The Football Association has led the messages of support for Clarke Carlisle after the former Leeds, Burnley and QPR defender was airlifted to hospital in Leeds on Monday morning after being hit by a lorry.
Police refused to confirm the identity of a man who was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with life-threatening injuries following the incident on the A64 south of York at around 7.30am.
However, they did confirm that a 35-year-old from the York area had been admitted to the hospital with serious injuries, with an update on his condition due to be issued on Tuesday morning.
“The thoughts & prayers of all at The FA are with Clarke Carlisle & his family at this sad time,” read a message from the FA’s official Twitter account on Monday night.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Kick It Out are with Clarke Carlisle and his family. Stay strong our dear friend - keep on fighting,” added Kick It Out, the anti-racism organisation for whom Carlisle is an official ambassador.
The thoughts & prayers of all at The FA are with Clarke Carlisle & his family at this sad time.
— The FA (@FA) December 22, 2014
Reports in Yorkshire on Monday described an incident on the A64 involving a lorry and a pedestrian at 7.30am, near Bishopthorpe, which sparked traffic chaos. The westbound carriageway was closed for more than an hour to allow an air ambulance to land on the motorway, with the whole road eventually opened just after 11am.
North Yorkshire Police would only confirm that “the collision involved a male pedestrian and a lorry” but are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Carlisle, who retired from playing last year after a 16-year professional career, has been working as a pundit for ITV Sport and served as the chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association. He famously became the first player to appear on Countdown and was named ‘Britain’s Brainiest Footballer’ after winning a TV quiz show in 2002, also appearing on Question Time in 2012.
“The thoughts of all at Burnley Football Club are with Clarke Carlisle and his family,” read a tweet from Burnley, where Carlisle spent five years and won the man-of-the-match award in the 2009 playoff final win over Sheffield United.
The thoughts of all at Burnley Football Club are with Clarke Carlisle and his family.
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) December 22, 2014
Preston, Blackpool and Reading were also among his former clubs to pass on their best wishes to Carlisle and his family.
