Luton Town manager Rob Edwards choked up live on Sky Sports after seeing a photo of Tom Lockyer celebrating the Hatters' Premier League promotion from his hospital bed.
There were scenes of huge concern yesterday just minutes into the Championship play-off final at Wembley when Wales defender Lockyer went to ground with no-one around him.
Medics quickly entered the field of play to attend the stricken centre-back, who was conscious when stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital.
Lockyer's parents left their seats at the stadium to be with their son, and it was his father who posted a heartwarming photo following the Bedfordshire club's penalty shootout win against Coventry City.
And when Welshman Edwards was shown the picture while being interviewed by the Sky Sports panel post-match, he welled up and choked back tears speaking about his defender.
"I can't speak highly enough of him," he said, taking a moment to compose himself in front of the cameras, with presenter David Prutton helping him through the interview.
'"I'm just really pleased he's OK."
He went on: “It feels incredible but the only thing I’m thinking of right now is Tom Lockyer. He’s been immense for us this season. Health and family is the most important thing and I don’t care right now until he is all right – I know he’s all right.
"A few of the guys have spoken to him in hospital. He’s getting really well looked after. That’s where my head is at the moment. It felt a little bit wrong to celebrate at the time. I just felt emotional."
Edwards then added a classy message to their opponents Coventry, who will have to go again in the Championship next season. He said: “I’ve got to say huge credit to Mark Robins and Coventry, and commiserations.
"I know how much they’ve been through and the job he’s done has been incredible. It was so tight. You’ve not been able to separate us over three games, all the way to penalties. He deserves so much credit. The job he’s done, I couldn’t have done that. I know they’ll be back stronger. Unbelievable fanbase, an amazing club. It was our day but I do feel for them as well.
“I am incredibly proud of my group of players. For Locks, who’s been our best player this season, to go off after four or five minutes, for the lads then to organise themselves, deal with seeing their captain coming off like that emotionally in this atmosphere on the biggest day they dealt with that so well. Our performance after that in the first half was incredible.”
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