Calamity James: Barry brothers both end up on crutches after football injuries (From Barry And District News)

Calamity James: Barry brothers both end up on crutches after football injuries

4:40pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Chris Seal

A BARRY footballing family are hoping that bad luck doesn’t come in threes - after two brothers both ended up in plaster just a couple of weeks apart.

Both Dan James, 25, and his brother Lewis, 20, are on crutches - after Dan ruptured ankle ligaments and Lewis broke a metatarsal in his right foot, as they were playing for Sully Sports FC.

And after lightning struck twice for the family, dad Martin - a goalkeeping coach at the club - has had his offer to sign up as second choice goalie turned down, amid fears that he could be cursed with an injury himself!

Dan, captain of the side, suffered his injury in a game against Cogan Coronation last Wednesday evening (September 5).

"It was all my own fault," he said.

"I jumped up to go for a header and as I landed I came down on the side of my ankle and all my body weight came down on it."

Dan, who lives at The Pastures with his dad and brother, added: "I actually broke the same ankle when I was about 15, and the pain was very similar.

"This time I have done more to the ligaments rather than the bone though."

The left back is hoping to get back into action as soon as possible.

"I’m hoping to play before Christmas, but I think I’m being a bit ambitious!" he said.

"I’m just hoping for an appearance before the end of the season."

After his injury the referee called an ambulance and he was given gas and air on the pitch before being taken to hospital.

Brother Lewis, who is just starting an electrician's apprenticeship with Quicklight Limited, broke a metatarsal bone in his right foot for the third time in his footballing career, in a tackle during a game against Grange Albion FC last month (August 11).

"It’s the third time I’ve done it in 18 months now," he said.

"The last time I did it in pre-season and missed the entire season, and this time it was in the first 30 minutes of the first game of the season."

He added: "The first two times I did it it was from running and turning too sharply, but this time it was from an impact so it’s a different type of break.

"After I did it someone passed me the ball with a broken foot, and I realised I had done it again."

Former Barry Comprehensive pupil Lewis is now reluctant to get back into competitive action.

"I have no plans to go back," he said.

"For the next three years I have to think about my career rather than football.

"I want to give coaching a go though, as I still want to be involved in some way."

Lewis, who has previously played for Cadoxton Imps and Barry Town Youth Team, added: "The worst thing was that I was injured last year and had to watch Sully winning cup finals and me on the bench, so this year I was hoping to be part of it.

"Now that's gone out of the window."

Dad Martin, who works shifts at Dow Corning, said that because neither Dan nor Lewis can drive due to their injuries, he has had to take them back and forth to hospital, as well as taking Lewis to college in Bridgend once a week.

"They have been playing since they were six years old and injuries come with the territory, but to have them both injured at the same time is just unbelievable," he said.