I am pleased to be able to announce that Lewis has made significant, positive strides in a very short period of time on the road to recovery and we all look forward to him being released from hospital in the very near future.

Lewis is one of our own and we will make sure him and his family as well as the rest of our players and staff receive the best help and support we are able to get them.

We very much hope that when Lewis is ready and the time is right, he will continue his journey in football with the club whether that is on or off the pitch. He is an important part of our family and we will find a place for him in whatever capacity he chooses.

I’d like to take this opportunity to personally show a huge amount of gratitude and the upmost respect to our friends Gateshead FC for the way the handled the situation with Lewis and also their fantastic treatment of the rest of our players and staff who were all shaken by the incident. Also a special thanks to their fans who were not only superb on the evening but also in their support and concern since. An absolutely fantastic club, and a real example for others to follow!

I would also like to thank all of you for your comments and messages across all social platforms, they have all been gratefully received and I am sure they have put a smile on Lewis’s face.

I will post a further update when Lewis is released from hospital.

Best wishes

Paul Barthorpe