‘I REMBEMBER being sat in the hospital bed saying: ‘I'm getting back on the pitch, nobody can tell me otherwise.'
Alex Fletcher finally made his wishes come true last Saturday – and his emotional return brought the loudest cheer of the day as Bath City rallied to a 3-1 win over Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Fletcher was left in a coma for five days and had to learn to walk again after a collision with a perimeter wall during a game with Dulwich Hamlet at Twerton Park last November.
“If [playing] had been taken out of my hands I'd have felt so defeated and deflated,” said Fletcher after his popular five-minute return cameo. “Being given the all-clear from the medical professionals around May was the green light to start to build-up for playing again.
“Those months when I wasn't sure if I could play again was hard to get around mentally, especially at such a young age.”
Fletcher replaced good friend Cody Cooke on 85 minutes to the roars of all four sides of Twerton Park. The teammates were married within a day of each other over the summer and form part of the Bath City Devon car school.
“It was a bit emotional getting back out there,” said Fletcher. “I can't really describe the words to say how it felt. It was goosebumps. I've played the situation so many times over in my head, just being here again. For it to finally happen felt surreal.
“The reception I got from everyone in the ground, including the Hampton players, meant so much to me.
“I've got over that hurdle. It's a massive milestone reached for me and now it's about building my minutes up but not rushing it, it's important for my body that I don't do that.”
During his recovery, Fletcher received messages from the likes of Gareth Southgate and Raul Jimenez. On Tuesday, he attended the PFA Awards in Manchester, rubbing shoulders with the stars including Erling Haaland.
On the pitch, the 24-year-old wore protection for his forehead having returned to the physical side to the game in the summer.
“Being back among contact sport has been the trickiest
part,” he admitted. “It's been the part to get used to the most.
“They (the players) had to get used to me as well, they were a bit wary to begin with.
“I started building my fitness as soon as I could walk again. Everything I did with my recovery was with the goal to get back on the pitch.
“Hopefully I can start putting myself in contention for what's been a great start to the season though it might be tough as we've got such good attacking players, which can only be good for the team.” Fletcher was inundated with messages following his return, some from afar.
“My parents are away in Greece, the one time they booked a holiday!” he laughed. “They were listening on the radio. I've got a few friends who made the journey over from Devon which was great.
“Topped up with the result it's definitely been a day I'll remember for a long time.”
