Following his first goal for Worcester City on Tuesday night, Bobbie Dale will now be hoping to kick on as he prepares for a first full-season of football in five years.

The former Cheltenham Town youth product was brought to the club by manager Tim Harris last summer but a double leg break in his first appearance of the pre-season ruled him out for the entirety of the 2021/22 campaign.

Following his release from Cheltenham in 2016, two knee surgeries followed and once Covid had pretty much killed off all football for two years, Dale admits the severe leg break made him question whether an injury-hit career was coming to an abrupt end.

"When I left Cheltenham and had the knee surgeries, I started to rehab them but I did not want to do it. I didn't have that passion," said the 26-year-old.

"I think I had that drained out of me over the years having just constantly been injured and constantly trying to prove myself.

"It got to a point where I really was not interested in football but having a few years out and then Covid, it really helped me do that. I took a complete break from it and when Tim called it was a perfect fit for me, on my doorstep and someone I knew really well.

"So when I was being stretchered off last season, I remember saying to everyone that I was done, I am not doing it again and at the time I think I did mean it,"

"But just reflecting on it afterwards, I put a lot of effort into getting fit to a degree and getting my body right after a lot of injuries, so I thought to pack it in then would have been a waste of the time I had put in."

Dale has been out of action since Tuesday's 4-0 win over Moreton but it did not stop him from travelling to watch City's games and being involved with the squad off the pitch.

"Last year was my first year wanting to get back into it so it was a shame to get injured like that but it did not put me off," added Dale.

"It was about three or four weeks where I couldn't really move but then I was back in the gym on my crutches, which was a wake up call for me, it pushed me to want to do it even more.

"I think the injury set back has further pushed me on to really want to get after it this year and really prove a point."

Whilst some have given up on Dale through his arduous time with injuries, Worcester boss Harris has not.

The manager frequently outlined his frustration that the striker was not available to him last season, as he believes he is capable of being a ruthless goalscorer at this level.

Having spent time under Harris on a handful of occasions on loan at Gloucester City, Dale is now ready to give back to his good friend.

"I have known Tim since about 15/16 years old and he has always been good to me so this move was a perfect fit," said Dale.

"He wants me to succeed and he talks about it quite a lot and I think that is due to our relationship on a personal level but I would love to be be able to lift a few trophies with him.

"He is the polar opposite to what he is like on the side of a football pitch.

"He's a funny bloke, very knowledgeable and has time for everyone, and not just in football terms. If you ever have something going on in your life he is always on the other end of the phone, even players that don't play for him anymore.

"He is an all round top bloke and someone that makes you want to play for him."

As the weeks close in on the upcoming campaign, Dale is keen to continue gaining minutes and scoring goals but a personal target remains a secret.

"I have my own personal targets but they will be kept to myself," he added.

"I saw a lot last season of what I can capitalise on. But for me, it's not about how many goals I score, it's about what we can achieve as a group, we all know what the goal is this season so it's about us."