WHEN musician Pete York's back went during training for his daughter's football team he collapsed and feared he would be paralysed, unable to play guitar again.

When he came round to the sound of dance music he vowed that if he could no longer strum the guitar he would become a famous DJ instead and four years later he is to perform at one of the biggest venues in the country with the backing of celebrity DJ Norman Cook.

Pete was coaching his young daughter Chloe in a Brighton junior football team one Sunday morning when he went to pick up the ball and his back suddenly collapsed.

He was carried off the pitch and rushed to hospital.The musician was told he needed to have a life-saving operation so he had to pull out of gigs, tours, and a trip to Los Angeles was cancelled.

As he came round from anaesthetic in the recovery room he heard a 1990s house dance song playing and told the nurse that if he couldn't play guitar anymore, he was going to become a famous DJ instead.

She laughed. That was four years ago and tomorrow (Saturday evening) he will be at The O2 Arena in London with pal DJ Norman Cook - Brighton's very own Fatboy Slim.

For Pete - alias Juke of York - it's a dream come true.

He said: "After the operation I spent six months recovering at home. Every day I visualised being a DJ.

"Eventually I started to walk again, slowly getting better. I was broke - a single dad - but a mate lent me some money to buy some decks and a laptop.

"I started playing, making all the tracks I had written while I was lying in recovery."

He first hooked up with Norman Cook when the offered his services as a support DJ, this time to Pete’s band Jonny Quality, back in 2008.

They had stayed in touch but after the op Pete decided to send Norman a tape of his work.

Norman's verdict: "wonderful, honest, organic and soulful."

Pete, 42, who lives in Brighton, said: "He loved it and suddenly everything took off. He asked me to warm up for him at the Float your Boat closing party in Ibiza.

"The crowd reaction was massive and I returned to the UK and had loads of requests to DJ at private parties and to produce tracks, which were both just great.

"Then Fatboy Slim asked me to warm up for him at the London O2 Arena – a capacity of 20,000.

"Wow! In five short months, I have gone from playing to 200 people to a potential 20,000.

"This is the best support any DJ could ask for - an endorsement by Fatboy Slim. He has been the perfect mentor to me."

Norman Cook added: "Pete can slay a club and a boat party – how different can an iconic arena be?"