Nottingham Forest Show What True Fan Care Looks Like After Train Attack Hero Incident
Nottingham Forest have set a shining example of how football clubs can truly care for their fans after donating £10,000 and offering full support to heroic supporter Stephen Crean, who was stabbed six times while trying to stop a knifeman on a train.
Crean, 61, was returning home to south-west London after watching Forest’s 2–2 draw with Manchester United when he bravely intervened in the Huntingdon train attack. Despite suffering serious injuries to his head, back, and hands, his courage is believed to have saved lives.
In response, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis personally ordered the club to support Crean and any other affected fans. The club contributed £10,000 to a fundraising campaign set up by fellow supporters, which has already surpassed £47,000.
Marinakis also announced that the club would ensure any fan injured in the attack receives the best possible medical care. “The courage and selflessness shown by our supporters on that train represent the very best of humanity and the very best of our club’s community,” he said. “We will make sure any supporter caught up in this incident receives whatever financial support they require.”
Beyond the donation, Forest have offered Crean a complimentary season ticket for the 2026/27 campaign and invited him to travel with the squad on a private charter to a Europa League fixture, including accommodation with the team and VIP access on matchday.
Crean, speaking after the incident, said he “didn’t have much choice” but to act. “Do you want to die?” he recalled the attacker asking several times before armed police intervened.
The attacker, Anthony Williams, 32, has since been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder.
The touching response from Nottingham Forest has drawn widespread praise, standing as a reminder that football is more than a game — it’s a community. Forest’s actions highlight how clubs can extend their duty of care beyond the pitch, showing solidarity, compassion, and gratitude to those who embody the spirit of the team.
