Oxford United groundsman Mick Moore is on crutches after a bizarre accident on his way to the Professional Footballers' Association dinner in London earlier this month.

He explained: "I was in a taxi with several players and there were too many wanting to get in for the taxi to hold. Phil Whelan jokingly yanked at my left leg to get me out, but it unfortunately yanked the leg at right angles and tore the medial ligaments in the knee."

Moore, who still managed to attend the awards dinner despite being in great pain, added: "It was just high spirits at the time and Phil has been very apologetic about it. To be honest, he's devastated. He's just come to see me to apologise for ruining my summer - which he has done, really." With Moore unable to walk properly for the last fortnight, his assistant Dave Wedge has been working all hours of the day and night on the Manor Ground pitch, and Moore was full of praise.

"This time of year is a critical time for pitches, the most important time of the year because it's from the work you put in now that you reap all the rewards later.

"There were cup finals at the Manor every day last week and Dave was going home at gone 11 o'clock some nights. He's done a brilliant job."