Barnsley council has said it would be "organising a game of dominoes next year" after three members of its staff were injured while playing in a charity football match against the Barnsley Chronicle.
Former mayor and leader of Barnsley Council Steve Houghton found himself laid up in A&E after breaking his elbow and was soon followed by councillor Roy Miller who came off the pitch with two broken ribs and a damaged hand.
And to prove that bad luck comes in threes, the team's goalkeeper, planning chairman Terry Bristow, was knocked out after a clash with the Chronicle's centre forward.
Barnsley Chronicle editor Robert Cockroft said the council team was terrified by the paper's leaner, meaner squad.
He said: "An unpleasant rumour has been going round that I gave the lad who clattered the council leader a bonus. Rubbish. I gave him a company car."
The match is expected to raise about £5,000 for Weston Park cancer hospital thanks to sponsorship and the sale of raffle tickets.
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