A FORMER Musselburgh Athletic player has had life-saving surgery after being hit by a car in California.

Oliver (Ollie) Russell was part of the Honest Toun side that reached the Scottish Junior Cup final in 2011 and 2015 but now lives in the USA.

The 32-year-old needed immediate surgery for a brain bleed following the incident, which saw him suffer extensive injuries, in Sacramento on June 25.

He also suffered an extensive tear to his thigh, five broken ribs, cuts and bruises, and a fractured wrist and thumb which is still to be operated on.

His good friend Kevin Mcclory has set up a GoFundMe page to raise $40,000.

Kevin said that Ollie’s brain surgery had been successful, with more than $12,000 already raised.

The operation involved opening Ollie’s skull to remove the clots and bleed, leaving him with 48 staples.

Kevin said: “It will be a long recovery, but he has the support of his parents, friends and Davis/NorCal soccer community to help him through this difficult time.

“We are looking to raise funds for the extensive costs of additional unforeseen medical expenses and rehabilitation costs.

“Any donation will be gratefully appreciated.”

Russell, who is now a coach with the Davis Legacy Soccer Club, began his career with Hibernian and was part of the side that lifted a youth league and cup double.

He would go on to represent Berwick Rangers before moving on to Musselburgh Athletic.

The midfielder, who was capped by Scotland’s under-18s team, came off the bench in extra time in the 2-1 defeat to Auchinleck Talbot in Scottish Junior football’s top cup competition in 2011 and was also part of the squad for the 2015 final but didn’t play in the game, which again saw Burgh beaten by the same opposition.

Russell, who also played right-back for Burgh, made a total of 82 appearances across four seasons, scoring three goals.

Matti King, the club’s record goalscorer, played alongside Russell in the 2011 cup clash at Rugby Park.

He had messaged him a couple of months ago and heard about the news ahead of Musselburgh’s friendly with Bonnyrigg Rose on Tuesday evening.

King said: “It was terrible. “Ollie is just a really nice guy, fairly quiet but funny at the same time. “It is not good at all and shocking to hear.

“I just read about it when Musselburgh posted about it on Twitter.”

The Olivebank side collected donations in buckets at their game against the Scottish Lowland Football League champions to help with the fundraising appeal.

The donations, together with a contribution from the club, raised more than £300. Karl Cleghorn, president of Musselburgh Athletic, wished Russell – who played alongside former Easter Road players Scott Taggart and Sean Welsh – well.

He said: “People have fond memories of him. “He was in the cup final squad against Auchinleck Talbot and was a bit of a warrior for us.

“It was really a bit of a shock, a young man having a life-changing situation like that. “We did want to do our best here as a family, community club to let him know we are thinking of him and longer-term being a power of good for him.

“He was a popular chap – that’s how people remember him because he was fairly combative and really up for it.

“Those types of things people like, the Roy Keanes of this world are always popular when they put their heart on the sleeve.”

To donate to the appeal, go to gofundme.com/f/to-help-my-dear-friend-ollie-after-brain-surgery