WORCESTER City are on the lookout for their third manager in just over a decade after Carl Heeley resigned after seven years in the hotseat.
Observer sports editor Rob George looks at Heeley’s career with the Blue and Whites – from player to captain, manager and the legacy of ‘King Carl’.
“I’M HURT when I am criticised when I am putting my family second to this football club and I have to be honest with myself. If people think it’s easy and they can do better they might get the opportunity now.”
Less than 24 hours later he was gone, the King dethroned by a combination of results, weariness and the criticism which has stung a man who has sunk his heart and soul into Worcester City.
Carl Heeley’s near two decade affiliation with the Blue and Whites began in August 1994 when the then 25-year-old midfielder signed on the dotted line at St George’s Lane.
During a near 11 year playing spell, Heeley rose from player to captain under the tutelage of George Rooney, Graham Allner and John Barton.
After two years away with Hinckley and the now defunct Bromsgrove Rovers, Heeley returned to St George’s Lane to see out his career, serving as assistant manager to Richard Dryden.
When Dryden left the club, the reins were handed to Heeley in what was to become one of the most dramatic and exhilarating periods in the history of the Blue and Whites.
His ability to work on a shoestring budget, bringing the best of the playing staff he could assemble was a feature of his seven years in the managers chair.
But Heeley’s greatest strength was transferring the passion he displayed on the field on to the touchline, ensuring all those who took to the field gave their best in a City shirt.
It was a passion which ensured City retained their Conference North, now National League North status every year apart from in 2010 when the Blue and Whites were only pulled back above the trapdoor owing to Farsley Celtic going out of the business.
A thrilling campaign in 2011/12 even saw the possibility of Worcester City being involved in the play offs for promotion to the Conference, but the Blue and Whites fell just five points short.
Perhaps it was fate as on April 27, 2013 it was left to Heeley to lead Worcester City out for the final game at St George’s Lane before the bulldozers moved in to end 108 years of football in the Faithful City.
As City began their time in exile, first in Kidderminster at Aggborough and latterly at the Victoria Ground in Bromsgrove, Heeley presided over two memorable cup runs which brought the Blue and Whites national attention.
After Rugby Town, Leamington and Greenwich Borough were seen off, Worcester City were handed a first round tie against Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena in November 2014.
In true David v Goliath fashion, a brace from Sean Geddes secured a sensational 2-1 win in one of the most memorable giant-killings in FA Cup history.
A 1-1 draw at Scunthorpe United in the second round saw a replay at Aggborough in front of the television cameras and an agonising penalty shoot out which finished 14-13 to City’s league opponents.
The following season saw another cup run and a trip to Sheffield United in the first-round which ended in a 3-0 defeat.
While the cup runs cemented Heeley’s legacy they also served as somewhat of a distraction to the main priority of ensuring City’s National League North status.
After the Blue and Whites were dumped out 3-0 by Brackley Town in the third qualifying round this year, a clearly frustrated Heeley lashed out and said the club had been ‘spoiled’ by such conquests.
As sports editor I saw both sides of Carl Heeley, a man who loved talking football and how he wanted the game to be played but also the anger and frustration when games had been thrown away due to silly mistakes.
None of it was for effect, it was genuine dedication to the job and a passion to succeed no matter what the challenge.
I can think of no better tribute to sum up the man who has given the two decades of service to Worcester City.
He will be an extraordinarily hard act to follow.