The Story So Far....

During the game vs Ashton United, on March 4th, Connor went down in significant pain in his knee after getting his studs caught in the ground. In the following days, an MRI scan confirmed an ACL rupture, and strains to the medial and lateral ligaments. Due to the severity of the injury, and the role that the ligaments perform in keeping the knee stable, Connor is required surgery to reconstruct the ACL. This is a lengthy injury, and Connor is looking at 10-12 months of rehabilitation post-surgery.

Due to the waiting times on the NHS, the financial implications that loss of earnings will have, and also to support the longevity of Connor's career as a serious injury which can significantly disrupt careers having the surgery done privately, as soon as possible is a priority. The PFA will cover some of Connor's surgery costs but the rest will need to be found as soon as possible, so the operation can take place at the earliest available date.

Connor is a family man who along with his partner welcomed their second child into the world so this injury could not have come at a more difficult time.

We understand that right now times are difficult but if you can help by chipping in anything you can afford, no matter how small, it would help Connor through an incredibly tough period in his life.

"We all want to come together and show our support for Connor and his family after his devastating injury which has hit us all hard. He is a fantastic young man and we all want to ensure he recovers as quickly as possible and he can return to the Gladiators in the new year fitter and stronger than before. The PFA will help support his operation but we still need to help support Connor and his family in this difficult financial climate to ensure they can survive with the increasing living costs and also help support them with their newborn child. We have to look after our own and ensure he gets the best medical treatment as he will be a valuable asset for us and will be like a new signing the quicker we can get him back and fully rehabilitated." - First Team Manager Martin Carruthers