A SUNDAY league footballer who was stabbed on the pitch during a half-time team talk is still in hospital.

The player was taken to hospital and the match abandoned yesterday after the attack in front of the two teams and more than 20 spectators at Bestwood Workshops, Bestwood Village.

This afternoon police said he was still in hospital in a stable condition.

Witnesses said a group came on to the ground just before half-time in the game between Bestwood Miners' Welfare and Sycamore St Ann's in the Notts Combination League yesterday.

When the two teams gathered for their team talks a Sycamore player, thought to be in his 20s, reportedly spoke to the group.

There was then "a skirmish" and he was stabbed.

An ambulance was called but the player was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre by a team mate.

The referee told the teams to return to the dressing rooms and abandoned the match at about 11.20am.

Inspector Andy Jennings, of Notts Police, said: "Witnesses have indicated the injured party has been stabbed. At the moment we believe the offenders have run from the pitch through to the road."

Police forensics officers searched the playing fields, including bushes between the football ground and Moor Road. Notts County Council was asked to lift manhole covers in the search for a weapon.

A section of Moor Road was cordoned off from where the offenders may have left the area by car.

Insp Jennings said: "We know a car drew off from Moor Road. We don't know if it was connected."

Last night, the police were contacting the players and officials of both sides.

Eddie Varney, the secretary of the Combination League, said he was contacted by the referee after the incident and the police.

"There was a skirmish and somebody finished up being stabbed," he said. "The referee abandoned the match.

"I am in my 48th year with this league and we have never had anything like this."

The two clubs did not want to comment.

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.