Police make arrest after Oldham player Hallam Hope left with ‘serious injuries’ in alleged assault

Police have arrested a man after an Oldham player was allegedly assaulted by a Chesterfield opponent in a car park following a match between the two sides.

Hallam Hope, a striker for Oldham, was left with what his club described as ‘serious injuries’ following a ‘vicious assault’ after the two sides met at Boundary Park earlier this month.

Former Everton trainee Hope, 28, needed hospital treatment and has not played since the incident, which took place on September 4.

National League Oldham are understood to have provided police with CCTV footage in relation to the alleged attack, while Chesterfield said they were assisting the force with their inquiries.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police say the suspect was arrested and subsequently released pending further investigation. 

It read: ‘A man was arrested on September 9, on suspicion of assault following a report of the assault of a man in his 20s, at Boundary Park, Oldham, on 4 September 2022.

The incident took place in the staff car park at Oldham Athletic’s home ground, Boundary Park

‘The suspect has since been released under investigation.’

Promotion-chasing Chesterfield had won the match 2-0. Oldham said Hope was subsequently attacked in the staff car park, had suffered serious injuries and would be ‘out of action for some weeks’.

A Chesterfield statement, released at the time, read: ‘We are aware of an allegation relating to an unnamed Chesterfield player. We are assisting Greater Manchester Police with their enquiries. As this is an ongoing investigation, no further comment will be made at this stage.’