A FOOTBALLER from St Albans who was forced to give up his playing career after an accident at work has been awarded nearly £10,000 in compensation. Former Milton Keynes City player Neil Yapp, aged 27, retired from the game in Spring 2007 after a fall at

A FOOTBALLER from St Albans who was forced to give up his playing career after an accident at work has been awarded nearly £10,000 in compensation.

Former Milton Keynes City player Neil Yapp, aged 27, retired from the game in Spring 2007 after a fall at a printing factory left him with a seriously-sprained knee and ankle.

Neil, who was working for Trinity Mirror Printing in Watford at the time, was walking down a set of metal stairs when one of the steps collapsed and he fell. His injuries made it impossible for him to continue his semi-professional footballing career and he retired in the same year.

Neil, who currently lives in Lye Lane, Bricket Wood, contacted his union, Unite, shortly after the fall and the union's lawyers consequently pursued a claim for compensation.

In December, Trinity Mirror finally accepted liability for the accident and settled the claim out of court for £9,500.

Neil, who now runs his own tree surgery business with a friend, said he still suffered from pain in his knee and predicted that it would cause him even more problems in the future. He added: "I was devastated when I was told I would have to give up football. I was having a successful career as a semi-professional player and it was all destroyed because those stairs were not well maintained."

The accident has not put Neil off football and he will never stop kicking a ball about. He is now playing for Brookman's Park in a Sunday league and added: "But unfortunately that's about all I can manage nowadays.