As she queued for hours to get a ticket to see Brighton and Hove Albion's crucial play-off match, Sarah Haywood thought she was doing the decent thing for her football-mad husband.

Days later she is facing a 400-mile round trip to see their two young daughters from a hospital in Cardiff, where their father Paul is having further surgery on his broken ankle, arm and skull.

The 31-year-old was seriously hurt in a hit-and-run motorbike accident as he celebrated his team's promotion victory at the Millennium Stadium in the Welsh capital.

Mrs Haywood, 34, immediately drove from their home in Findon Valley, Worthing, to her husband's bedside, leaving their daughters Katie, two, and Nancy, one, with relatives.

Queues for match tickets had stretched out of the Albion's ground at Withdean and along surrounding roads on May 22.

Mrs Haywood said: "I wish I had been the wife from hell and not encouraged him to go.

"He was away on a walking trip and I went and queued to get him the ticket. He has not had much sleep and is in so much pain. I'm sitting here worrying about my children as well as my husband."

Mr Haywood, a policeman, must stay at University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, for vital surgery.

His ankle, arm and skull were fractured in the impact, which happened as he walked towards coaches set to take him home from the stadium at 5.40pm on Sunday.

Mrs Haywood is now hoping her husband can be transferred closer to home because she has been away from their young children for five days.

Speaking from University of Wales Hospital, Mrs Haywood said she was shocked by the extent of her husband's injuries.

She said: "He dislocated and fractured his ankle and shin bone. Part of his foot and toes took the full brunt of the crash. He also broke his arm and had concussion.

"Doctors just monitored his fractured skull because they had to concentrate on his ankle. The concussion meant he could not have an anaesthetic during an operation on Monday."

Mrs Haywood first heard about the crash from a vague answering machine message that sent her into panic. She said: "His mates said he had had an accident and 'don't worry he's in an ambulance and they're working on him'.

"I got my parents to have the children and drove up here. I got here about midnight. He was extremely relieved to see me but looked absolutely awful.

"He's 6ft 2in and it was probably lucky it hit him and not someone smaller. Even though this is turning into a nightmare, he's got his life.

"I've got to try to keep positive. We're not sure how well his leg will mend until it has been examined."

Mr Haywood, who named his eldest daughter Katie Elizabeth Zamora after the former Seagulls striker Bobby Zamora, normally lives an active lifestyle and is fond of long hikes.

Mrs Haywood said her husband was upset by his injuries.

On Wednesday, The Argus reported how Steve Don complained of a Bristol City fan who spat at Mr Haywood and wished the injured man dead as he lay on the road after the crash.

Brighton and Hove Albion spokesman Paul Camillin said a card and flowers had been sent to Mr Haywood on behalf of the directors, staff and players.

Mr Camillin said: "First and foremost, everyone at the club is relieved Mr Haywood is in a stable condition.

"We understand Mr Haywood still requires surgery and the thoughts of all at the Albion are with him and his family at a difficult time. We wish him a speedy recovery."