OXFORD’S leading football clubs came together for a benefit match in aid of ex-United and City defender Steve Tavinor, whose leg was crushed by a car.

Some familiar faces stepped on to the pitch at City’s Court Place Farm Stadium on Sunday for an Oxford City Veterans vs Oxford United Legends game to raise money for the former Peers School pupil.

United manager Chris Wilder and chairman Kelvin Thomas were among the players.

Father-of-four Mr Tavinor, 36, was unloading scaffolding from a lorry in Steeple Aston last September when a Jaguar car struck him.

He suffered serious injuries to his left leg and doctors warned it might have to be amputated.

More than a year later, he is still unable to work, walking on crutches and undergoing intensive physiotherapy. He will never play football again.

The United team won the game 4-2. Organisers estimate that the match will raise about £2,500.

Mr Tavinor said: “It’s absolutely amazing for the guys to have sorted this out for me. I would love to be out there playing with them. I wasn’t expecting anything like this.”

He said of the past year: “I’m still getting there, but very slowly.

“I go up to John Radcliffe Hospital every six weeks, and I still don’t know what the final outcome will be. The doctors say it’s too early to tell.”

Mr Tavinor, of Titup Hall Drive, Wood Farm, Oxford, was given a guard of honour by the two teams as he walked on to the pitch.

Match organiser Wayne Holden, of Oxford City, said: “Tav is a top man, and everyone in Oxford footballing circles agrees. We will all do anything we can to help. He’s not going to be able to work for a long time, and times have been hard for him and his family.”

He added: “He had started playing for the veterans when the accident happened last year.

“After our second game, he turned round and told me how much he was loving playing football again.

“This happened the next morning. It was a terrible shock for everyone.”

Former United player Phil Heath said Mr Tavinor had started at the club as his apprentice and boot-cleaner and had gone on to play under him at Chipping Norton Town. He said: “As soon as I got the phone call asking me to play, I wanted to do it straight away. He’s a smashing lad.”

Mr Thomas, who played for the Legends in the second half, said: “The response has been brilliant from the guys.”

l In March, Trevor Tyler, of Grange Park Road, Steeple Aston, was convicted of careless driving at Banbury Magistrates’ Court over the incident in which Mr Tavinor was injured. He was fined £100, given four penalty points and ordered to pay £360 costs, plus a £15 victims' surcharge.

Mr Tavinor’s solicitors are now seeking damages of at least £300,000.

lsloan@oxfordmail.co.uk