Footballers and staff from Oxhey Jets FC were involved in a head-on collision with another car on the way to a match last night.

Team manager Benny Higham, chairman John Elliott and players Eoin Casey, Warren Gladdy and Lee Grace were all travelling in Mr Elliott’s silver Land Rover when the accident happened at around 6pm on the A5120 in Bedfordshire.

None of the players or staff was injured in the crash but the fixture between high-flying Jets and Ampthill Town FC was cancelled.

Mr Elliott, who was driving, said: "We were in a crawling traffic jam and there was a Ford Fiesta starting to move out of a lay-by in front of us.

"We left a big gap and she pulled out in front of a car that was hurtling down the road towards us.

"The lads say they can remember me shouting ‘duck’ as the car that pulled out was pushed into us, the car coming the other way also crashed into cars behind us.

"Eoin bashed his head on the head rest in front. We all opened the doors and were able to get out but there will be a few going to the doctors today I should think.

"There were people being taken to hospital and blue flashing lights everywhere. We were very lucky it wasn’t worse, I said to the lads I’m glad we were in a Land Rover."

Messages of support have been pouring in with many rival teams and supporters taking to micro-blogging site Twitter to voice their relief.

Mr Elliott added: "I thought it was lovely to see all the messages last night from teams including Dunstable, our biggest competitors, wishing us well.

"It has shaken my lads up but we will get on with it and will be ready for the next match."