'Why did he do it?' Horror challenge leaves footballer with leg broken in four places

Sporting Khalsa player Dan Ashton broke his leg in four places after a horror challenge in his side's 5-3 win against Rocester last Saturday.

After scoring in the match, Ashton, aged 29 and from West Bromwich, received the ball on the edge of his penalty area when Rocester midfielder Martin Smyth crashed into him with two feet.

Smyth was given a straight red card, while Ashton was left with double breaks in both his shin and calf bones - two in his tibia and two in his fibula.

Mr Ashton said: "I've been in so much pain. I couldn't bear it, they covered my leg with a blanket so I couldn't see it.

"It was all a bit of a blur at the time, the lads told me he just smashed into me from nowhere, and they couldn't understand why he did it.

"They've told me to consider taking legal action. It's quite likely I'll never play again now, I don't need all this, I've never had an injury before."

The game was held up for more than 40 minutes and Ashton was taken to New Cross Hospital, where he had a successful operation and left after four days.

A lifelong Baggies fan, Mr Ashton played for West Bromwich Albion's youth teams until the club released him when he was 17.

Dealing with the disappointment of being let go by the club he supports, Mr Ashton took a year out of the game, before reviving his footballing career at Dudley Town.

He then went on to play for a host of local clubs including Chasetown, Rushall Olympic and Tividale, making hundreds of appearances for teams on the edge of league football.

Now a PE teacher at Woodfield Academy, Redditch, Mr Ashton expects to be off work and on crutches until after Christmas.

He said: "It's caused me so much pain and torment – the surgeon said he'd never seen a footballer with a broken leg as bad as this. It's more than likely now I won't play again."

Meanwhile Chasetown midfielder Josh Craddock suffered a double leg break as he played for the Scholars on Saturday in their win against Rugby Town.

The 25-year-old, from Wolverhampton, only signed for Chasetown from Stafford Rangers five weeks ago and tried blocking a shot when he suffered the injury.

Less than half an hour into the game, he was stretchered off and taken to Walsall Manor Hospital.

He said: "I tried to block a shot and their player missed the ball and took my right leg. There was no bad intent in it, it was just one of those things. When I saw my leg was completely floppy I was in shock."

Similarly to Ashton, Craddock broke his his tibia and fibula and has also now been released from hospital.

The construction worker will now have to take at least three months off work and will have to wait even longer before he is ready for competitive sports, him out of action for the remainder of the 2016/17 season.

Mr Craddock started out at Walsall, making his debut for the first team in 2008 in League One against Hartlepool United.

He has since gone on to play for Halesowen Town, Hednesford Town, Stourbridge and Rushall Olympic before winning the league with Stafford Rangers last season.