Andros Townsend Is Run Over by Pitch Roller in Thai League Warm-Up—Then Comes on in 3-0 Win

Andros Townsend was run over by a pitch roller during half-time of PT Prachuap's Thai League 1 match against Pattani on Saturday night, yet still came off the bench late on in a 3-0 away win after escaping serious injury.

The former England winger, who turned 35 in July, was struck by the machine as he warmed up with team-mates during the interval on 19 September. Substitutes routinely use the break to stay loose, which was why Townsend was on the pitch at the time.

Footage that spread quickly on social media shows the roller, of the type ground staff use to prepare the surface, moving towards Townsend and knocking him to the ground. His left leg is briefly trapped underneath before the vehicle comes to a halt.

Townsend, who won 13 England caps and has played for Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Everton, stayed with the squad and later came off the bench.

Townsend Escapes Serious Injury

Team-mates can be seen putting their hands to their heads and turning away in the clip, and screams are audible on the recording, which appears to have been filmed from the touchline. Local media reported that the incident shocked those inside the stadium.

Reports said Townsend suffered a cut to his thigh, but no serious injury was reported. He continued warming up and was later able to feature in the match.

RTÉ reported that a member of Pattani's staff appeared to lose control of the roller. The full circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, and this account is based on publicly available footage and media reports.

Townsend Plays on in 3–0 Victory

Prachuap won 3-0 through goals from Sapphakon Kanyaroet, Taoua Ferreira and Edgar Méndez. Townsend, who began the match among the substitutes, was brought on in the closing stages, reportedly playing for about a minute, and was able to feature despite the scare.

He later reposted the video on Instagram with the words 'Make it look like an accident' and a laughing emoji. Separately, he joked that Stoke away 'wasn't so bad after all', an apparent nod to the trip to Stoke City's bet365 Stadium, long associated with difficult away days in English football.

The clip has since been widely shared online, and the incident has been reported beyond Thailand, including by international agencies and broadcasters.

From Tottenham to Thai Top Flight

The London-born winger came through Tottenham's academy and went out on loan to nine clubs, among them Leeds United, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers, before establishing himself in the Premier League. He earned 13 senior England caps between 2013 and 2016, scoring three goals.

He left Spurs for Newcastle United in 2016 and spent five seasons at Crystal Palace before joining Everton in 2021. He signed for Luton Town in 2023 and moved to Antalyaspor in Turkey a year later, making 18 appearances there.

Townsend joined Kanchanaburi Power in Thailand in August 2025, scoring three goals in 30 appearances last season, and has since moved to PT Prachuap.