Goalkeeper Brett Kenny, 30, was injured while playing in a tournament at Manor College of Technology, Hartlepool.

Brett accidentally clashed with a team-mate as he tried to clear the ball during yesterday's tournament and is believed to have broken both his tibia and fibula.

Brett, from the central area of Hartlepool, had to be stabilised by the crew from the Great North Air Ambulance for about half an hour before he could be flown to the University Hospital of North Tees.

Kevin McElhone, who coaches Brett's team Into the Blue, said: "It was a nasty accident."

Brett was due to undergo surgery on his leg last night and Kevin added: "He will be in for quite a while."

The tournament was arranged by town man Graeme Muir in memory of his dad Gordon, who died of cancer in October 2007, aged 63.

The Gordon Muir Memorial Cup was held to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Research. About £1,000 was raised by teams on the day.