Game on! Braintree midfielder plays on despite medical warnings

BRAVE Braintree Town midfielder Matt Game has been playing against medical advice since suffering a horrific leg break two years ago, the Chronicle can reveal.

The Iron schemer broke the fibular in his right leg and dislocated his ankle when an AFC Hornchurch player tackled him during his time at Billericay Town nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

But amazingly the 24-year-old has played in all 27 games of Braintree's Blue Square South promotion push this season and aims to keep playing next season despite long term health concerns.

"The doctors have told me I shouldn't have carried on," he said.

"I do keep a watch on it and have regular X-rays but I have been informed that arthritis is probably going to set in quite early.

"There are risks but football is all I know, it's what I love doing, it's my passion and I'm just going to keep on for as long as I can and I've surprised myself this season to be honest.

"I'm just pleased to be in a team that's doing well, it might not always be the most attractive football but we are doing well."

The injury put Game out of football for around 18 months but the initial leg break was then compounded by a fracture on the same bone after he had been given the all clear.

"I had a plate in my fibula and then it was taken out," he explained.

"I was doing pre-season training and it fractured again. In reality the plate shouldn't have been take out at all and there are still two broken screws in the bone.

"A new plate was put in which is a lot more sturdy and bigger but it still gives me problems during games, it gives me pain if I get a kick I can really feel it."

It was a difficult time, which included four operations, and it took its toll mentally and physically on the former Leyton Orient trainee who works as a plumber.

"It was a very low point," he said.

"You just can't wait for the time when you're out there playing football again to be honest. There are all sorts of difficulties that come with it, mentally it's very difficult to cope with but you just have to look forwards to the day your back out there."

He did consider trying to claim compensation but couldn't get video footage of the incident from Hornchurch and never pursued it further.

He said: "How it wasn't a red card I'll never know, he came in high in mid air and followed through and that was it.

"I thought about trying to get something out of it but it never happened, it never went any further."

Game spent five years at Billericay, barely playing in the last two seasons, but says the reason he left New Lodge was because he felt this year could have been his last in football and he wanted to play at the highest level.

"I though long and had about leaving," he said.

"I didn't know how long I could keep on playing because of the injury and playing at a better level, well it was a no brainer really.

"Never has it been about the money, Braintree did offer me slightly better terms but that didn't really matter - I wanted to explain that to the Billericay fans but never really got a chance.

He added: "I want to keep on going next season, hopefully the leg will keep holding up."