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Non-league match in Wiltshire abandoned after young player collapses

Pablo Martinez. Picture: Chippenham Town FC/Twitter
Pablo Martinez. Picture: Chippenham Town FC/Twitter

A non-league football match in Wiltshire was abandoned on Saturday afternoon after a young player collapsed on the pitch.

Chippenham Town’s Pablo Martinez fell to the ground in the 27th minute of the Bluebirds’ National League South fixture with Chelmsford City at Hardenhuish Park.

The match was called to a halt half an hour later, with the club confirming on Twitter that the 21-year-old had been stabilised and was breathing.

The club later said in a statement the former Bristol Rovers and West Bromwich Albion defender had been taken to hospital.

They wrote: “Supporters who attended today’s home game with Chelmsford City, will be aware of an on-field incident concerning Pablo Martinez, resulting in his transfer to hospital in Bristol.

We can advise that Pablo’s condition is not life-threatening and we will update the website as soon as we are able to.”

Town manager Gary Horgan provided an update in an interview with BBC Radio Wiltshire.

He told them: "Pablo cleared the ball and with no-one else around him just fell to the ground.

"He's gone out in the ambulance and it looks like he's OK at the moment.

"It's not a good thing to experience, but we're really pleased that Pablo's okay and it looks like at this moment in time, given the early prognosis from the medical teams that have dealt with him and tended to him, that he's going to make a full recovery."