Football match abandoned after player ‘stabbed’ in the neck

South East Coast Ambulance Service was called to an assault during the Mile Oak Reserves and Alliance game in Crawley at 2.40pm on Saturday (October 24).

Mile Oak FC tweeted the game was called off at half time after thieves broke into changing rooms and an Alliance player was stabbed in Langley Green playing fields.

The criminals were chased into nearby woods and three ambulance crews were called after the man was reportedly stabbed after confronting one of the thieves.

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service said the victim, who was in his 20s, suffered serious injuries including a neck wound.

Paramedics took him to St George’s Hospital in London as a priority.

He was fully conscious at the time.

Mile Oak FC, the away team, tweeted: “Reserve team was called at HT today following a robbery and a stabbing in Crawley.

“Home C. Rooms broken into, thieves, chased into woods, one of the alliance players got stabbed when he confronted the thief!

Alliance players traced the thieves using a ‘track my iPhone’ app.

Mile Oak FC yesterday tweeted: “Just heard that the lad who got stabbed yesterday had an operation and is extremely lucky to be alive.”

The attacker was reportedly arrested.

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