HUGE outpourings of generosity have been sent to a former Swindon Town goalkeeper who broke his neck during a match last weekend.

Mark Scott, who first pulled on a Swindon Town shirt as a player in the under-16 squad, suffered an almost-fatal injury in a match against Basingstoke Town FC on Saturday.

In an horrific collision, the Slough Town keeper suffered a shattered vertebrae and will be unable to play football for the foreseeable future.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mark said: “The operation went well. They have taken a bit of hip bone to fuse the metal plate to my neck, which is now stable.

“I have so many people to thank it has been an insane few days. The amount of kind messages I’ve received is in the hundreds. We’ve found them so overwhelming I wish I could reply to every single one, and will try when home and resting.

“It just goes to show what a positive community football can be.”

As a result of the injury, concerned friends and fans alike have coughed up more than £4,500 to help get Mark back on his feet – a staggering amount of money in such a small amount of time.

A spokesman for Swindon Town Football Club said: “We were really sad to hear about what happened to Mark. It must be a very difficult time for him and his family and we offer our full support and best wishes to him.”

Goalkeeping coach Steve Hale, who coached Mark while he was at Swindon Town, visited the stricken star at his hospital bed yesterday.

Steve, who spent nine years at Swindon Town before leaving last summer, said: “He was in really good spirits and he said the operation had gone well. He had bone taken from his hip and a metal plate fastened on to his neck.

“He was really bubbly, which didn’t surprise me. His positive attitude will certainly get him through.”

Acknowledging the generous donations and kind sentiments, Steve said: “That just shows what the football community can do when they come together.”

It is an extremely serious injury which will involve a lot of rest and recovery, at hospital and then at home, which means Scott will be unable to work as a trainee accountant for a period of up to three months.

Specialists at John Radcliffe Hospital have high hopes that Scott will fully recover from the injury.

To donate, log on to www.crowdfunder.co.uk and type in ‘supporting Mark Scott’. Or, alternatively, follow the link on the STFC Twitter feed.