Fists, chairs and a lump of wood fly as football match descends into a brawl

FA chiefs are also looking into the violence that flared at the amateur game.

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Anger: A player brandishes a lump of wood. No arrests were made

Onlookers said trouble flared just five minutes into the Manchester League clash between Heywood St James and Salford Victoria when a verbal altercation ended with one player being sent off.

He left the field at Heywood's Phoenix Park home, but then returned.

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Calm down: Referee David Shipp tries to defuse the violence before abandoning the game

Opposing players and fans then poured onto the pitch and began punching each other and hurling chairs in a mass brawl.

The team's trainer, Lee Young, was hit by a chair and was later taken to Manchester's Fairfield Hospital suffering from a broken finger and a damaged nose.

Another chair was thrown through a dressing room window and Heywood St James now faces a large repair bill.

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Melee: Punches are thrown as players from Heywood St James and Salford Victoria tangle

Referee David Shipp abandoned the game and police had to be called. Uniformed officers escorted him from the field.

No arrests have been made but police say they are looking into allegations of affray, criminal damage and assault.

Heywood St James chairman Danny Dyson said: "There was a bit of an off-the ball scuffle and the next minute all hell broke out. I have never seen anything as disgusting in all my years of football."

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Trouble on the pitch: A blow appears to hit its mark during the match before police are called

Opposing team chairman Chris Carney said he was waiting to hear from the FA.

He added: "I'm very upset with the situation."