THE goalkeeper of Slough Town Football Club was rushed to hospital on Saturday after he broke his neck in a collision with an opposition player.

Mark Scott shattered the C6 vertebrae in the base of his neck following the accidental collision with Basingstoke midfielder, Nana Owusu.

Slough went on to win 3-2 at Arbour Park but the Southern Premier Division match was delayed for 30 minutes as physios from both clubs treated Scott.

He was taken via ambulance to Wexham Park Hospital where he was immobilised and underwent a number of tests and scans.

He was transferred to the Neuroradiology Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxfordshire today (Monday) where he will undergo an operation the same day.

Slough joint-manager Jon Underwood told the Midweek Observer: “It was a 50-50 challenge with their wide player. I don’t believe there was any malice in it, but he caught Mark with his knee full in the face and jarred him backwards.

“Mark was very uncomfortable being moved and was in a bit of shock. He was feeling sick and light-headed and the colour drained out of him, so it’s very worrying.

“We’re just waiting for more news, but fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious because if we were to lose him it would be blow.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Mark Scott (orange) collides with Nana Owusu, which left the Slough keeper with a shattered vertebrae in his neck.

“Mark is a very important player for us. He’s having a very good season and kept a lot of clean sheets.” The goalkeeper is a tough position to get right and we’ve got a very good one.

“We’re just praying that it’s not as bad as it looked.”

Scott was able to communicate with well-wishers via social media on Saturday, tweeting: “I just want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for the support my family and I have received.”

Slough Town said it wished to thank both physios (Kevin McGoldrick and Kelly Rutledge), the match officials led by Conor Farrell, plus the team of stewards and Slough Borough Council volunteers who all came together in challenging circumstances to manage the emergency situation.

The club will continue to offer support to Mark and his family throughout the recovery period