Footballer suffers neck injuries in game

A GOALKEEPER needed hospital treatment for neck injuries after being involved in a "sickening" collision with an opposing striker.

Andrew Waldock, 26, of Great Yeldham, had to be airlifted to the West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, after being injured during a game at the Newton Green recreation ground, just outside Sudbury, on Sunday.

Mr Waldock was playing for Halstead-based Supershooters against Sudbury's Bayhorse in the Martin's Builders Sunday League, when in the dying minutes he was involved in an accidental collision with an oncoming forward.

The goalkeeper was left crumpled on the pitch and unable to move. The game was halted and the East Anglian Air Ambulance scrambled to the scene. It landed beside the pitch at around 1pm on Sunday.

Paramedics put Mr Waldock in neck brace and flew him to the West Suffolk Hospital, but he was discharged yesterday.

Last night Lynne Maybank landlady at the Scenarios bar, Halstead, where the Supershooters side is based, said: "We were all very concerned because it seemed the injuries may have been very serious at first. Andrew was discharged from hospital, but he is still quite badly injured and will be off work for a couple of weeks. I didn't see the incident, but I was told it was a nasty collision, but it was an accident.

"We are keeping in touch with Andrew's parents to find out any updates on his condition. His team mates were very upset and we are just relieved the injuries are not too serious."

Landlady at Sudbury's Bayhorse pub, Michaela Andrews, said: "From what I have been told one of our players was going for the ball when he was accidentally involved in the collision with the goalkeeper.

"Our player who was involved in the tackle is very upset and we are trying to find out how the goalkeeper is. It seems like he suffered neck injuries, but also went into shock which made matters worse."

A spokesman for the West Suffolk Hospital confirmed Mr Waldock was discharged from the hospital yesterday.