Boss Paul Barry says football comes second after Alan Bray lay stricken on the Beveree pitch for more than an hour and a half on Wednesday night.

The defender didn’t get up after hitting the deck less than 25 minutes into the club’s Ryman Premier fixture with Met Police, following a collision with Blues striker Manny Osei.

An ambulance did not arrive until after 9.30pm – meaning the inspirational centre-back was forced to remain on the rain-lashed pitch with the club’s medics adamant he could not be moved as they awaited for the emergency services.

Bray is expected to discover how long he will be out for within the next few days but fears are growing that Hampton will be without their talisman for the remainder of the campaign after the arm injury.

Barry said: “AJ, as he has always been known here, is one of the best men you’d ever meet in football – he didn’t deserve that.

“You can’t think about football at times like this, you just feel desperately sorry for him. He is likely to be out for some time. Our thoughts are with him – we’ll support him in any way possible.”