THE HORROR injury that halted Chippenham Town’s return to Southern League Premier Division action evoked memories of the moment that wrecked former Bluebird Rob Dean’s career.

As Chippenham were drawing 0-0 with Chesham United on Saturday, visiting captain Bruce Wilson fell awkwardly while challenging for the ball in the air and had to be airlifted to hospital from Hardenhuish Park by the Wiltshire Air Ambulance after suffering a double leg-break.

Referee Neal Templey chose to abandon the game in the 46th minute as the stricken Wilson awaited medical attention.

Ex-Bluebirds midfielder Dean hasn’t played since suffering a dislocated knee in a clash with Hungerford Town in March 2014 and Chippenham chief Collier is wishing 32-year-old Wilson all the best after witnessing one of football’s darker moments.

“We had an experience of it with Rob Dean a couple of years ago, and that was bad enough, but that looked just as bad, so we feel for the lad,” said the Bluebirds boss.

“It takes football out of the window, really, when you consider what he’s going through at this moment in time.

“It was a sad end to the day, so hopefully he’ll get himself sorted out and get back on his feet as soon as he can, but the football match is a secondary item, really.

“It’s not just the state of that but the mental state of some of the players that were stood by it and saw it – it’s not a good thing and our wishes are with him, certainly.

“I’ve got a good relationship with their manager (Andy Leese) and I’ll give him a call to see how things are.

“He was in a lot of pain but he seemed in quite good spirits, so hopefully it will remain that way.”

Fourth-placed Chippenham face a vital home fixture against Slough Town, who are second in the table, on Tuesday evening.

Nuno Felix, Chris Allen and Ryan Campbell didn’t feature against Chesham and were instead featuring for the Bluebirds’ stablemates Chippenham Park in the Toolstation League in a bid to get minutes under their respective belts.

Meanwhile, former Forest Green Rovers academy defender Macauley Dodson made his second appearance for Swindon Supermarine on Saturday after having his Southern League registration transferred from the Bluebirds.

The youngster had been featuring for Highworth Town in the Hellenic League.