After two years at Queens Park Rangers without appearing in the first team, Worthington made his Football League debut with Watford after joining in August 1949. He combined his duties as a schoolmaster and professional footballer, making 30 appearances for the Hornets over two seasons before dropping into non–league with Dover.[2] A prolific spell with Dover saw a brief return to the league ranks with Bradford City in September 1953, before, weeks later, he was back in Kent with Margate while doing a teacher training course.
Worthington remained with Margate eight years, overcoming injuries to make 243 appearances in both attack and midfield, scoring 36 goals and captaining the team on occasion. He retired in 1961 to take up a position at Loughborough College.[3]
Coaching career
Worthington was the original manager of the England women's national football team, taking charge for their first official match against Scotland in 1972.[3] The following year he was appointed director of coaching by Australian Soccer Federation and was tasked with overhauling the entire structure of football coaching in Australia.[4] He was later hailed as an "outstanding servant" and "pioneer",[3] though his administration's apparent preference for British coaches led to allegations of "jobs for the boys" and a "pommie mafia".[5] In 1975 Worthington took charge of the Australia national soccer team for four friendlies at B level.[6]
Worthington coached the Papua New Guinea national team during their Olympic qualifiers in 1976. He retired as director of coaching in 1989 and his last official role was taking an Australian student select team to his home city of Sheffield for the 1991 Summer Universiade.[4] He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999.[3]
