Alex Fletcher (Bath City)

[ClaretTony]

Bath’s game against Dulwich Hamlet was abandoned after a few minutes last night after Bath’s Alex Fletcher collided with an advertising hoarding.

Alex was taken to hospital where he required emergency neurosurgery to stabilise his condition. He’s now in intensive care, in a stable but critical condition.

Let’s hope he can pull through this.

[IanMcL]

That is truly awful. As you rightly say, let's hope all is well for the lad, going forward.

These advertisements do see to interfere with the natural escape routes of players.

At Turf Moor, the surfaces just off the pitch seem like death traps for players, particularly in the wet.

[Big Vinny K]

That’s awful

Everything crossed he pulls through

[PremierLeagueClass]

That is truly awful. As you rightly say, let's hope all is well for the lad, going forward.

These advertisements do see to interfere with the natural escape routes of players.

At Turf Moor, the surfaces just off the pitch seem like death traps for players, particularly in the wet.

I was having this conversation the other day about the surfaces at Turf Moor. How has nothing ever been done to improve this? Every time a player goes onto that red surface in front of the longside it’s like they’re on ice. Our players generally adjust for it because they’re used to it but just seems a bit ridiculous.

[burnley007]

horrible news.

Fingers crossed he makes a FULL recovery

[beddie]

I was having this conversation the other day about the surfaces at Turf Moor. How has nothing ever been done to improve this? Every time a player goes onto that red surface in front of the longside it’s like they’re on ice. Our players generally adjust for it because they’re used to it but just seems a bit ridiculous.

I did a thread on this I think it was after the Rotherham game about how dangerous the hard standing is after the players leave the playing surface, often at pace. I’m amazed nothing serious has happened at the Turf. Going back to the original
post I really hope this young man is okay, it sounds as though it was a really bad collision. Everything crossed that he pulls through.

[Ric_C]

I've always thought that players should receive more extreme punishment when pushing other players at speed into hoardings, it happens all too often, and could cause serious injury. Tella and Beyer have been on the receiving end of these tactics in the last month.

[Quicknick]

Poor man. Let's hope he fully recovers.

[Swizzlestick]

That is truly awful. As you rightly say, let's hope all is well for the lad, going forward.

These advertisements do see to interfere with the natural escape routes of players.

At Turf Moor, the surfaces just off the pitch seem like death traps for players, particularly in the wet.

Yes, this needs to be sorted. It's so slippy behind the advertising boards near the Longside, there could be a serious injury at some point.

Hope the lad can pull through.

[Tricky Trevor]

Best wishes to him for a full and speedy recovery.
I’ve long been concerned about pitch surrounds. In this day of H&S at work paranoia these are highly paid professionals literally putting their life on the line for advertising. Some of the off pitch drop offs need sorting also. We had a minor incident last week when Nathan Tella was pushed into a steward. It could have been far worse for both of them.

[BigF]

Hoping the young man makes a full recovery.

[bfcjg]

Hope he pulls through. My concern at the Turfcare the vinyl advertising tarpaulins pegged down either side of the nets, although they seem to blend into the srface so no trip hazard they are really slippy when players run onto them

[JohnMac]

Best wishes to Alex Fletcher for a full recovery and resumption of his career.

Regarding the sides at the Turf, I think a more resistant surface would possibly create more chance of a serious injury. A player going off at speed with his boots coming to a sudden stop is a recipe for disaster.

[claret54]

Time for Alan Pace to do something about the problem at the Turf. No good having health and safety policies if you don't do something about an obvious problem for players safety.

[Paul Waine]

Time for Alan Pace to do something about the problem at the Turf. No good having health and safety policies if you don't do something about an obvious problem for players safety.

Maybe this is something for Premier League and EFL to set some H&S rules on? Massive investment in professional footballers. They shouldn't be at risk of a serious injury on the areas surrounding the pitch.

Best wishes for Alex Fletcher. Hope he's playing again soon.

[FCBurnley]

Clear safety issue. Hope the young man makes a total recovery

[Rileybobs]

Best wishes to Alex Fletcher for a full recovery and resumption of his career.

Regarding the sides at the Turf, I think a more resistant surface would possibly create more chance of a serious injury. A player going off at speed with his boots coming to a sudden stop is a recipe for disaster.

Artificial grass like they have on the opposite side of the pitch in front of the dugouts would work just fine.

[BillyHamilton9]

The senior management at the club are extremely lucky that a player hasn't been seriously injured on that North stand run off. Its like an ice rink when it gets wet. Cost cutting at its finest. Instead of doing the right thing and putting the rubber material the whole way along, they decided to end it just as the players walk onto the pitch. Tin pot. And the black rubber mats that are fastened down was Clive holts brainwave because it was cheaper. Tin pot. However I do believe there are plans to re do the whole pitch and perimeter at some point.

[Tricky Trevor]

Best wishes to him for a full recovery.

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[Bosscat]

All the best kiddo ... Hope your recovery is a full and complete one

[ClaretTony]

I remember starting this thread knowing how serious the injury was and wondering if he’d pull through.

I’ve just read the most heart warming piece in The Athletic about his remarkable progress.

It’s behind a paywall but if you can read it then it is very definitely worth a read.

https://theathletic.com/4416216/2023/04 ... n-surgery/

[CoolClaret]

Shocking that this happens. Some crappy advert paramount over players’ health and wellbeing.

It’s obvious to anyone with half a brain that they’re a massive hazard and the area surrounding the pitch should be safe for players to fall in but obviously a few quid from some adverts clearly has higher priority - sad.

Really hoping that Alex recovers to full strength and can put this awful incident behind him.

[dandeclaret]

Breeze block perimeter wall states the article, rather than an advertising hoarding.

[NickBFC]

Non league grounds are full of breeze block walls and metal railings far too close to the pitch. I remember clashing with a railing once and luckily managed to avoid hitting my head, but my ribs were sore for a good while after. Lack of finances or not, there is no excuse for using dangerous perimeter walls/fencing. Glad to hear Fletcher is on the mend.

[ClaretTony]

Breeze block perimeter wall states the article, rather than an advertising hoarding.

It was adverts stuck on the perimeter wall. Shows just how unsafe some football grounds are.

[RVclaret]

I remember starting this thread knowing how serious the injury was and wondering if he’d pull through.

I’ve just read the most heart warming piece in The Athletic about his remarkable progress.

It’s behind a paywall but if you can read it then it is very definitely worth a read.

https://theathletic.com/4416216/2023/04 ... n-surgery/

Thanks for sharing, what a brilliant article and so glad to hear of his, almost, full recovery.

[warksclaret]

The very best wishes from our fan base-hopefully changes will be made as a result to minimise a re-occurence at all grounds