Loyal York Wasps' servant Chris Hopcutt today finally admitted defeat in his bid to battle back from injury.

Hopcutt, who turned 31 yesterday, harboured hopes of returning to the game ever since smashing his left knee 19 months ago.

But now he has accepted that the knee will never get back to its best and has decided to hang up his boots.

"Since I did it I've been training three times a week and it's got a lot stronger, but no way is it as strong as it used to be.

"I don't think it will get any better," conceded Hopcutt, who would have been due his testimonial next November for ten years service to the club.

"I can walk and run, but it still gives way now and then. If I took a knock it would go."

Hopcutt fractured and dislocated his left knee cap, and snapped the patella tendon, during a match against Swinton at Huntington Stadium on March 14, 1999.

It brought down the curtain on a York career which began in 1991 after he signed from New Earswick All Blacks. He went on to make 139 appearances, mainly in the three-quarters, and scored 49 tries.

However, the best came in an Alliance match, as he recalled: "It was the first season I signed in a game at Sheffield. Steve Craven was playing and he passed to me just in front of my own sticks. We were getting beaten by two points and I went the full length of the field and scored. I didn't score many of those!"

Two matches stand out - the Challenge Cup first round tie at Leeds in the 1991-92 season, and the 21-20 victory at Bramley in 1998.

Looking back at the Bramley game, Hopcutt reflected: "It was after the (players') strike and I think we had to win the last six games to get promotion. I'd been left out of the previous game but I played and scored a try and kicked two goals and we won by a point. I'll always remember that game.

"When we played Leeds in the Challenge Cup I was 18th man but we had a winger on loan and he was injured so I got called up. It was on Grandstand and John Gallagher was playing for Leeds. That was a great day."

He now has to be content with watching the current York side, which is not easy. "I'd still love to play and I still miss it. When there's nothing happening and you're not watching or training you don't bother as much. But when the season starts again you do miss it.

"I miss the atmosphere in the training room and the lads. But if I went out and played and it went again I wouldn't be able to do my job."

Hopcutt now works as a carpet fitter alongside his former team-mates Leigh Deakin and Andy Precious.

That keeps him busy, as does watching his sons Jamie, aged eight, and Darryl, 11, playing football. Jamie is currently at York City's Academy, while Darryl plays for Hamilton Panthers.

And he can still be found at Huntington Stadium on Sundays lending his support to the Wasps.