AS WORCESTER City approached the end of an eighth season without silverware then-manager George Rooney sought a Midas touch.

In Trevor Whittington City found just that, lifting the Worcestershire Senior Cup in 1997 with the help of the swashbuckling left-back signed from Redditch United late in the previous campaign.

Initially reluctant to leave the Reds having made the town his home during early adulthood, Whittington shifted just before the registration window slammed shut having helped firefighting boss Phil Mullen to complete the most unlikely of relegation escapes.

Born in Weoley Castle, Birmingham, Whittington started out playing for £3 per week at Northfield Town before being picked up by Redditch where he became a regular alongside the likes of future City favourite Paul Molloy and the fiery Darren Bullock.

It was a true heyday for United, reaching the first round proper of the FA Cup in 1989 – a stage they have not reached since – before lifting the Staffordshire Senior Cup later that season.

Ex-Reds boss Frank O’Hare teed up a trial at Walsall but Whittington opted for a switch to Telford United where he played in the team that trumped Stoke City in the FA Cup first round and reached the last eight of the FA Trophy. He would also notch the winner in a Shropshire Senior Cup final success over Shrewsbury Town.

He later joined Evesham United and Solihull Borough, doing his bit to topple Aston Villa to lift the Birmingham Senior Cup with the latter, before returning to Redditch under City favourite Mick Tuohy for the start of the 1995-96 season.

Tuohy endured a tough time and was replaced by Mullen with the new man losing one of his stars when City came calling despite the team's resurgence.

Whittington made a total of 62 appearances in blue and white with 53 in his only full season at St George’s Lane. He bagged four goals, including one in the 3-0 Worcestershire Senior Cup semi-final success over Stourbridge.

His other strikes came at home to Sudbury and Atherstone and then at Gloucester as City finished 10th in a Southern League Premier Division up against current Football League clubs Cheltenham Town, Burton Albion, Crawley Town and Newport.

In the cup final, Paul Harding and Andy Power netted in a 2-0 away success with a 1-1 draw enough to seal the deal in front of 510 at home. Richard Evans got the goal.

“It was great to play for Worcester, it was a massive club back in the day. Potentially it still is,” said Whittington.

“It was always going to be hard to leave because of the affinity I have with Redditch, which is still there to this day but I always wanted to play for Worcester.

"It was just a massive club and such a big draw, some of the players they had back then were great and they had the fanbase. There were some really special Monday nights, especially when you played a Burton or other big sides.

“You had the likes of Ian Cottrill, Steve Fergusson and John McGrath at the club when I joined. We had a great side and while I know he got some stick over the years, George Rooney was a great manager as well."

Whittington, who celebrated his 50th birthday earlier this year, can be found at Redditch United home games where he is a matchday ambassador, regaling stories of yesteryear to fans and sponsors.

“I had 10-12 years at Redditch on and off and had some great times,” he added.

“Our team was the last to reach the FA Cup first round and over my career with different clubs, I must have won all of the county cups locally. They were some great times.

“I enjoy my role now. I sit back and tell people about my story and the history, that’s what it is all about.

“You cannot beat the good old days, can you?”

I’m sure City fans will agree with you there, Trev.

*Worcester News would like to thank Worcester City historian Julian Pugh for his assistance with our nostalgia articles.