FOOTBALL players had a lucky escape when their minibus was involved in a multi-vehicle crash when en-route to a match.

Seven players from Maldon and Tiptree Football Club escaped with just cuts and bruises after their minibus was shunted from behind when on the slip road between the A12 and M25 on Tuesday evening.

The team were travelling for their away game against Potters Bar.

It is understood four vehicles were involved in the crash, with the team’s bus being shunted at the rear by another car which had also been shunted, causing the bus to go into the car in front.

The game was postponed because of the crash, but fortunately the driver nor any of the players were seriously hurt.

All players will be examined by medical staff at Colchester Hospital however, as to be sure of no lasting effects and whether they will be healthy enough to play their next game, scheduled for Wednesday.

Mark Levey, Assistant Manager for the club, said: “We’re almost certain that all team members are ok after the crash, but they will be checked over by medical teams in Colchester, as with crashes like this you’ll have lots of adrenaline flowing through you, and it can take the next 48 hours for you to realise you might be more injured then you are.

“We had to postpone the match as there was no pheasible way they would get to Potters Bar in time.

“The bus itself was heavily damaged both at the front and back, and driver of the car behind was in a bad way, so they were waiting around for police and ambulance services to arrive.”

Mr Levey thanked supporters for their kind words and expressed relief that the crash did not happen on the M25 itself.

He added: “They were all very lucky, and it’s a good thing the crash itself didn’t happen right on the motorway. They’d have been looking at several vehicles piling up.”