Andros Townsend Run Over by Pitch Roller During Half-Time Warm-Up

Andros Townsend narrowly avoided serious injury after being knocked over by a motorised pitch roller during a match in Thailand.

The former England winger was warming up at half-time during PT Prachuap’s game against Pattani when he stepped backwards into the machine’s path.

The roller drove over Townsend’s legs before stopping close to his waist, prompting its driver and several visibly alarmed teammates to rush towards him.

Townsend was able to stand up and remarkably continued warming up rather than leaving the pitch for treatment.

The 35-year-old later came on as a late substitute as Prachuap completed a 3-0 victory.

Footballers generally expect their greatest injury risk to come from an opposing defender. Townsend instead had to survive a piece of ground-maintenance equipment before being allowed onto the pitch.

It was an unusual interpretation of preparing the playing surface—and an unnecessarily eventful way to earn a brief substitute appearance.