During last nights game between Dudley Town and Northwich Victoria, one of our players, Joe Duckworth was badly injured after a challenge from a Dudley Town player. After 34 minutes of the game being paused the match referee took the decision to abandon the game, before Joe was eventually taken to the hospital via ambulance to attend to his injuries. Everyone at the football club wishes Joe a speedy recovery. He underwent scans and tests last night which will continue this week as needed once the swelling subsides. He was released in the early hours this morning & is currently resting at home.

There have been a number of allegations today that the club played Joe under a false name which is incorrect and attached is the official team sheet which went in to the match referee and Dudley Town Football Club before the game as per the normal game procedure. We do acknowledge a mistake on the social media post as the initial squad did have Alex Hughes playing in the number 9 role but due to illness and the weather conditions, Alex was a late withdrawal from the squad that had already been sent to the social media team. Joe who like mentioned is a registered player with the club was travelling to watch the game with Lee and agreed to play. Joe tried to contact the Stalybridge manager to let him know what was happening but was unable to do so but as this had been ok before there wasn’t an expectation that this was an issue and so Joe played. Conversations have taken place between the two clubs today over the mis-understanding.

We would like to place on record our thanks to the Dudley Town Physio for his fantastic support with Joe and to the Paramedics that came to attend to Joe as at the end of the day the interest and safety of the player was the most important thing.