‘Heroic’ Kent goalkeeper plays 100 minutes with broken leg

A goalkeeper who played over 100 minutes with a broken leg has received support from the Kent football community.

Dan Ellis, number one at Chatham Town, broke his tibia in the 20th minute on Saturday afternoon, but with no replacement on the bench, carried on for the rest of the game and into extra time and even saved a penalty.

Reflecting on the incident, Ellis said: “I must come for about 400 crosses a season, and as their player has gone for the ball he has knocked me off balance. As I landed I’ve planted my leg into the floor and I felt my knee pop straight away. I thought I would have to come off but then I thought we haven’t got a goalkeeper on the bench.”

Despite Ellis’ heroics, The Chats lost the FA Vase game in extra time, but the tie will always be remembered for one reason.

Ellis continued: “I was gutted when it happened, but it was the adrenaline that helped me to get on and get up. I took some painkillers and just tried to get through to half time. It’s one of them could push off with my left leg. The goal was to my left though, where I had to push with my right leg which was pretty much impossible.”

“It’s brilliant getting all the messages of support and other teams ringing me. The captain of Corinthians rang me yesterday to speak to me and I wanted to make him aware that it wasn’t his fault. I’ve got two kids and a fiancee so I cannot be too down in the dumps.”

Chatham Manager Scott Lindsey sung the praises of Ellis after the game: “He was our best player, he made some unbelievable saves and he’ll go down in history for what he did. It was just a shame we couldn’t win the game for him.”

The defeat in the vase means The Chats will now turn attentions to the league. They sit fourth in the Southern Counties league, just seven points behind league leaders Beckenham and Ellis will be supporting the team from the sidelines: “I’ll be up there most weeks, with the squad we’ve got – its a club that should be two divisions higher and we’ve got players who should be playing higher and we should be pushing for promotion.”

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