THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
On Saturday afternoon March 12 , St Dogmaels footballer Trefor Woodgate went into a routine tackle with Cardigan defender Steve Blackford which seconds later had career defining consequences for the talented young striker.
The typically hard and uncompromising derby match between the Saints and the Magpies was resting on a knife edge with only a minute to go and the scores locked at 1-1.
The two experienced men went full blooded into a fifty fifty challenge on the edge of the Town penalty box but in that split second the promising football career of Woodgate looked all over in a flash.
As soon as Woodgate hit the ground it became apparent to many that this was as bad as it gets and the match was abandoned and he was rushed off to hospital.
Trefor, who is a self employed brick layer now faces a very long lay-off without any form of regular income but he is on the mend and looking positively to the future even though he is well aware that it’s going to be a very long road.
Sportsline caught up with ‘Tref’ for a Q and A interview to get a feel of the horrendous experience he was forced to endure and its impact on him personally.
‘The sound was horrific and when I fell to the floor I could feel how my leg was in so many pieces.’
Q. Tell me about that tackle and what do you remember about it?
A. It was a tackle that I had to make with it being the last minute of a derby cup game as it’s in my very nature to fight for every ball until the final whistle goes.
As soon as I went in I knew it was bad. The sound was horrific and when I fell to the floor I could feel how my leg was in so many pieces. By far the worst pain I’ve ever felt.
But these things happen in football, it was a fair tackle and I was just unlucky to come out of it with a bad injury. I do not hold Blackie’ responsible in any way.
Q. You must feel fortunate that the ambulance arrived very quickly as I have seen some players laying on the ground for up to an hour.?
A.The ambulance guys were great and I’ve spoken to a few of them to catch up with them, and apologised for every swear word I called them in the ambulance! I can’t imagine what people go through when they are made to wait for such a long time for an ambulance.
They made a difficult situation turn out to be that little bit easier, as did everyone on the pitch too and I will always be grateful for their speedy work, I was lucky really as it would have been horrific if I had been forced to wait a long time for pain relief.
Q. When did you realise the full extent of your injury?
A. It took a few days to sink in, mainly because I was off my head on morphine and gas for about two days – but once it sunk in it really was a miserable place to be. The worst of it being that if would not be able to work for sometime. But worse than that is not being able to meet up with the lads and play footy on a Saturday!! It’s is a killer!
Q. You have many friends both in and outside of sport and they must be a great help to you?
A. Yes my family and friends have supported me and everyone associated with football have been great to me at what is a very tough time for me personally. It’s helped so much knowing that people care, even people I didn’t really know before and its made the whole saga a lot easier.
I would like to thank the football club who have raised money on my behalf to help me financially
Q. St Dogmaels FC is a close knit club with a long tradition for sticking together and looking after their own. How have they helped you?
A. They have been a huge help and I would like to thank the football club who have raised money on my behalf to help me financially with a duck race and sponsored car washing and everyone else who has supported me and asked about my recovery it really means a lot.
Q. You must be bored stiff and a right grump sat at home so what are doing with your time?
A. Well its great to have ‘Sportsline’ to read over the week which keeps me up to date especially with the football! And I have also become a daytime TV addict but I would much prefer to be out there scoring goals for the Saints!
It is especially frustrating that I can’t go and help St Dogmaels as I feel this season of all seasons was one we could have won something if we had all pulled together.
Q. Obviously it is going to be a very long recovery period and there are some tough times ahead. How is the rehabilitation coming along?
A.Progress is very slow at the moment although I am feeling strong but there is a long way to go as my leg is still severely broken and I may need bone graft operations in the next three weeks but fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that. I will let you all know on ‘Sportsline’ what the specialist say in a few weeks.
Thank you Trefor Woodgate for your time and ‘Sportsline’ and all your friends in sport would like to wish you well over the coming months and look forward to seeing you out and about on the touchline as you recover.
