September 20: Former England international Andros Townsend has remarkably escaped injury after being hit by a pitch roller in the Thai Pro League, in one of the weirdest moments you’ll see on a football pitch.
Townsend, now with Thailand’s PT Prachuap, was warming up when the roller hit him and rolled down his leg as he tried to field a ball. His teammates reacted with genuine concern, but the man himself saw the funny side and reposted a video with the caption “Another day in Thai football (it was good!)”.
PT Prachuap beat Pattani 3-0, with Townsend himself coming off the bench late on, which tells you all you need to know about how lightly he got away.
The 34-year-old has made a new chapter in Thailand, having played for the Kanchanaburi Power since leaving Europe after one season at Antalyaspor in Turkey. His last taste of English football came with Luton Town in 2023-24.
He also couldn’t resist a poke at his old life. “Turns out Stoke away wasn’t so bad after all,” he added on Instagram, a tongue-in-cheek line any English football fan will appreciate.
A freak incident, a lucky escape and a player who is clearly enjoying himself far from home. Only in football, and perhaps only in Thai football, does a ground-keeping machine become the opponent.
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