Forward George Reilly, who scored Watford's winning goal in the 1984 FA Cup semi-final, has had his ear bitten off by a disgruntled Plymouth fan who had held a grudge over his team's defeat for 19 years.

Reilly, a 6 feet 4 inch striker became a bricklayer after hanging up his boots and was working on a building site in Corby, Northants when a labourer punched him to the ground, The Sun newspaper has reported. The attacker chewed off one of Reilly's ears and whispered 'Plymouth' into the other one. Doctors had to use 50 stitches to sew 45-year-old Reilly's ear back on.

Plymouth lost the semi-final 1-0 -- the closest they have ever come to reaching the FA Cup final. Watford lost 2-0 to Everton in the final. "I can't believe someone has held a grudge for that long," said Reilly, who also played for Newcastle United. "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, who said he may call in the police, added: "The bloke was from Plymouth but he has vanished from the building site. I don't know who he is."