  • Government clamp down on car crime

    TOUGH new Government measures to tackle car crime and vehicle dumping will help West Mercia police catch tax and insurance dodgers. The scheme, launched this week by transport minister David Jamieson will tighten up the licensing system, which will also

  • 11/1/03 - Blount is on mark to deliver the goods

    AS a postman Mark Blount is used to delivering the goods and he put his stamp on last weekend's top of the table clash at Tamworth with the opening goal. Strangely for a man who notched nine goals for Burton Albion in their Unibond Premier Division winning

  • 10/1/03 - Charlton leaves as City seek revenge

    WORCESTER City's injury-ravaged squad has been further depleted with Asa Charlton's sudden departure to Halesowen Town. Manager John Barton is now without five first-team stars -- Mark Owen plus the long-term injured quartet of Mark Shail, Stewart Hadley

  • 8/1/03 - City planning early inspection

    WORCESTER City have put Nationwide Conference referee Steve Dorr on standby for an early pitch inspection at St George's Lane ahead of Saturday's FA Trophy third round clash with Newport County. The Worcester-based official has been earmarked to carry

  • Worcester's war on waste is stepped up

    EFFORTS to double the amount of household waste recycled in Worcester over the next 12 months are moving closer. Recycling starter packs are being delivered to 38,000 homes in the city in the next week in preparation for a major shake-up in domestic refuse

  • 7/1/03 - Snape relives horror tackle

    WORCESTER City midfielder John Snape today revealed the full horror of the tackle that has sidelined him for a month. The St George's Lane favourite was left writhing in agony after a challenge by ex-Leicester City captain Steve Walsh in Saturday's 2-

  • 6/1/03 - Snape setback mars City's joy

    WORCESTER City's sensational 2-1 victory at rivals Tamworth has been overshadowed by the loss of John Snape. The midfielder is ruled out for at least a month with medial ligament damage after injuring himself in a shuddering clash with the Lambs' Steve