AN AMATEUR footballer told a crown court jury how he was left in agony with a broken leg after a “vicious” tackle.

Centre forward Michael Groom, 25, was playing for Herne Bay team the Crusaders in a rival derby game against the Rising Sun, from Whitstable.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard that the Herne Bay and Whitstable Sunday League game was abandoned after the incident on December 14, 2003.

Defender Daniel Maxted, 28, of Seymour Avenue, Whitstable, denies causing grievous harm.

Mr Groom said he was playing in the game at the Church Street playing fields in Whitstable. He told how he had known centre back Maxted for five or six years and they had socialised together, even playing on the same team in the past.

“I had got on well with him and as far as I am aware there was no animosity between us,” he said.

On this occasion Maxted was playing for the opposition team. “Rising Sun went 1-0 up after 20 minutes and a little later they went 2-0 up,” said Mr Groom.

“The only incident I recall was running back one time. I was chasing Danny who was running towards his own goal and I deliberately nudged him and gave a foul away.

“Not long after that there were a couple of tackles that went flying in - one on me by Mr Maxted. It was a little late but not out of the ordinary.

“Then not long after that I was chasing a ball down the right in their half, running towards the side line. The ball was seven to eight yards in front of me and I was sprinting after it to try to get to it before it went out.

“Danny was marking me. I then felt a crunch. I just collapsed in a heap, screaming. The tackle came from the back, half way up my shin. I looked at my leg and I could see it was bent at an angle.”

Prosecutor Ed Fowler said that Mr Groom had suffered a double fracture and was taken to hospital where a pin was put in his right leg.

He said Maxted was red-carded after the incident and the game called off.

“The Crown say matters went beyond what one would expect was reasonable behaviour on the field of sport.

“A number of people saw the incident. Midfielder Simon Webb said the defendant jumped on Mr Groom from behind, bringing both knees up and dropping him to the ground with all his weight landing on Mr Groom.

“He said there was no question of him going for the ball and it was one of the worst tackles he had ever seen.

“Another centre forward described a two-footed lunge with no hope of getting the ball,” he added.

Mr Fowler said two spectators described the tackle as “vicious” and “aimed at the player not the ball”.

Maxted, who had been sent off “quite a few times” times in the past was arrested after the game but denied deliberately kicking Mr Groom.

The jury will hear from more than 10 of the players and the referee during the trial, which is expected to last until next week.