Sports · updated 1h ago · 2 min read
Andros Townsend Escapes Injury After Pitch Roller Runs Over His Leg in Thailand
Andros Townsend was run over by a pitch roller during warm-up for PT Prachuap. The incident occurred before PT Prachuap's Thai League One match with Pattani FC.
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Townsend hit by roller
Former England winger Andros Townsend escaped serious injury after being run over by a pitch roller during warm-up in Thailand before PT Prachuap’s 3-0 win over Pattani FC.
“Townsend was warming up before a match at Pattani on Saturday”
BBC reported Townsend was warming up before a match at Pattani on Saturday when a member of staff appeared to lose control of a heavy pitch roller and Townsend’s left leg briefly got stuck under the vehicle.
ESPN said Townsend was warming up when the roller crashed into him and rolled over his leg as he attempted to flick a ball, and his side went on to win 3-0 with Townsend featuring off the bench late on.
Gulf News described the roller striking Townsend’s legs, knocking him to the ground before passing over him, and said the machine stopped around his hip area to prevent more serious injuries.
Chronicle Live added that video footage showed the roller making its way across the pitch before striking Townsend as he attempted an aerial backheel, and that he emerged without serious injury and came off the bench in stoppage time with the result already secured.
Jokes and social posts
Townsend responded to the incident by joking about Stoke away, with BBC saying he made light of the episode on Instagram and referencing one of his recent posts.
BBC quoted Townsend: "It turns out Stoke away wasn't so bad after all. Swipe to see why."
RTE.ie similarly said Townsend later took to Instagram to make light of the incident and quoted him: "It turns out Stoke away wasn’t so bad after all. Swipe to see why."
ESPN reported Townsend reposted a video on his social media that read "Just another day in Thai Football [he was fine!]."
RTE.ie also said another post described Townsend as 'The King of Memes in Thai League history’ and he replied "trust me" with four laughing emojis.
Match impact and career
Even after the roller incident, Townsend took part in the match as PT Prachuap beat Pattani FC 3-0, with BBC saying he came off the bench late on.
“He came off the bench in the 93rd minute, replacing Jesper Nyholm”
The Times of India said Townsend came off the bench in the 93rd minute, replacing Jesper Nyholm, as PT Prachuap secured a 3-0 victory over Pattani.
Gulf News said Townsend later came on as a stoppage-time substitute and that the incident occurred at half-time of their Thai League One clash against Pattani FC.
Chronicle Live reported the incident came during Townsend’s latest stint in the Far East after his departure from Turkish club Antalyaspor for Kanchanaburi Power in the Thai Second Division in 2025, and said Saturday’s clash was his third appearance for Prachuap since joining in the summer.
BBC added that Townsend, who won 13 caps for England, plays for PT Prachuap in Thai League 1 and was unhurt despite the brief leg entrapment under the vehicle.