Islavale Football Club stunned after player knocked unconscious in recent cup match suffers double leg fracture in comeback game while second player sustains ‘significant damage’ to leg in freak holiday accident
A footballer suffered a double leg break just three weeks after a serious head injury left him unconscious on the field of play.
And a second player from Keith junior club Islavale needed surgery on the same day as his team-mate following a freak accident while on holiday.
Finlay Stables broke his tibia and fibula during Saturday’s match at Newmachar in his first game back since colliding with a concrete wall in another match in Aberdeen.
Striker Noel Scott, brother of Vale’s player manager Robert, sustained extensive damage to his knee and other parts of his body in an accident while on holiday.
The club has been inundated with messages of support for both players, who are set to miss the remainder of their Premier Division season.
A spokesperson for the Simpson Park club said: “Finlay, in his first game back since a head injury against Hermes a few weeks ago, came on as a substitute early in the second half.
“He went in for a 50/50 ball around the 80th minute and came off worst with an injury to his leg/ankle with him in quite a bit of pain.
“The game was stopped for a lengthy period and he was moved to side of pitch before an ambulance turned up a while after the game finished.”
Vale confirmed yesterday that Stables had fractured two bones in his leg as a result of the incident.
They said both Stables and Scott had operations in hospital yesterday, and both procedures went well.
On Noel Scott’s injury, the club spokesperson said he would be ruled out for the rest of the season.
“Noel was involved in a freak accident whilst on holiday this week and requires surgery on his knee.
“He has significant damage to his left leg but also other places of his body and everyone at the club is devastated to hear the news.”
Islavale won Saturday’s match 2-0 at Newmachar, with co-manager Robert Scott scoring their second goal.
But the player boss said the double injury blow has overshadowed team results, and he was “gutted” to lose two valuable players.
“Our luck can’t get any worse from here, surely, but as a club we will all stick together and get through this difficult time.
“The lads will continue to do their best and keep trying to win games for them both after a good start to the season.
“I’ve spoken to both Noel and Finlay (on Sunday) after their treatment and glad that both of their surgeries went well. Hopefully they will have safe recoveries as will be a long healing process but we are all here for them and I’m sure we will see both of them on the pitch in the future.
“There have been many messages received from everyone and from several clubs which we appreciate during this tough period.”
