FORMER Bournemouth and Brighton midfielder Wes Fogden suffered a broken neck during Dorchester Town’s FA Trophy clash against Basingstoke on Saturday.
The 37-year-old veteran went down after a collision in the 33rd minute and play was unable to restart.
The match was halted officially six minutes later as Fogden was treated on the pitch and eventually taken to hospital.
The players were sent back to the changing rooms before the match was abandoned an hour later.
The game will be replayed on Tuesday.
In a statement released by Dorchester, it is explained: “Wes was conscious and talking as he was taken into the ambulance, and scans in hospital yesterday evening have confirmed two fractured vertebrae in his neck, which will require a number of weeks in a neck collar.”
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The club added: “We would like to place on record our thanks to all Magpies and Basingstoke staff and players who helped look after Wes yesterday on the pitch before he was taken to hospital.
“From everyone at the club, we send our love and very best wishes to Wes for a full and speedy recovery.”
Meanwhile, Basingstoke also wrote: “We’d like to place on record our thanks to our supporters for their classy reaction to yesterday’s unfortunate event.
“In the immediacy of the moment it would have been easy to make light of what was happening before the full picture was clear.
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“Instead, you showed respect, empathy and patience for the injured player.
“The fact our fans returned to the touchline an hour later to applaud him as he was taken from the pitch summed it up perfectly.
“We’re yet to receive an update on the player but we’re sending our best and hoping for a smooth, full and speedy recovery.”
Physio Seanagh McCarthy looked after ex-Portsmouth ace Fogden with Basingstoke thanking her for her “knowledge and professionalism in helping deal with situation.”
Fogden has spent much of his career on the south coast, starting in Brighton‘s academy before loans to Bognor Regis, Dorchester and then further moves to Havant and Waterlooville, Pompey, Yeovil Town, Poole Town, and back to Dorchester.
He played 59 times for Bournemouth, making over 100 EFL appearances.
In 2022, he admitted he was warned he may never play again after being diagnosed with a potentially cancerous tumour in his spine.
He said: “Bearing in mind the amount of time injured, I’ve missed out on about five seasons of football.
“I’ve had pretty much every injury going.
“Cruciate ligament damage to both knees, hamstrings, ankles, I’ve broken my nose four or five times, I fractured my cheekbone when going up for a header in the FA Youth Cup against Andy Carroll.
“There was even the time when the ball smacked me in the private regions, requiring an operation and putting me out for four or five weeks. A real variety of injuries.
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“But I wouldn’t have it any other way. As long as I’m fit, I want to be playing every game, especially after what happened at Brighton.
“When you’re told at 18 that you probably aren’t going to play football ever again, it changes your mindset.”
