SIMON DOBBIN SET FOR A RETURN TO CAMBRIDGE UNITED THIS SATURDAY
Cambridge United's Josh Coulson and Matt Walker visited Simon Dobbin at his home in Mildenhall this week to invite both he and his family to their first match back at the Cambs Glass Stadium.
Dobbin will be returning to Cambridge United for the first time in 18 months when the U's play Portsmouth this Saturday, having been invited into the Director's Lounge by the club alongside his wife Nicole and daughter Emily.
Club Chaplain Stuart Wood has been the conduit between the Dobbin family and the club since Simon was attacked following a match with Southend in March 2015. Wood was joined by United's current longest serving player Josh Coulson and Head of Performance Matt Walker to officially invite the family to this weekend's fixture.
Previously, Walker ran a half marathon back in March raising a four figure sum for the family, while Coulson was one of a number of Cambridge United's first team players and staff to have visited Simon during his time in Addenbrookes' hospital.
Sixteen of Simon's friends and family members will also be attending the match, where he will be introduced to the crowd before kick-off and a collection will take place at the turnstiles around the ground on the day in order to raise funds to help support his family.
Cambridge Dial A Ride, a local community bus company, have kindly offered to transport Simon who requires an adapted minibus, free of charge.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Nicole Dobbin said: "Simon will love going back. We have been chanting songs to him over the last two weeks with his name in and he smiles back with a great big grin on his face.
"On Saturday I think he will clearly show how happy he is to be there. It will also be fantastic for the family to see his reaction because we all know it will be good one.
"The support over the last two years has been brilliant and we just don't want Simon to be forgotten about. I want people to remember Simon the way he was and to know that although he has had life changing injuries, he is still in there."
Cambridge United Chairman Dave Doggett added: "We are delighted to be welcoming Simon and his family back to the Cambs Glass Stadium for what will be a hugely poignant moment for everyone associated with Cambridge United.
"We ask all supporters who attend Saturday's fixture to please donate as generously as possible as part of the collection and hope that everybody can make the day extra special for Simon, Nicole and his family."