A FORMER North-East soccer star could lose his ear after a crazed thug with a grudge tried to bite it off.

Ex-Newcastle United striker George Reilly needed 50 stitches to sew his ear back on, after it was left dangling by a thread.

The attack happened on a building site where Reilly was working, near his home in Corby, Northants.

The thug punched the 45-year-old to the ground, bit off nearly his whole right ear and whispered the word "Plymouth" into Reilly's remaining ear.

The 6ft 4in striker scored the winner for Watford against Plymouth Argyle in the 1984 FA Cup semi-final and he believes his attacker had been bearing a grudge ever since.

He said: "I can't believe someone has held a grudge for that long.

"I know people have strong loyalties but this is taking it a bit far. This guy just punched me. I overpowered him and we were both lying in a pool of mud.

"Then he bit me. My ear was hanging by the lobe. I also needed eight stitches in my eye, so I'm in a bit of a mess."

Reilly left Watford shortly after scoring the goal that could cost him his ear.

He joined Newcastle United in 1985 and played for the Magpies for just one season, scoring ten goals in a total of 33 appearances.

Doctors have told the ex-striker that he could still lose the use of the damaged ear.