WORCESTER City last successfully entered the ballot for election to the Football League 50 years ago – do you recognise any stars from that season?

City finished fifth on their return to the Southern League's top flight, then the joint-highest level in non-league football, in 1968-69 behind champions Cambridge United, Hillingdon Borough, Wimbledon and King's Lynn.

It was a star-studded team packed with professional experience with the jewel in the crown being summer recruit Ivor Allchurch, an inside forward with 68 caps for Wales and 692 Football League appearances for Swansea Town (now City), Newcastle United and Cardiff City.

Full-back Eddie Stuart (500), midfielder Cliff Huxford (322) and forwards Harry Middleton (223) and Brayley Reynolds (205) all boasted a wealth of professional games and it proved to be an enjoyable campaign.

The on-field highlight was a 7-2 thrashing of Kettering Town at St George's Lane with Middleton (3), Allchurch (2) and Reynolds (2) on the score sheet but it is probably the tantalising derby dates with Hereford that evoke the most vivid memories.

City's arch-rivals got sent packing twice in four days – 2-0 and 3-1 – in front of bumper crowds over Easter but that came after the Bulls had won the bragging rights in the fourth and final qualifying round of the FA Cup that saw two greats of Welsh football grace Edgar Street.

On the opposite side to Allchurch was John Charles, a Wales international centre-half formerly of Leeds United, Juventus and Roma, who powered home a header in City's 4-1 loss.

The encounter saw the visitors succumb to three goals in the final eight minutes, prompting reporter Peter Fulbrook to write: "Never have I seen a team collapse so dramatically but all praise to Hereford for the way they cashed in.

"After City's first-half performance, however, it would have taken a very brave man to predict the final score with eight minutes to go."

The 4,984 crowd would not be bettered at a City game home or away, although 4,864 packed into the Lane for the Southern League Cup match between the teams in August and 4,378 attended Worcester's home league match against the same opponents in April.

Many of the big names ended up leaving at the end of the season, including Allchurch and 14-goal top scorer Middleton.

As for the push for Division Four status, City succeeded in putting forward an application having failed to get that far for much of the sixties.

With just one vote that dream was dashed as York City, Newport County, Grimsby Town and Bradford Park Avenue – the Football League's bottom four – all got re-elected and City would never get as far as the ballot again.

TEAM PHOTO

Worcester City 1968-69

Back - Barry Gould, John Wood, Brian Tyrell, Howard Madley, Peter Isaac, Stan Round, Paddy Mullen, Roger Griffiths

Front - Ivor Allchurch, Ernie Ward, Eddie Stuart, Harry Middleton, Cliff Huxford