A non-league footballer is fighting for his life after a serious attack in Manchester city centre.

Ramsbottom United footballer Matthew Edgington suffered a fractured skull, fractured cheekbone and cuts to the head and body while celebrating the club’s 2-1 win over Alsager Town on Saturday.

The popular winger was assaulted in John Dalton Street around 3am on Sunday and was rushed to the intensive care unit in Hope Hospital, Salford, where he remains in a coma in a critical but stable condition.

Bernard Morley, co-manager, spent Sunday in the hospital alongside the 25-year-old’s family.

He said: “Matt is one of my best mates and not just a team mate so this has left me gutted.

“He’s a great lad and for this to happen is awful and a great loss to Ramsbottom FC and to football.

“Matt has been moving his hands and his eyes recently but he is still in the induced coma at the moment.

“His parents are really struggling with it obviously, and we all hope that his condition improves over the next few days.

“The main thing right now is that he is not getting any worse.”

Ramsbottom United released a club statement which said the website has been flooded with messages from well-wishers since the weekend and that everyone involved with the club were “deeply shocked by the events.”

Messages posted on the forum are being passed to Matt’s father John and his wife Pauline and Matt’s sister Rachael.

Greater Manchester police have urged any witnesses to call Grey Mare Lane CID on 0161 856 3540, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police said that inquiries into the assault are ongoing.