David Busst
Encyclopedia
David Busst is a former English
footballer and current football community manager and coach. Busst played all of his professional career at Coventry City
before suffering a broken leg during a match which ended his career. His injury is often considered as the most horrific in the history of the Premier League to date. Busst is currently employed by Coventry as the Director of Football in the Community.
in Birmingham
, before moving to Coventry City
in 1991. A solid and well-respected defender, Busst was good enough to play over 50 times for the Premiership
side and become a regular member of the team.
. Two minutes into the match, having ventured forward after his team won a corner, Busst collided with United players Denis Irwin
and Brian McClair
, resulting in extensive compound fractures to both the tibia
and fibula of his right leg. The match had to be delayed for 12 minutes while blood was cleaned off the grass. It is reputed that Manchester United's goalkeeper
Peter Schmeichel
vomited on the pitch upon seeing the injury and had to have counselling
afterwards, along with a number of other players. The injury is often cited as one of the worst in the history of football. The subsequent injuries suffered by Eduardo da Silva
, Luc Nilis, Aaron Ramsey
and Preston Burpo
have been compared to Busst's injury by many observers.
Busst's injuries were so bad that at one point he ran the risk of having his leg amputated. While in hospital, Busst contracted MRSA, which caused further damage to the tissue and muscle in the injured part of his leg. Despite having 26 operations
, Busst remained a member of the official Coventry squad for a further seven months, but never played again and retired from the game following advice from his doctors on 6 November 1996 at the age of 29. It was however, not the break that ended his career, but the infections he suffered afterwards.A specialist who treated Busst had warned him that had the injury been suffered 20 years earlier, it would probably have required amputation
. However, just weeks before his retirement, Busst had been hoping to return to training the following spring and be ready for first team action by the start of the 1997-98 season
.
His testimonial match
, played on 16 May 1997 against Manchester United, was a sell-out.England
internationals Paul Gascoigne
and Les Ferdinand
, guested for Coventry in the game, which was also notable for being the last game that United captain Eric Cantona
played, as he announced his retirement as a player two days later.
coaching badges. Busst went on to manage non-league Evesham United
, having previously taken charge of Solihull Borough
. He currently acts as defensive cover for Highgate United
of the Midland Combination
Premier Division where his brother, Paul, is the club's assistant manager.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer and current football community manager and coach. Busst played all of his professional career at Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
before suffering a broken leg during a match which ended his career. His injury is often considered as the most horrific in the history of the Premier League to date. Busst is currently employed by Coventry as the Director of Football in the Community.
Club career
Busst played as a defender, and started his career at non-league Moor GreenMoor Green F.C.
Moor Green F.C. was a non-league association football team originally from the Hall Green area of south Birmingham but later based in the town of Solihull, West Midlands, England...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, before moving to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in 1991. A solid and well-respected defender, Busst was good enough to play over 50 times for the Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
side and become a regular member of the team.
Injury
His playing career came to an end on 8 April 1996, whilst playing for Coventry against Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
. Two minutes into the match, having ventured forward after his team won a corner, Busst collided with United players Denis Irwin
Denis Irwin
Denis Joseph Irwin is a former Irish football player who is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that won a host of domestic and European trophies in his time there between 1990 and...
and Brian McClair
Brian McClair
Brian John McClair is a former Scottish international football player who played as a forward, notable for his near 11-year spell at Manchester United, as well as important tenures at Scottish clubs Celtic and Motherwell...
, resulting in extensive compound fractures to both the tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
and fibula of his right leg. The match had to be delayed for 12 minutes while blood was cleaned off the grass. It is reputed that Manchester United's goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
vomited on the pitch upon seeing the injury and had to have counselling
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
afterwards, along with a number of other players. The injury is often cited as one of the worst in the history of football. The subsequent injuries suffered by Eduardo da Silva
Eduardo da Silva
Eduardo Alves da Silva , commonly known as Eduardo, sometimes nicknamed as Dudu, is a Brazilian-born Croatian footballer who plays for Ukrainian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk and the Croatia national team...
, Luc Nilis, Aaron Ramsey
Aaron Ramsey
Aaron James Ramsey is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for the premier league club Arsenal and is the captain of the Wales national football team...
and Preston Burpo
Preston Burpo
Preston Burpo is a retired American soccer player who is now goalkeeper coach for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer.-College:...
have been compared to Busst's injury by many observers.
Busst's injuries were so bad that at one point he ran the risk of having his leg amputated. While in hospital, Busst contracted MRSA, which caused further damage to the tissue and muscle in the injured part of his leg. Despite having 26 operations
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, Busst remained a member of the official Coventry squad for a further seven months, but never played again and retired from the game following advice from his doctors on 6 November 1996 at the age of 29. It was however, not the break that ended his career, but the infections he suffered afterwards.A specialist who treated Busst had warned him that had the injury been suffered 20 years earlier, it would probably have required amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
. However, just weeks before his retirement, Busst had been hoping to return to training the following spring and be ready for first team action by the start of the 1997-98 season
1997-98 in English football
The 1997-1998 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.-Premier League:Arsenal overhauled Manchester United's lead during the final weeks of the season to win the Premiership title...
.
His testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
, played on 16 May 1997 against Manchester United, was a sell-out.England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
internationals Paul Gascoigne
Paul Gascoigne
Paul John Gascoigne , commonly referred to as Gazza, is a retired English professional footballer.Playing in the position of midfield, Gascoigne's career included spells at Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough, Everton and Gansu Tianma, where he scored at least a goal...
and Les Ferdinand
Les Ferdinand
Leslie "Les" Ferdinand MBE is a former English footballer. His playing career included spells at Queens Park Rangers, Besiktas J.K., Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers F.C., during which period he earned a number of appearances for England...
, guested for Coventry in the game, which was also notable for being the last game that United captain Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
played, as he announced his retirement as a player two days later.
Post playing career
Since his retirement, he has worked for Coventry's backroom staff, working for their Football in the Community programme, of which he is now director. In the meantime, he has also trained as a coach, earning several UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
coaching badges. Busst went on to manage non-league Evesham United
Evesham United F.C.
Evesham United F.C. are an English football club based in Evesham, Worcestershire. They reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in the 2008-2009 season. In 2005, they entered the Southern League Premier Division for the first time in their history but were relegated after...
, having previously taken charge of Solihull Borough
Solihull Borough F.C.
Solihull Borough F.C. was an English football club from Solihull. In 2007 the club merged with Moor Green to form a new club, Solihull Moors.-History:...
. He currently acts as defensive cover for Highgate United
Highgate United F.C.
Highgate United F.C. is an English football club based in the Highgate area of Birmingham but currently playing in the Shirley district of Solihull...
of the Midland Combination
Midland Football Combination
The Midland Football Combination is an English football league covering parts of the West Midlands. It comprises five divisions, a Premier Division, Divisions One and Two and two Reserves Divisions...
Premier Division where his brother, Paul, is the club's assistant manager.