A LOCAL football club has complained to the Isle of Wight Divisional Football Association in the strongest possible terms after one of its young players suffered a double leg break while playing in a cup tie on Saturday, March 9.

Its opponent has denied wrongdoing.

In an Isle of Wight Junior B Cup third round tie against High Park FC Reserves, at Newport's Seaclose Park, Niton Community Reserves player, Walker Milsome, suffered the horrific injury.

A High Park player went in for a challenge, which left Walker, 21, with a double fracture and in distress. 

An ambulance was called and there were angry scenes between the two clubs’ players, representatives and spectators.

Referee, Michael Hayward, deemed it a 50-50 challenge on Walker, without sanction — but the match was abandoned after 25 minutes.

On social media, High Park’s manager said his players had done nothing wrong and wished the Niton player a speedy recovery.

Stuart Woodmore said it was the first time that an incident like that had occurred.

Meanwhile, Niton are strongly challenging the outcome with the IWDFA, and say they will produce video evidence.

Walker, a carpenter, required surgery on Tuesday, to insert a metal rod in his leg.

He has since been discharged but is expected to be off work for months. He was discharged from hospital on Wednesday. 

A Niton FC spokesperson called the tackle ‘unacceptable’.

A GoFundMe page, set up by Walker’s friend, Ryan McDowall, with a cash target of £1,000, had raised £730 on Thursday. 

The abandoned tie will be replayed at Seaclose Park on Saturday, March 23.