Off the PitchDaily Mail FootballUnverified source· 22 Sept 2026
Townsend: Diet Beat Painkillers After Pitch Roller Horror
Run over by a pitch roller in Thailand, Andros Townsend says his unusual diet — not medication — got him walking again.
C. Townsend
player
Who
Andros Townsend
What
Run over by pitch roller
Where
Thailand
When
At half-time during a match
What happened. Andros Townsend was run over by a pitch rolling machine while warming up at half-time during a match in Thailand, leaving him in agony and unable to walk. He claims he avoided medication and instead relied on his diet — including slow-cooked chicken feet, olive oil and raw cacao — to recover.
- He said his knee ballooned after the game and team-mates had to help him to the toilet.
- His recovery meal included six eggs, blueberries, salmon, raw cheese and eight-hour slow-cooked chicken feet.
- He shared a clip of himself walking unsupported, saying he escaped 'pretty unscathed'.
“I heard my team-mates screaming, and then before I could react, I felt the pressure of that roller going over me.”
— Andros Townsend
Townsend says the injury has settled and he is walking again, though the incident left him briefly unable to move unaided.
In this story
More to read
Metro Football
Andros Townsend reveals how he escaped uninjured from ‘terrifying’ pitch roller incident
Daily Mail Football
'I thought my ankle was going to snap': Andros Townsend speaks for first time on 'terrifying' moment he was RUN OVER by a pitch rolling machine at half-time during match in Thailand
BBC Sport
Being run over by pitch roller was 'terrifying' - Townsend
The Guardian
Andros Townsend avoids injury after bizarre pitch roller incident in Thailand
