[1] A midfielder, he made his Torquay debut whilst still a trainee, coming on as a late substitute for Kevin Hill in a 4–0 win at home against Halifax Town on 6 March 1999.
He turned professional in July 1999, but made just one further appearance, as a substitute for Chris Brandon in a 3–0 win away to Gillingham in the Football League Trophy on 7 December 1999, before being released by Torquay manager Wes Saunders the following February.
Later that month he signed for non-league Bideford, managed by former Torquay United player Sean William Joyce.
He was released, as part of a mass clearout, by the Pirates at the end of the 2003–04 season, shortly before playing in the victorious Devon side which won the 2004 County Cup Final, Worthington scoring a late try[5] and despite being named as the club's 'Sportsman of the Year'.
[1] In July 2005 he moved to UA Gaillac and helped the side to promotion to Pro D2 for the first time in their history.