33-Year-Old Falls Ill Before League Two Fixture
Former Rangers and Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck was hospitalized on Thursday night after experiencing a medical episode during Chesterfield’s pre-match warm-up.
The 33-year-old, who was listed among the substitutes for Chesterfield’s League Two clash against Doncaster Rovers, collapsed on the pitch, causing concern among his teammates. Emergency personnel attended to Fleck at the SMH Group Stadium before he was stretchered off around half an hour before the scheduled 7:45 PM kickoff, which was subsequently delayed by 10 minutes.
A club statement confirmed: “John Fleck has been taken to hospital as a precaution after falling ill during the warm-up.”
Following Chesterfield’s 5-2 victory, assistant manager Danny Webb provided an encouraging update, explaining that Fleck had suffered “a fit of some sort” but left the pitch conscious and smiling. “We’ll know more tomorrow, but he’s in good hands,” Webb told the Derbyshire Times.
Webb admitted the incident unsettled the squad before kickoff, describing the dressing room as “very quiet” before the staff reassured the players that Fleck seemed stable. “Football was secondary in that moment,” he added. “The lads played for John tonight.”
Reflecting on the unsettling experience, Webb explained: “We considered restarting the warm-up but instead allowed the players time to gather their thoughts. Seeing John conscious and speaking was a huge relief. His family accompanied him to the hospital.”
This isn’t the first time Fleck has faced a medical emergency on the pitch. In November 2021, he collapsed while playing for Sheffield United against Reading in the Championship, requiring urgent treatment and an oxygen mask before being stretchered off. He spent the night in the hospital but was discharged the following day.
Fleck began his career at Rangers, making his debut at 15 before moving to Coventry City in 2012 and later Sheffield United, where he spent eight years, made 278 appearances, and helped the club earn two promotions. He joined Chesterfield last summer but has struggled with injuries, managing only one start and three substitute appearances this season. His last international cap for Scotland came in 2021.
