Ex-footballer injured in A64 collision

The world of football pledged its support and best wishes to former Professional Footballers' Association chairman Clarke Carlisle following reports he had been seriously injured in a collision with a lorry on Monday.

North Yorkshire Police said a 35-year-old man was airlifted to hospital after a serious incident involving a lorry and a pedestrian on the A64, near York, on Monday morning.

The force would not confirm the injured man's identity, but last night social media was full of messages from well-wishers hoping Carlisle, 35, makes a quick recovery.

The Football Association tweeted: "The thoughts & prayers of all at The FA are with Clarke Carlisle & his family at this sad time."

Anti-racism organisation Kick It Out, for which Carlisle is an ambassador, posted: "The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Kick It Out are with Clarke Carlisle and his family. Stay strong our dear friend - keep on fighting."

And the Football League added: "Our thoughts & those of everyone that watches Football League clubs will be with Clarke Carlisle and his family this evening."

Police have appealed for witnesses to the collision on the A64 near the village of Bishopthorpe, at 7.30am on Monday.

Carlisle played as a centre-half for a number of clubs including Burnley, Blackpool, QPR, Leeds, Watford, Northampton and York.

After he stopped playing, he worked for the PFA and was also a regular on TV - both as a pundit but also as a contestant on the long-running Channel 4 quiz show Countdown and a guest on the BBC's Question Time.

He has also presented a TV documentary about racism in the game and another Football's Suicide Secret - about mental health issues among his fellow professionals.