A YOUNG football hopeful, left in a coma after a city centre attack, has announced his retirement from the 11-a-side game.

Former Ramsbottom United winger Matthew Edgington scored 21 goals for the Vodkat League side before a callous attack in Manchester, in November, 2009, left him with a fractured skull.

Family and club supporters have watched as Matthew, 26, battled back from severe injuries, even securing an England call-up, with the visually-impaired team, and enjoying five-a-side outings.

But the potential perils of the 11-a-side game have proved too much for Matthew, who has epilepsy and impaired vision in one eye as a result of the attck.

His dad John said: “After chatting with him on several occasions, it is clear that he is unhappy about the prospect of tackles on the larger pitch games and this being in his mind is a good enough reason to not bother.

“He is, however, really enjoying his five and six-a-side football and to be honest, when I watch him, he looks sharp and a lot of the old Matt that we have loved to watch over the years is still there.

“But it is, of course, up to him and this is the decision that he has made.”

Matthew is still looking to support the recovery of other people, who have suffered brain injuries, and is set to give a talk at Salford Royal Hospital about his experiences.

A Ramsbottom United spokesman said: “The club continues to wish Matthew and John and all of the Edgington family well as they move their lives forward as best they can.

“It is just such a shame that this decision has had to come at all.”