George Coppock with his wife Nancy and dog Alexander.

People who keenly followed Burnley's progress in the FA Youth Cup 10 years ago remember one goal vividly. It was scored by local boy George Coppock and made him a hero for the night. In true storybook style George came on as a second-half substitute and scored the winning goal, which put the Clarets through to the final. Although he played in only two of the nine Youth Cup matches that year George's goal in one of the most exciting and incident-packed matches of the competition, earned him a place in the history books.

But his experience of professional soccer was brief. He quit when he was 17 and now professes he lost interest or enthusiasm for the sport. It was as a free-scoring forward for St Theodore's that George first came to the attention of soccer club scouts. He once scored eight goals in a match for his school team and was eagerly sought by several clubs. Manchester City, Blackpool, Preston and Oldham all wanted to sign him. But he chose Burnley after some gentle persuasion from his parents, because it was the local club.

George's semi-final goal against Everton could hardly have been more dramatic. After a 0-0 draw in the first leg away, Burnley saw a 2-0 lead wiped out in the return. Full-back Eddie Cliff was injured and George came on at the start of the second half with David Hartley switching to defence. In the 66th minute he met a free-kick from Dave Thomas at the far post to spectacularly volley the ball into the net in front of a crowd of 8,452. The following season began badly for George, who had to go into hospital for a cartilage operation. By the time he had fully recovered he was nearing his 17th birthday, the age at which many players were signed as professionals. Burnley asked George if he would stay on as an apprentice, with the prospect of turning professional later if he showed sufficient promise. But George was unhappy with life at Turf Moor and wanted to get away. He asked for his release and it was granted. The chance of a trial with Stoke City fell through and so George went to Bury for a month, at the end of which he was told he wasn't wanted. He then moved on to Halifax until the end of 1968-69 season before packing in professional soccer completely.

He went to work for Michelin and stayed for five years before taking up his present job as an agent for the Prudential Assurance Company three years ago. After a spell with Clitheroe in the Lancashire Combination George now plays for Padiham West End in the Burnley and District League. George lived at Bacup for several years before moving back to Burnley recently. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Glen View Road and the couple are expecting their first child in June. Now far removed from the professional soccer scene George looks back on his days at Burnley Football club as an unhappy time. He said: "From the age of 10 all I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer, but as soon as I started I didn't like it. But the youth cup run provided the one happy memory. The friends I made and the enjoyment I got from the youth cup run are things I'll always appreciate.