IT is hard to imagine that any future FA Cup semi-finalist will ever suffer from coal dust on the lungs when they hang up their Adidas Predator boots.

Margaret Thatcher's 1980s' crusade against England's collieries, of course, makes that an even remoter possibility but it is also unlikely that any modern-day footballer, given the opportunity, would combine playing duties with earning a living as a miner.

York City's 1955 Cup hero Sid Storey, however, had little choice in the matter.

The Coal Board would not release him from his contract and York City's inside-left - the Happy Wanderers' creative spark - worked at the pit through the week while helping the club reach the last four of football's most famous competition at the weekends.

Storey, who now experiences breathing difficulties, said: "I wasn't on the coal faces when I was playing for York. I came off them and worked in haulage.

"I took an easier job so I could play football. I was worse off financially but it was the only way I could play because they would not let me leave the pit and, when I started as a miner, it was either that or joining the army."

Storey scored City's first goal in the 3-1 fourth round victory at top amateur side Bishop Auckland 50 years ago today.

The Minstermen had earlier disposed of Stanley Matthews' Blackpool and would go on to beat Tottenham Hotspur before succumbing to Newcastle in the semi-finals and Storey admitted that their Northern League opponents were an easier proposition.

He said: "We were never in any trouble and we beat them comfortably. I scored the first goal. I didn't get many but it was left-footed like most of them."

Storey is slightly modest about his goalscoring prowess, having netted 42 times in 354 appearances during a nine-year career at Bootham Crescent.

He admits, however, that Arthur Bottom, who netted twice after Storey's goal to secure City's safe passage against Bishop Auckland, was the master at hitting the back of the net.

"Arthur did not contribute much to the team but when he got the ball he knew where to put it," Storey said. "He definitely knew how to score goals."

Barnsley-born Storey had earlier helped book City's fourth round clash with Auckland by grabbing the first goal in the 2-0 defeat of top-flight giants Blackpool.

There has been much debate ever since about whether Storey intended to open the scoring wide from the left flank and he has generously come clean, saying: "It was a fluke and a result of bad goalkeeping really.

"I think he actually put the ball in. It was a cross and there should not have been any danger."

But Storey would suffer a stroke of misfortune later in the competition when a freak back injury prevented him from playing in the first semi-final meeting with Newcastle.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw and many City supporters feel that had Storey have played, the outcome would have been different.

But City's skilful ball-player, who turned 35 during the famous cup run, selflessly put the teams' needs in front of his own, saying: "It was very disappointing to miss out on the semi-final and I think we should have won that game.

"Everything was in our favour. The game was at Sheffield on a heavy ground and I think we were the better team.

"I got the injury on the Thursday morning in the railway gym when we were throwing balls to one another and heading them. All of a sudden my back just went.

"When the game came round the decision was left to me and, if there had been substitutes I would have played, but I didn't want to break down after a few minutes and leave the team with ten men for the rest of the match.

"In hindsight, having played in the replay four days later, I think I could have played and maybe tried to help the lads win but that's football."

Storey admits the cup run represented the highlight of his football career and was made all the more special as it came in his twilight years.

He said: "I didn't think I would get that chance at that stage in my career although I went on to play for Bradford Park Avenue when I was 40 after York gave me a free transfer the next year, so I didn't have any trouble finding another club."

He returned to City as a trainer in 1960 for three years before later becoming a bus driver, being at the wheel during the 1983/84 championship-winning side's open top bus.

Storey, who still lives in York, sees former Happy Wanderers team-mates Norman Wilkinson and Gordon Brown when they call in before attending Minstermen matches.

He will also visit Bootham Crescent with his old pals as a guest at the Woking home match on February 19.

And a fortnight later, Storey will be celebrating a golden anniversary of his own.

On March 3, it will be 50 years since he married his wife Margaret amid the heady days of City's greatest ever FA Cup run.

The couple were wed on a Thursday, honeymooned in London where Storey managed to drag his new bride to White Hart Lane to watch Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City before then returning to York on Tuesday and reporting back to duty at Bootham Crescent a day later.

The Storeys have no special plans to mark the occasion and Sid laughed: "I've still got to think of something to buy her."

Updated: 11:04 Saturday, January 29, 2005