Striker Alex Fletcher, once a promising talent in football, has decided to hang up his boots at the young age of 25.
His journey took a dramatic turn when he collided with concrete advertising hoardings during a match, resulting in a coma and a significant impact on his health.
Fletcher, who played for Weston-super-Mare, made a remarkable return to the field last August, nine months after the life-altering accident.
The collision occurred in November 2022 while he was playing for Bath City in a National League South game against Dulwich Hamlet.
The aftermath of the crash included emergency surgery and a long rehabilitation process to relearn basic functions like walking.
Despite his brave comeback, Fletcher faced persistent challenges.
He struggled with balance, timing, and coordination issues and was left permanently deaf in his left ear.
These ongoing issues made it clear that he no longer felt like the player he once was, leading to his decision to retire.
Fletcher’s football career began with Plymouth Argyle’s academy, where he made 24 appearances.
His journey included loan spells at Torquay United and Aldershot Town, a permanent stint at Tiverton Town, and finally a move to Bath City in 2021. He scored 23 goals in 56 appearances for Bath City but never played for them again after the accident.
A New Role and Reflections
After his accident, Fletcher took on a role with the Brain Health department of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) last summer.
He became an advocate for brain health, emphasizing its importance for footballers.
In October, he signed with Weston-super-Mare, where he scored one goal in eleven appearances and also spent some time on loan at Tiverton Town.
In his retirement announcement on Instagram, Fletcher expressed his disappointment, saying, “For me, carrying on playing football would be one step too far, and I’m really gutted about it. I think I owed it to myself to get back on the pitch, and that really did drive my recovery.
However, there was something missing from my game after my return.”
Words of Appreciation
Weston-super-Mare manager Scott Bartlett praised Fletcher for his resilience and noted his positive impact on the club.
“He is an intelligent person with a great family, and that is obviously the most important thing,” Bartlett said. “Although I haven’t known Alex for long, he made a significant impression on me and the rest of our club.”
A Life-Changing Incident
Reflecting on the accident, Fletcher shared his harrowing experience of undergoing emergency brain surgery.
He recalled the immediate concern and the quick abandonment of the game, which underscored the severity of his injuries.
“I remember feeling a bit of guilt, thinking: ‘Oh no, Dulwich have come all the way from London,'” he told The Guardian.
His determination to stay awake during the ambulance ride was a testament to his will to survive.
“I felt like if I fell asleep or passed out, that could have been it,” he said, adding that seeing the bright lights of the hospital was a relief before he blanked out.
Fletcher’s story is one of remarkable courage and resilience, and while his playing days are over, his impact on the football community will be remembered.
TDPel Media
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