'I heard a pop in my leg and dropped straight to the ground'

'It's probably the worst injury I've had in my career'

A football team has rallied around a new player who suffered a horrific injury that could leave him out of action for up to nine months. FC United's Gez Sithole was left in excruciating pain after he ruptured his achilles during a game against Stockton Town on March 29.

The 22-year-old attacker - a recent addition to the club having joined in October last year - is resting at home after undergoing surgery on Tuesday (April 15).

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News about the devastating moment he heard a sudden 'pop' in his left leg, Gez said: “It happened in the first 15 minutes. Before then I was running fine, I felt good.

"I was around the edge of the opposition's box, I turned with no one around me and I heard a pop in my left leg and dropped straight to the ground.

"It feels like your calf is proper tense and you can’t move it whatsoever. When I tried to get up, that was the most painful bit. I’ve heard stories from people saying they hear the pop, so I immediately knew what it was.

"This is the first time that it’s ever happened to me. I’ve had surgery before, but this is the first time that I’ve done my achilles, it’s probably the worst injury I’ve had in my career.”

Last year, Gez, 22, made the decision to leave fulltime football after his contract ended with Bolton. After turning semi-professional, he managed to get a part time job at Sainsbury’s during the Christmas period.

But Gez, originally from Kent, will now no longer be able to work the physically demanding job due to his injury. Players and staff at FC United have come together to help raise funds.

“I didn’t have any idea they were going to do it," Gez added. "I woke up one morning and got a text from my mum and when I saw that I was a bit surprised to be fair.

"For the average person recovery is supposed to take around four to six months. Because I’m an athlete, I need a bit longer to strengthen it, so it could take up to nine months.

"I’ve been to a few football teams and FC United is by far one of the best. They proper care about the players.

"Because it’s a club owned by fans it makes it more homely, the support has been crazy. Words can’t really describe it.”

The Gofundme can be found here.