Legendary goalkeeper John Burridge begins a multi-million pound law suit today after a Middle East push bike accident which, he claims, has ruined his life.

Now the man the entire football world knew as "Budgie" is nicknamed Steve Austin - after the fictional Six Million Dollar Man rebuilt by medical science.

The former fitness fanatic is registered 35 per cent disabled, depends upon daily Prozac and can neither stretch his arms nor catch a ball. "It's been absolutely devastating, like a violinist having his hands chopped off," said his wife, Janet.

Burridge, 50 next week, totalled 798 senior games in the English and Scottish football leagues, played in the Premiership at 45 and appeared for almost 30 clubs, including Newcastle United and Darlington.

"People say that I still look fit for my age but for 33 years I was the hardest trainer in Britain," he said. "I'll never get my fitness back now and I've had to have a lot of counselling, an awful lot, because of it."

The accident happened in Oman, where he is a national coach, in 1999. Burridge was cycling home from his daily weight training session at the national stadium when a van pulled into the cycle lane in front of him.

As he moved out to overtake, he was hit by a car travelling at 70mph in the opposite direction and was dragged for 50 yards beneath it. He had 147 stitches, has undergone three skin grafts and several other operations.

One arm is shorter than the other, he is unable to grip, has a damaged nervous system, cannot walk without a "wobble" and is in constant back pain.

The van's owner, also British, cannot be named for legal reasons. "If you knew who it was, you'd realise it's a massive story, it's an awful lot of money we're going for," he said.

Backed by the Professional Footballers' Association, today's preliminary hearing, in Manchester, will be asked to rule whether the case can go ahead in an English court.

Burridge, who in the 1990s lived in Durham and owned a chain of North-East sports shops, is still coaching in Oman, but is unable to join in.

"I go through agony every day. It kills me and I'm very bitter about it," he said during a return visit to England. "People say I still look fantastic for a man of 50, but it's only the pills which keep me going."

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