The first game at the new Cove Rangers’ ground had to be abandoned early into the second half yesterday after a player was badly injured following a collision.
The match at the Balmoral Stadium, where Aberdeen FC were the visitors, had resumed after the break when Jordan Brown went in for a challenge with Andrew Considine.
For both the spectators and players it was clear the 25-year-old had suffered badly as a result and the medical team were called over.
The ambulance service was called to the ground and spent about 30 minutes on the pitch before the midfielder, who previously played for the Dons and Peterhead, was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
One spectator, who did not wish to be named, said staff for both clubs had reacted swiftly to the incident.
He said: “It was about five minutes into the second half.
“Jordan had gone in for a challenge with Andrew Considine.
“From where we were sitting it was difficult to see what happened, there was a collision between the two.
“As soon as Jordan hit the turf the referee and players around him immediately called for the medical staff to come over.
“They were on the pitch within seconds.
“There were staff from both clubs attending to Jordan which indicated how serious it was.”
He went on to say: “The Cove manager John Sheran shouted to somebody to phone 999 for an ambulance.
“It must have been 10 to 15 minutes before the paramedics arrived and were on the pitch.
“Everyone was expecting it to be called off, the game had been stopped for 10 minutes.”
The Dons had been leading the hosts 2-1 at the time it was called off.
The game was the first to be played at the new stadium with the side playing home games at Inverurie Loco’s Harlaw Park last season.
Club chairman Keith Moorhouse said: “It was going to be a fantastic day for everybody but it is one of these unfortunate incidents that puts things into perspective.”
Peterhead FC wrote on Facebook: “Wishing former Peterhead player Jordon Brown a speedy recovery after today’s injury at Balmoral Park.”