AN amateur goalkeeper was airlifted to hospital after breaking his neck in a freak accident during a Sunday League match.

Colin Walker was last night being treated at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, after suffering a double neck fracture during the match in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, yesterday morning.

The 30-year-old, an experienced Sunday League goalkeeper, was playing for Bishop Auckland Cricket Club against The Black Bull, from Ferryhill, when, 15 minutes into the game, he went in for a 50-50 challenge with the opposition centre-forward.

Cricket club team manager Alan Lamb described the collision between the two players as a “nothing challenge” and said he was shocked it had caused such an horrific injury.

He said: “It was an accidental collision between their centre-forward and our goalkeeper.

“It didn’t look like anything particularly bad had happened.

“He didn’t look like he had anything major wrong with him, but he said his neck really hurt and he couldn’t feel his back or fingers so we called the ambulance.

“There was absolutely no malice in the challenge, it was just one of those things.”

Mr Lamb said his goalkeeper was more upset about the game being abandoned than the injury.

He said: “He was in tears because he didn’t want the game called off because of him.

“Of course we stopped it there though, no one wanted to continue after that.

“We’ve been sending his brother messages and I understand he has broken his neck in two places.

“Naturally, everyone at the club sends Colin their best and we’re here to support him whatever he needs.”

The Great North Air Ambulance flew Mr Walker to hospital at about 11am.

Staff at the cricket club, where Mr Walker is believed to have been goalkeeper for about ten years, last night said he was a “lovely man”.

Mr Lamb said Mr Walker is also an excellent snooker player and plays for Cockton Hill Working Men’s Club.

He is also an avid Bishop Auckland FC fan and is a regular spectator at their matches.

Mr Walker’s family were by his bedside last night and declined to comment.