OVER 50 guests at Swaffham Town Football Club’s Sportsman’s Dinner were kept enthralled by former Norwich City and Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington at the Conservative Club last Friday.

Worthington responded to many diverse questions about his career and the state of football in general on a night which all agreed was a great success.

Football club chairman Wayne Hardy said he was delighted that the evening had gone so well considering the inclement weather and expressed special thanks to the West Norfolk Flying Chef for the three course meal and to the Conservative Club for the use of their facilities.

“This has been the third Sportsman’s Dinner held by the club with each to be remembered through its own merits,” he added.

“Nigel Worthington kindly allowed us to probe into his past and discover some facts and history which only he could provide. He is a true gentleman of the game.”

He also thanked Paul Annakin and Steve Choppen for their organisation of the event and added that it is the club’s intention to repeat the Sportsperson’s Dinner next year.

The dinner provided some diversion from the frustration of another week without any action on the pitch due to the icy weather.

Although the two week break has helped players nursing or returning from injuries to further their recovery, it has certainly not been welcomed by manager Paul Hunt.

“We were hitting a nice run of form and had put together some good performances, so I would rather we’d carried on,” said Hunt, whose men face a potentially daunting return to action with back to back away games against title-chasers Whitton United this weekend and March the following Saturday.

Ironically, one of the newly recovered first teamers who should have been returning on Saturday, school teacher Jack Redhead, is unavailable because he has an assessment at the end of a week-long coaching course.

Centre-forward Aaron Clifford is a doubt because of a back injury while Richard Cornwall – an obvious replacement – has a hamstring injury.

“It could be another opportunity for another of our young lads,” said Hunt. “It would be something of a baptism of fire, but Tom Bailey had to step up recently and came through with flying colours, so this could be a chance for someone else.”

On Thursday the Under-18s travel to Newmarket (7.45pm) while on Saturday the reserves are at home to Marlingford (2.30pm) and the A team go to Northwold Sports & Social Club (2pm). On Sunday the veterans visit Costessy Sports (2pm).