- A player was taken to hospital after a crunching slide tackle stopped the game
- Greg Olley is in a stable condition and will require surgery after the horrific blow
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
A football match has been suspended after a player was rushed to hospital with a stomach-turning broken leg following a ‘horrific’ tackle.
Supporters have called the tackle the worst they’ve ever seen and have called for Woking’s Dion Kelly-Evans to be barred for life after his sickening slide tackle left Gateshead’s Greg Olley crumpled on the turf.
The incident occurred less than 15 minutes into the National League match. Kelly-Evans was shown a red card and ambulances were called while team mates from both sides started rowing on the pitch. The match was subsequently suspended for 40 minutes.
Gateshead have since confirmed that Olley was in a ‘stable condition’ and revealed plans for surgery today. Once play resumed Gateshead won 2-0 once.
Furious Gateshead fans have since took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice their anger at Kelly Evans. One wrote: ‘Kelly-Evans should never step foot on a pitch again. No sympathy towards Olley whatsoever.’
A ‘horrific’ tackle left Greg Olley hospitalised as Gateshead’s trip to Woking was suspended
Gatehead supporters think Dion Kelly-Evans (pictured with Notts County) should be barred for life after his sickening slide tackle left Gateshead’s Greg Olley crumpled on the turf
Greg Olley (left) is Gateshead’s captain and won the FA Vase with the club last season. Gateshead later confirmed Olley was in a ‘stable condition’ and revealed plans for surgery on Sunday, having won 2-0 once play was resumed after 40 minutes
Gateshead’s stars started on Dion Kelly-Evans and later got revenge with a 2-0 victory
‘That’s the worst tackle I have ever seen,’ said one.
‘Mate that’s horrific. 100% need to enforce longer bans for tackles like this,’ another commented.
‘Absolute scumbag. Thoughts with Greg and the Gateshead boys tonight,’ one said.
‘Horrific challenge, and at worst he’ll only get a 4-5 game ban,’ speculated another fan. A straight red card leads to an automatic three-match ban but players can punished for longer.
One fan had a more sympathetic view towards Kelly-Evans, writing: ‘Personally gutted for Olley but I think it was just unlucky that his leg was planted! Yes poor challenge but don’t think the kid meant to do any damage! Hope Olley is back in no time & back to his best!! Speedy recovery mate!’
‘I appreciate Gateshead fans are not happy with Kelly Evans and it was a bad bad tackle but the lad is a good guy and I know he will be upset,’ another said.
Fans gave Olley a standing ovation after he received the injury.
Multiple Gateshead players started rowing with Kelly-Evans and pushing him around as their team-mate lay on the grass and received medical attention.
Fans gave Olley a standing ovation after he received the injury.
A message passed on to local reporter Mark Carruthers from Olley’s dad said he was in ‘good spirits’ and ‘thankful’ for the messages being sent his way.
Kenton Richardson and Mark Benk scored to ensure Gateshead came away with three points and went top of the National League with two wins in two.
‘We’re into unknown territory here with everything, so we just have to get around Greg to make sure he’s OK and give him the best support,’ said manager and former Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliott after the game.
‘I’m absolutely gutted and devastated because there’s no need for it to be in that situation.
‘We just have to make sure we’re there for Greggy, support him and take it from there.’
Olley, 28, is Gateshead’s club captain and last season lifted the FA Trophy as well as helping them to the National League play-offs. He has been with the club since 2018, having signed from Hull.
