Friends and family are continuing a vigil for a star striker found semi-

conscious in a children's playground.

Allan Ashdown, from Newhaven, was discovered more than a week ago near the Beachy Head pub, Eastbourne, with severe head injuries.

He was taken to a London hospital but was transferred to Hurstwood Park Hospital, Haywards Heath, which specialises in neurological injuries.

Mr Ashdown, 25, plays for Seaford Football Club and team members are being updated on his condition through assistant manager Jon Holmes.

Manager and player Duncan Kneller said the team had considered cancelling their match last Saturday but decided to continue when they heard their team-mate's condition had improved slightly.

He said: "All the time he was on the life support machine we didn't want to play. The players were not in a good frame of mind.

"Alan is a very likeable Jack-the-Lad. Everyone likes him and a lot of the lads are quite close to him. Nobody warrants that happening to them."

Mr Kneller said the striker, who is believed to have a five-year-old son called Callum, was currently his top goal scorer.

Before joining the Seaford side as a forward, he played for Newhaven, Peacehaven and Eastbourne Borough FC.

Sussex Police said the matter was still being investigated and officers are waiting until Mr Ashdown, a plumber, was well enough to be interviewed.

He was discovered in the early hours of Monday, January 20, and a spokesman for Hurstwood this morning described his condition as stable.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Eastbourne CID on 0845 6070999.