BROMSGROVE Sporting players and staff have been quick to rally round in support of team mate Liam Spink who sustained a serious injury while playing against Nuneaton Town last week.

The game had to be abandoned after Spink broke a bone in his leg and dislocated his ankle.

Spink has now returned home following surgery but will be in a plaster cast for the next six weeks.

Sporting manager Paul Smith said: "We're all thinking of Liam at the moment. All the staff and players have donated half their wages to Liam while the supporters will be staging a bucket collection for him during this Saturday's FA Vase game against Coventry United.

"We've all been in touch with Liam. His operation appears to have been a success and he's had his leg pinned. We're all hoping he'll be able to attend the match on Saturday.

"Liam's injury was still the talk of the dressing room last Saturday at Boldmere St Michaels and there was a lot of doom and gloom around.

"It didn't help when we went a goal down after four minutes and I thought everything was going to come crashing down on us.

"But the lads didn't allow their heads to drop, in fact they were quite magnificent as we came back to secure a fantastic 4-1 result."

Goals from Robbie Bunn, Sean Brain and Connor Deards confirmed victory after the Mikes added to their downfall with an own goal that resulted from a dangerous Brain cross.

Boss Smith revealed: "All the lads had a group chat with Liam after the game and we're determined to keep him involved with things.

Sporting are now keeping their fingers crossed for another huge crowd on Saturday as they revive memories of last season's FA Vase run.

Smith added: "It's the last of the regional rounds before going nationwide and we're hoping the competition will again capture the imagination of the town.

"We had two crowds of 3,500 last season and we'd be looking for another four figure gate this time.

"I do hope we get a good crowd because the players thrive on the atmosphere of a big, raucous crowd spurring them on."

Smith's integrity was called into question at Boldmere when the linesman described him as 'unprofessional'

The linesman took exception to the fact Smith had allowed a young boy to sit in the Sporting dug-out.

The 'young boy' turned out to be 17-year-old substitute Nathan Binner who had been drafted in to play for Sporting from the youth team.

Smith recalls: "The linesman branded me unprofessional for having a child sitting on the bench - which is something I've never been called before.

"I looked on the bench and couldn't see a child, so I turned around to the linesman and told him so.

"He pointed to Nathan who was sitting there in a red tracksuit and I told him he was one of my substitutes. I admit Nathan only looks about 12-years-old but I told the linesman he was one of my substitutes who I intended to bring on.

"Nathan did come on for the last 15 to 20 minutes and did really well. Afterwards, the linesman came back and apologised".