Footballer hits GoFundMe target for £3k career-saving surgery after quitting at 27

Marcus Maddison, who quit football at 27 before performing a U-turn, has smashed his fundraising target for a career-saving operation.

The former Peterborough United and Bolton Wanderers winger set up a GoFundMe page last week. He set a £3,000 target for an operation that he claims will help him to re-launch his career.

Maddison, now aged 28, walked out on professional football in April 2021 after saying that the industry "broke" him.

He then made a U-turn, going on to sign for non-league side Spalding United. After revealing he had a torn meniscus Maddison last week launched a fundraising page saying that without the surgery he "will be unable to run again, never mind play football".

Now, just days after setting the page live, Maddison has surpassed his total.

As of Wednesday morning a total of £3,645 has been raised.

That includes donations from Maddison's former Peterborough teammates Michael Doughty - who donated a sizeable £1,000 - Nathan Thompson and Kieran Sadlier, among others.

Speaking on an Instagram video, Maddison said: "The generosity I’ve seen from people over the past four or five days is ridiculous.

"We've hit our target.

“I spoke to the hospital today. They’re going to fit me in this week, and once the operation is done I can start to get on the mend and get back into football.”

Maddison only launched the fundraiser last week, posting a lengthy statement in which he spoke about his desire to return to football full-time.

He wrote: “I’m now ready to do what I do best and love the most: playing football! However, I have an obstacle standing in my way.

"I have a tear in my meniscus, which is massively holding me back, I have had a medical assessment already, and I need an operation.

"This, however,