A SPECTATOR could force his son's rugby club to fold following a freak accident at a match.

Cecil Dredge is threatening to sue high-flying Westbury Rugby Football Club after a player ploughed into him during the game against Cooper-Avon-Tyres in September 2000.

His knee and tibia were fractured by the impact and his shoulder blade was badly bruised.

Ropes tied around the perimeter of the pitch usually protect the spectators and allow the touch judge to run the length of the field. But they were missing during the match as the club was waiting to see where the markings for a cricket pitch were being painted.

Westbury player Dennis Dredge has pleaded with his dad to forgive and forget, but without success.

Mr Dredge senior said: "It was the first time I had been to watch a match and I won't be going back. I sometimes find it hard to walk and my knee is cracking and groaning all the time.

"My wife finds it hard to walk, so she usually relies on me to take her out and do things around the house, but it has been very difficult for months."

After the accident, Mr Dredge was taken to hospital and the club said he could use their physiotherapist.

However, he still wants to sue and the club would have to pay the full costs, as they did not have any liability insurance under the terms of their pitch hire agreement with West Wiltshire District Council.

The club cannot hope to foot a large legal bill and are desperate to find a solution. The committee has written to the sport's governing body, the Rugby Football Union, and to several rugby magazines, but they have been unable to help.

Westbury play their home matches at Wellhead Lane, and are top of division one of the Dorset and Wiltshire League. Any success this season would be in vain if the club is forced to fold.

A club member, who declined to be named, said: "The financial burden could be as much as £9,000. Any shortfall in funds will have to come from committee members' pockets.

"The club has been running for 20 years and everybody's hard work will mean nothing if the case goes ahead.

"Committee members have had lots of sleepless nights, as we would have to start again from scratch. If you look at other clubs in the region, very few of them ever have ropes."