In a commendable act of solidarity, Nottingham Forest has contributed £10,000 to assist a brave supporter who courageously intervened during a violent incident on a train near Huntingdon. The supporter, Stephen Crean, suffered seven stab wounds while confronting the assailant.

Crean, aged 61, was identified as one of the victims of the attack, which also included Scunthorpe United player Jonathan Gjoshe and rail worker Samir Zitouni. The accused, Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder, including ten charges related to the train incident on the evening in question and an additional charge from earlier in London.

During the harrowing attack, Crean reportedly faced the perpetrator who menacingly asked, “Do you want to die?” before stabbing him multiple times. Despite the severe injuries sustained to his head, back, and hands, Crean’s valiant actions are believed to have prevented further harm to others.

In response to Crean’s heroism and the injuries he endured, a group of Nottingham Forest fans launched a JustGiving campaign to aid in his recovery. The page acknowledges that Crean’s courageous intervention likely saved lives, highlighting the selflessness of his actions.

A group of Forest fans set up a JustGiving to raise money to support Crean recover from his injuries.

Nottingham Forest have donated £10,000 to Huntingdon stabbing victim Stephen Crean

Mr Crean, 61, was named as one of the victims of the knife rampage on Saturday

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had pledged financial support to fans impacted by the attack

‘Steve confronted the attacker and sustained serious knife wounds to the head, back and his hands. It is likely his selfless actions saved lives,’ the page reads.

‘Our thoughts are with Steve and his family, and everyone else involved in this incident.

Steve has been a regular fixture at Forest home and away games for many years, making the long journey up from London, and is well known amongst our fanbase.

A £10,000 donation was made on Wednesday from Nottingham Forest, taking the fundraising total to over £46,000.

The sum has vastly exceeded the initial £500 target. 

The donation followed a pledge by the Premier League club and its owner Evangelos Marinakis to support fans who were injured in stabbings on Saturday.

Several of its London-based supporters had been on the train, as they travelled home from their 2-2 draw against Manchester United.

Nottingham Forest said it was aware of ‘extraordinary bravery’ from individuals, with Marinakis praising ‘courage and selflessness’ shown by their supporters.

According to talkSPORT reporter Max Scott, Nottingham Forest have also offered Crean a complimentary season ticket for next season, as well as inviting him to flying with the squad to a Europa League match, stay in the team hotel and watch the match with the club’s delegation in the director’s box.

Mr Crean also sustained an injury to his head in the Huntingdon attack on Saturday 

Mr Crean said: ‘I got caught on my fingers. He took a swing at this, and a swing at that. I got caught on the head’ 

Recalling the attack, Crean said he heard the screams of injured passengers and walked through the buffet car to a carriage where he came face to face with the attacker.

Mr Crean recalled: ‘He had a great big oversized kitchen knife – it was as if it was a Japanese sword or something. He came towards me and said to me, “Do you want to die?”‘

He said he confronted the attacker to give another passenger time to close the buffet door behind him – allowing others to hide and potentially preventing dozens of injuries.

Mr Crean, who was subsequently locked in with the knifeman, was stabbed in his left hand, three times in his back, once on his bottom and twice in his head before he managed to find an empty toilet to hide in.

He lay on the floor losing blood, and about ten minutes later, opened the door to find armed police pointing guns at him.

‘There was big banging and kicking and shouting outside. [Armed police] came on board and I said my name, and they said, “Yeah, Stephen, you can open the door”. But even when I opened the door, they had the gun pointing at me to make sure it was me and I hadn’t put on a voice,’ he recalled.

‘They opened the door just for me, it was clever. They didn’t open the whole train, otherwise he’s going to get off.’

Mr Crean was taken by ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where he was discharged from on Sunday morning.

‘I got caught on my fingers. He took a swing at this, and a swing at that. I got caught on the head,’ he said. 

Mr Crean confronted the alleged attacker on board the LNER service from Doncaster to London

The train sitting at the platform in Huntingdon on Sunday morning, after passengers and rail staff were attacked

‘I was lucky. I got caught on the back a few times. They caught me a few times. The front of me, and my other arm. In the face and everything.’

He added: ‘I’m going to need plastic surgery. One finger doesn’t look clever. I’ve had stitches on them all.

‘I don’t know how long it’s going to take.’

Of his decision to fight back, he said: ‘Probably not many people would’ve done it, but then you’re leaving people behind you vulnerable.’

He has been described as a hero and said: ‘It’s lovely that people are saying nice things about me. 

‘One woman messaged me on Facebook and said: “You probably saved my daughter’s life.” I never get emotional, but that got to me. 

‘I’m not brave. There’s braver people than me. The train guard, the police, and then the guys that got me off the train.’