In bizarre scenes, the League Two season opener between Shrewsbury and Bromley was interrupted due to a linesman injury, with play suspended as match officials searched for a replacement in the crowd.
Shrewsbury’s return to English football’s fourth tier at New Meadow was paused after just 25 minutes when linesman Scott Chaulkley sustained a suspected hamstring injury. The designated fourth official took over the role, but players retreated to the changing rooms for 18 minutes as staff located a replacement.
Over the venue’s speakers, an appeal was made for any qualified officials in the crowd of 5809, prompting speculation on whether play would resume.
The match eventually got back underway when Shrewsbury fan Alan Cork, a level 5 qualified official, took over the role.
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“The linesman was not very well, and we had to break for 18 minutes for someone in the crowd to step in,” Bromley boss Andy Woodman said after the game.
“I have to address it because I have never known anything like it. They come in the other day and give us all these rule changes and then something like that happens.
“I am not having a go at the linesman, but it just kills the whole atmosphere and momentum of the game.
“We had to take them in the dressing room and get them back out and get the game going again. It was really difficult.”
The contest ultimately ended as a 0-0 stalemate.
“Defensively, to keep a clean sheet on the opening day of the season against a side that finished in the top half of the division last year, I will take it,” Shrewsbury boss Michael Appleton said.
“They will all get better, it’s day one and there are another 45 to go, It’s a point on the board.”
Elsewhere, the League Two clash between Newport and Swindon was delayed by an hour when two air ambulances landed on the pitch to treat a supporter that had taken ill.