A tragic football injury has left a teenager paralysed from the neck down.

Declan McDonald broke his neck after colliding with a player during an Airdrie and Coatbridge Rovers game last Saturday.

The 16-year-old was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital but has had no sensation from the shoulders down since the incident.

He underwent a 10 hour surgery and although it is “highly unlikely” that he will walk again, medics hope he could regain some arm function.

Now loved ones have raised more than £43,000, out of their £45,000 target, for Declan on GoFundMe.

The Glasgow Times got permission from the Airdrie and Coatbridge Rovers football team to share their post on the family’s behalf.

Glasgow Times: It is unlikely Declan will be able to walk again.It is unlikely Declan will be able to walk again. (Image: Newsquest)

AC Rovers FC shared on Facebook: “Was hoping we’d never need to put out a message like this, but lots of people asking for updates and sending messages.

“So with permission of the family, we feel it’s best to put a message here from them.

“As some of you may have heard, Declan McDonald of our 2007 age group was badly injured in a fall at our match on Saturday and he was taken in an ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

“Declan has suffered a broken neck and has no sensation from the shoulders down since the incident.

“This morning he has been through a 10 hour surgery on his neck and now as you will understand it is a waiting game, the current prognosis is Declan is highly unlikely to ever be able to walk again, hopefully with rehab and physio he will regain some feeling / use of his arms and hands.

“We will post more information as it is available but the club asks if you can keep Declan in your thoughts and prayers over the coming weeks and months as he continues his rehabilitation.

“Thanks to everyone who has reached out so far from all the family, his coaches and his team mates who are rightly shattered by this situation.”

The GoFundMe reads: “Declan Mcdonald, 16 years old who plays for AC Rovers was unfortunately hurt at the weekend due to a bad collision with him and another player which lead to him breaking his neck and injuring his spinal cord.

“This has left Declan in paralysis unable to move, we have set up a GoFundMe to support Declan and family in this time of need and to show support as a team “We are also going to be climbing up tinto hill in support for Declan.”