Treacle's Sticky End

[anthony.brown]

Hall of famer Bill Westwood suffered a painful end to his long Hitchin Town FC career.
From the Hertfordshire Express of Saturday 1st September 1951
Bill Westwood's Playing Days Over?
Leg Broken at Wealdstone
W.Westwood's long playing career with Hitchin almost certainly came to an end under unhappy circumstances when he sustained a fractured leg in an Athenian League match at Wealdstone on Wednesday evening.
Seven minutes after half-time, Westwood and Wealdstone's young captain, G.D.Norman, raced for the ball and both took a hefty kick, Westwood appearing to take his opponent's boot full on the shin.
The Hitchin player sustaine a fracture of the right tibia about six inches above the ankle, and carried off on a stretcher, was taken to Harrow-on-the-Hill Hospital by ambulance, and the leg encased in plaster, and as Westwood expressed the wish to return home, the Hitchin team and officials waited at the hospital until 11.30 p.m., when the effects of the anaesthetic had worn off sufficiently for the footballer to be allowed to leave.
The Wealdstone captain recovered after attention from the trainer and continued the game.
The unfortunate accident was witnessed by Westwood's wife and two small daughters. The player showed characteristic courage and, though in great pain, called out to Mrs Westwood, "I'm all right", as he was carried off the field and through the grandstand. An elderly Wealdstone spectator was so affected by the accident that he collapsed, and had to be taken to hospital in the ambulance with the footballer. He was still at the hospital when Westwood left.
On Thursday, Westwood was admitted to Lister Hospital, Hitchin for further treatment. He is in Ward 3.
Westwood, whose parents live in Hitchin, but who himself lives at Pound Avenue, Stevenage, is a foreman at the Educational Supply Association's joinery works.
He is a fancier of Airedale Terrier dogs, and after his accident seemed worried because he would not be able to go to Sandy Show with his dogs which he had entered.
Two seasons ago he intended to retire from football, but was persuaded to continue his valued assistance to the Hitchin Club, and his incapacitation is a great blow to Hitchin, as right up to the moment of the mishap he appeared to be playing as strongly as ever.