An Irish League footballer is in intensive care in hospital after being attacked outside his club grounds in Co Antrim. Mr Jackie Coulter (31), a midfielder with Division One team Larne, is on a ventilator in Antrim Area hospital.
The team manager, Mr Paul Malone, said Mr Coulter had been waiting for a taxi with two team-mates on Saturday night when they were chased by a gang. The others managed to escape but Mr Coulter was beaten up after falling.
Mr Malone said: "This is a total and absolute disgrace. It spoiled a tremendous season for the players and the club."
Just hours before the attack Mr Coulter had scored a penalty in the team's 3-1 defeat of Bangor in the final league game.
Afterwards he attended the club's end-of-season presentation dinner and was waiting for a taxi to take him home to Bangor, Co Down.
Mr Malone added: "It is a shame that somebody representing the town should be attacked in this way, but it seems to be the environment in which we live. Everybody is devastated."