WINSFORD United’s fans are planning to a collection to show solidarity with a teenager that broke his leg while playing for their team on Monday.

George Ward, a full back, sustained a fracture to both his tibia and fibula during a North West Counties League fixture against Irlam at Blues’ St Luke’s Barton Stadium home.

It prompted the match officials to stop play, and then later abandon the match after he was taken to hospital.

“We are looking at ways to help out George financially in the short-term,” said chairman Mark Loveless.

“There will certainly be a bucket sent around the ground on Saturday, and we’ll consider other ideas too.”

As a gesture of goodwill, he has promised free entry this weekend to spectators who show their ticket at the gate from Monday’s abandoned game.

Ward was making only his third start for the club when he battled for the ball with an opponent just six minutes into the contest.

“It was just a block tackle – there was nothing malicious in it,” Winsford secretary Bob Astles told the Guardian.

“The referee made a decision to call off the game because the players were quite upset. It didn’t look good.”

Player-manager Lee Duckworth praised match officials, and Winsford’s opponents, for how they reacted.

He added: “It was 100 per cent the correct decision to call off the game.

“George is in good spirits, and the lads are rallying around him.

“It’s an opportunity for us now to show how we support one of our own when something like this happens to them while they’re representing us.”