SIMON Richman says playing for Worcester City has helped him rediscover his love for football.

The 20-year-old winger admits he fell out with the game while languishing in Port Vale reserves last season.

But he has found a new lease of life after earning a place in Carl Heeley’s squad following a pre-season trial.

After coming off the bench in the first seven games of the campaign, the Liverpudlian has started the last three matches and is set to continue in the team for today’s FA Cup clash at Corby (3pm).

Ironically, it has been the knee injury to Shabir Khan that has allowed Richman to show what he is capable of as Neil Cartwright moved from right midfield to left-back.

But Richman said: “The main thing for me is I just want to be back playing and enjoying my football again.

“I had a tough year last season and I think I lost a lot of enjoyment for football. Now I’ve come to Worcester I am genuinely enjoying the game again and it’s great.

“I was playing reserves football and it is disheartening, you can’t get a first team game.

“I have had to bide my time and be patient but it’s great just getting a chance and a run in the team.

“I was a bit unlucky in the first 10 games because the midfield four played really well and didn’t give me a chance to get in that side.

“But Neil Cartwright has gone to left-back so that’s given me a chance on the right-hand side of midfield.

“I just wanted to start, wherever I played, and it’s great to be part of the team.”

Richman felt the 1-1 draw at Telford last Saturday showed what City were capable of as they built on their Boston FA Cup triumph.

He has now challenged his team-mates to string a run of results together as they bid to beat Corby today and then climb the Blue Square Bet North table in the coming weeks.

Richman said: “Telford is a tough place to go, they are third in the league so a draw was a really good result. But some of the lads came off the pitch really disappointed because we felt we could have won it and that’s a good thing in my eyes.

“We need to get ourselves on a run now and start getting some wins under our belts in the league.”