Football dream over for young Wulfrunian after shin snapped in life-changing tackle

Former Wolves youth player Josh Shepherd lunged his foot forward to take the ball – but ended up on the floor in agony having snapped his shin.

Lying on the pitch in the pouring rain, the AFC Wulfrunians player then had to wait 30 minutes for an ambulance as distressed players and coaching staff kept him warm.

The game at Coventry Sphinx was swiftly abandoned and at University Hospital Coventry doctors confirmed he had suffered a tibia and fibula fracture.

The 23-year-old endured four painful surgeries over the next two weeks before he was discharged back home, in Hurstbourne Crescent in Wolverhampton.

Starting with a zimmer frame, but now equipped with crutches, Josh has been told he is making a good recovery by doctors, who hope he will be walking again in 12 to 18 months.

Josh, a former Coseley School pupil, said: "I want to get back to being fit again, I want to run, go to the gym – but football is not for me anymore.

"It's a dangerous sport and I've suffered too many injuries. This was the nail in the coffin."

He added: "The injury was horrific. I looked up and my foot was flapping off my ankle. I then had to wait 30 minutes on the ground in the pouring rain.

"About eight people were around me trying to keep me dry.

"The pain was intense, I was conscious the whole time."

Josh had been working at New Cross Hospital. But he is now on sick leave and faces having his pay dropped after six months and then possible termination of his contract if he cannot return.

He currently has rods in his leg to help the bones mend – but has been warned by doctors it will take many more months to heal.

In the meantime he has been stuck at home - but he has managed to see his team, who play in Castlecroft in Wolverhampton, twice.

He said: "It is a long process, but the doctors have said I'm recovering well."

Josh was signed up by West Bromwich Football Club aged 11 before joining Walsall aged 13.

He then went to Wolves aged 16, playing in the same team as Dominic Iorfa and Ethan Ebanks-Landell. But an injury stopped his progress and he instead became a coach.

A chance to start a football scholarship in America failed when paperwork was not filed in time.

He then lost his interest in football, but joined Lye Town last year aged 22 and regained his passion.

A move to AFC Wulfrunians happened over the summer and he looked forward to the season. But in the first month, less than half a dozen fixtures in, he suffered the injury.

The club have shown him support, holding a fundraising evening in the week after the injury.

And the club is holding a charity football match on Sunday to raise more money for Josh.

Josh said: "I'm so grateful to the support they have given me."