£7k fundraiser for Island footballer who smashed teeth in match collision

A FOOTBALLER from the Isle of Wight may have ended his season on a high by winning the Gold Cup, but it nearly didn't happen for him following a horrific injury which has left him with a £7,000 dentist's bill.

It was a terrible evening for Cowes Sports defender Ryan Oatley in his side's Wessex League Premier match against Moneyfields on April 2.

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In the 65th minute, Ryan went in for a challenge on a Moneyfields winger, but was accidentally propelled, face first, into a metal pole, which formed part of a pitch-side barrier.

Ryan Oatley shortly after the horror incident against Moneyfields. (Image: Ryan Oatley)

The force of the collision caused Ryan's front teeth to split his bottom lip, the teeth were fractured at their roots and his eyebrow was severed.

"I was trying to stop a cross and somehow I flew forward, head first into the barrier. I couldn't react in time and smashed my face," explained Ryan.

The 30-year-old IT recruitment consultant, of Cowes, needed stitches in his lip and his eyebrow was glued.

He was out of action for almost a month, but recovered enough to feature in the Isle of Wight Gold Cup final against Newport on May 10, picking up a winner's medal.

But there is a substantial amount of complicated and expensive specialist dental surgery to come, estimated to cost around £7,000, most of which Ryan will have to pay from his own pocket.

The club has set up a GoFundMe account to try to raise the money to pay for the work. So far, £1,745 has been raised.

Here's how you can donate towards Ryan's emergency dental work

To make a donation via GoFundMe, follow the link.

Ryan, unable to eat properly since the accident, has had his nerves severed and is due to have a temporary plate with implants fitted in his mouth soon.

In the longer term, Ryan will require a bone graft and implants built to replace the shattered teeth.

Ryan with a wire fitted across his teeth to help him eat. (Image: Ryan Oatley)

Ryan's face is healing well, but the dental treatment to come is major and costly. (Image: Ryan Oatley)

The Island-born dad-of-two, who is due to tie the knot in August, attended Newchurch Primary School and the former Lake Middle School and Sandown High School.

Ryan has played 228 games for Newport, playing in the Wessex Division 1 play-offs, featured in a Blackfield and Langley side which won the Wessex Premier League and the Division 1 title of the Evo Stik Southern League, and joined Cowes last season.