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Arrow fired onto football pitch Crossbow bolt fired onto pitch
(about 1 hour later)
A football match was abandoned when a two-foot steel crossbow arrow was fired onto a pitch in Greater Manchester. A football match was abandoned when a steel crossbow bolt was fired onto a pitch in Greater Manchester.
The game between Woodley Sports and Alsager Town at Lambeth Stadium, Stockport, was stopped when the arrow landed just two feet from players. The game between Woodley Sports and Alsager Town at Lambeth Stadium, Stockport, was stopped when the bolt, or arrow, landed next to players.
The referee pulled it out of the ground and consulted both managers and players before calling off the game on Saturday just 12 minutes before the end. The referee pulled it out of the ground and consulted both managers and players before calling off the game on Saturday, 12 minutes before the end.
The arrow was passed on to the police for forensic examination. The bolt was passed on to the police for forensic examination.
BBC Radio Stoke's sports editor Graham McGarry, who was at the match, recalled the moment the arrow landed on the artificial pitch after whistling just inches past the left full back of Woodley Sports. BBC Radio Stoke's sports editor Graham McGarry, who was at the match, said the bolt landed on the artificial pitch after whistling just inches past the left full back of Woodley Sports.
No hesitationNo hesitation
"This was a serious incident and could have been a tragedy," said Mr McGarry, who is also chairman of Alsager Town."This was a serious incident and could have been a tragedy," said Mr McGarry, who is also chairman of Alsager Town.
"The referee came to the penalty area, pulled out something from the ground, that we all thought was a firework."The referee came to the penalty area, pulled out something from the ground, that we all thought was a firework.
"He consulted both managers and the players and immediately abandoned the game."He consulted both managers and the players and immediately abandoned the game.
"He had no hesitation calling the game off for the safety of the players and the spectators watching.""He had no hesitation calling the game off for the safety of the players and the spectators watching."
Police are appealing for anyone with information about the arrow to get in touch. Police are appealing for anyone with information about the crossbow incident to get in touch.