National League match SUSPENDED after ‘HORRIFIC’ tackle saw a player rushed to hospital with a stomach-turning broken leg… with fans calling for the offender to ‘never set foot on a pitch again’

The ‘worst tackle’ some fans have ever seen resulted in a player being rushed to hospital with a broken leg and left a National League match suspended on Saturday.

Supporters want Woking’s Dion Kelly-Evans to be barred for life after his sickening slide tackle left Gateshead’s Greg Olley crumpled on the turf. 

Kelly-Evans was shown a red card and ambulances were called on to the pitch with players clashing and fearing for Olley’s health less than 15 minutes into the match.

Gateshead later confirmed Olley was in a ‘stable condition’ and revealed plans for surgery on Sunday, having won 2-0 once play was resumed after 40 minutes.

‘Kelly-Evans should never step foot on a pitch again. No sympathy towards Olley whatsoever,’ wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter. 

Gateshead’s stars started on Dion Kelly-Evans and later got revenge with a 2-0 victory

‘That’s the worst tackle I have ever seen,’ said one. 

‘Mate that’s horrific. 100% need to enforce longer bans for tackles like this,’ another commented. 

‘Absolute scumbag. Thoughts with Greg and the Gateshead boys tonight,’ one said.  

‘Horrific challenge, and at worst he’ll only get a 4-5 game ban,’ speculated another fan. A straight red card leads to an automatic three-match ban but players can punished for longer. 

One fan had a more sympathetic view towards Kelly-Evans, writing: ‘Personally gutted for Olley but I think it was just unlucky that his leg was planted! Yes poor challenge but don’t think the kid meant to do any damage! Hope Olley is back in no time & back to his best!! Speedy recovery mate!’

‘I appreciate Gateshead fans are not happy with Kelly Evans and it was a bad bad tackle but the lad is a good guy and I know he will be upset,’ another said. 

Fans gave Olley a standing ovation after he received the injury. 

Multiple Gateshead players started rowing with Kelly-Evans and pushing him around as their team-mate lay on the grass and received medical attention.  

Greg Olley (left) is Gateshead’s captain and won the FA Vase with the club last season

Woking fans believe Dion Kelly-Evans, pictured with Notts County, would be apologetic

A message passed on to local reporter Mark Carruthers from Olley’s dad said he was in ‘good spirits’ and ‘thankful’ for the messages being sent his way. 

Kenton Richardson and Mark Benk scored to ensure Gateshead came away with three points and went top of the National League with two wins in two. 

‘We’re into unknown territory here with everything, so we just have to get around Greg to make sure he’s OK and give him the best support,’ said manager and former Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliott after the game.

‘I’m absolutely gutted and devastated because there’s no need for it to be in that situation.

‘We just have to make sure we’re there for Greggy, support him and take it from there.’

Olley, 28, is Gateshead’s club captain and last season lifted the FA Trophy as well as helping them to the National League play-offs. He has been with the club since 2018, having signed from Hull.