Matty Crossen has made such an encouraging recovery from his stroke that he is already thinking about getting back out on the pitch
Marske defender Matty Crossen
Marske defender Matty Crossen says he will definitely return to playing Northern League football despite suffering a stroke.
The 23-year-old’s world turned upside down last November when he was rushed to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough after falling ill at work.
He underwent an emergency blood clot extraction after feeling pins and needles in his head and numbness in his arm, and was told by doctors to call time on his playing career.
But he has made such an encouraging recovery that he is already thinking about getting back out on the pitch with the blessing of his physicians, most likely next term.
“You never think something like that is going to happen to you, and when it did I couldn’t believe it,” said the pacy right-back.
“I just thought I would keep on playing football and you feel untouchable, basically. Since it’s happened I’ve realised how fortunate I am.
“Football isn’t everything, your health is most important.
“But when I was told I would have to retire from playing, I couldn’t accept it.
“I’ve grown up around the game. You’re a long time retired and I absolutely love it.
“I don’t want to rush things, but I will definitely return to Northern League football when I’m fully recovered and the time is right.
“And I want to come back better than I was before.”
Crossen has joined in with Marske’s warm-ups for the last few weeks and is doing daily cardio work to build up his fitness.
He is feeling fine physically but said he still has to think about certain words before he can express them, although that is expected to return to normal given time.
“The physios have been round my house and I have had checks on my heart and brain and they have all come back positive really,” the former Billingham Synthonia player explained.
“The doctors have said they have been very surprised by my recovery - they couldn’t believe it really. They didn’t say it was a miracle, but they said for anyone my age it doesn’t really happen.
“They said I’m fine to come back and they are happy for me to come back.”
Crossen is still in the dark about why he suffered a stroke in the first place but is keen to put it behind him.
“The hospital were a bit taken aback by it and they can’t find the cause why it happened, that’s the thing,” he said.
“They thought it might have been my heart or my head but it’s neither of them, and it certainly hasn’t been passed down through the family.
“I got a knock on the nose playing football a couple of weeks before it happened, and I think that might have been something to do with it.
“Whatever it was, I want to put it behind me and move on.”
And he is equally keen to repay Marske and all of his well-wishers for their support by making a playing return.
“I’ve had great support from everyone I know and it has spurred me on really,” he said.
“Everyone in the Northern League has been brilliant.
“All of the clubs have been in touch on Twitter or through our chairman and fans have been approaching me at games asking how I’m doing.
“Everyone has just been really helpful and Marske have been tremendous,” he added.
“They have organised a Casino Night for me at the Riverside Stadium on March 1, which will raise funds for the stroke unit at James Cook.
“Everyone at the club has rallied around and wants it.
“It’s a sell-out, and it’s fantastic what they’ve done for me.”
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