AN East Thurrock United footballer is recovering after suffering a significant injury in the club's friendly at Hullbridge Sports this week.

Defender Pat Ahern suffered a neck injury which was so serious it caused the match to be abandoned at half time.

Ahern was taken to hospital where he went through an extensive series of checks.

A club statement says: "After it was presumed the neck was the affected area, multiple head scans have shown that luckily it is a concussion which is recoverable with rest and not something more serious.

"We would like to thank the Hullbridge physio and NHS fortheir care and also the Rocks fans who travelled to Hullbridge."

East Thurrock's next match is away on Saturday (29 July) against Catholic United.