VETERAN Hereford player Rob Purdie says he has never worked so hard as he tries to help the Bulls to another promotion.

Purdie has been playing the game for 18 years, but says he can't rest on his laurels because he knows he could easily lose his place in the first team.

"It's the hardest I have worked in an off-season since I started playing football when I was a professional at Leicester at 16," said Purdie.

"That is because I know we've got Mike McGrath, Calvin Dinsley and Jamie Edge in a similar position to me and I know they're going to work hard."