A Chelsea defender has donated £1,000 to an ex-Wycombe Wanderers player’s GoFundMe page.

England international Levi Colwill, who has played 51 times in the Premier League for both the Blues and Brighton & Hove Albion, sent the four-figure sum to Jacob Gardiner-Smith after the latter suffered his second ACL injury at the age of just 27.

The setback means the one-time Chairboy will not be able to play in any capacity for at least 12 months.

Gardiner-Smith, who is now on the books at Sholing in the South League Premier Division, was injured in the club’s 5-1 loss against Dorchester Town in October.

He featured 13 times for the Boatmen this season, starting on 11 occasions.

Following the news, the ex-Wycombe man set up a GoFundMe page after he admitted his latest long-term injury will prevent him from working ‘in any capacity’.

A goal of £10,000 has been set and at the time of writing, £4,310 has been raised.

Speaking on X [formerly known as Twitter], Gardiner-Smith, who spent the 2019/20 season with Wycombe where he played on three occasions, said: “If you told me at 22 when I was living my dream as a pro player, that I’d get not one but two career-ending injuries to both my knees by 27, that would keep me out for a total of three years, I would have probably laughed in your face.

“Over the last few years, I’ve felt so bitter, jealous, angry, frustrated but most of all, robbed.

“I felt like everything I worked so hard to get was stolen from me and unfairly, not once, but twice.

“But somehow, I’m still here fighting back, refusing to quit.

“2025.

“Back better than ever with full confidence, I’ll achieve my dreams.”

Despite only being at Wycombe for one season, the 27-year-old was part of the squad that won promotion to the Championship in 2020.

During his time at Adams Park, he wore the number 24 shirt and featured in three competitive games, all in the EFL Trophy.

These games were against the Fulham U21s, Stevenage and Milton Keynes respectively.

To donate to Gardiner-Smith’s page, visit www.gofundme.com/f/jacob-gardinersmith-sholing-fc-acl-surgery.

Sholing's directors have also donated to Gardiner-Smith's page, with £1,250 being sent to the injured midfielder.