This website is dedicated to helping out lifelong Manchester United fan Jamie Turner, a season ticket holder at Old Trafford who was attacked in Southampton on May 15th 2005. Jamie attended many away matches (often with his kids) whenever he could including many European and International matches.

On May 15th 2005 Jamie was en route to a match at Southampton having travelled by minibus with a couple of friends. Without any prior warning or any motivation the group of people he was walking along with were attacked by a mob who struck Jamie from behind with a weapon.

Jamie’s skull was fractured from ear to ear. Jamie fell to the ground and suffered a cerebral haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain) which was treated at a specialist neurosurgery unit in Southampton. Surgeons had to remove a large section of his skull to remove blood which was damaging his brain and would have killed him. His family were warned that he was unlikely to survive. His head expanded after surgery as the brain swelled up which is normal after such a traumatic injury. He remained critically ill in a coma for nearly three weeks. When Jamie woke up it became apparent that he had suffered a very serious head injury with brain damage, and his family were told it could be years before he recovered from all the affects, if he ever did. Jamie awoke with the mental age of a five year old, and seemed to age and progress a few years every day. His wife and children remained at his bedside, attempting to stimulate him and keep him occupied, doing assessments to find out what he knew and how best to help him. Initially he did not know his own daughter's name and had no idea of his address or other important personal information.

It became apparent that Jamie could still read, although he could not write and attempts at writing produced repeated marks which he was intent on his family understanding although it was nonsense. He suffered from aphasia, repeating sounds and not being able to complete words. His voice was low and monotone and he was unable to express himself clearly.

Jamie was initially paralysed on one side, and after considerable personal effort and determination he has now regained almost full control of his limbs except for his left hand and arm, and his left eye which does not send the correct signals to his brain so his vision is affected.

Jamie suffers from excruciating headaches all day every day and chronic fatigue, he gets tired very easy and if he is aggravated his speech becomes slurred and his memory worse. Jamie therefore sleeps many extra hours every day

Jamie still receives lots of medical treatment and has recently had an operation to replace his skull which was removed in emergency brain surgery, as well as a  Carpel Tunnel operation on his left arm to reduce the pins and needles in his fingers. (see updates page)

Jamie attends a Day Centre for people with acquired brain injuries one day a week, and has many cerebral difficulties. Jamie is unable to work and his wife was unable to work for a considerable time as he needed constant care. Jamie is an ex-soldier who had been running a small family business.

A benefit match was  arranged for Jamie by fans on May 6th 2006 at AFC Telford United’s ground against FC United of Manchester.

Jamie’s family would like to thank all the supporters who have shown such concern for his wellbeing since the attack and those who have already organised fundraising events or are still doing so for the future. A big thank you goes to Pete Boyle and the Norwegian fans who auctioned items donated by the club.

A longstanding United supporter (who wishes to remain anonymous) approached the club and was given 3 signed shirts to be raffled off, many thanks to him and the people who organised selling these shirts. Huge thanks to the Jersey supporters, especially Pattie and another supporter who have donated and raffled off their own precious signed shirts, a really touching gesture. A big thank you to the Wolverhampton Reds who regularly visit Jamie talking about football and giving him the inside stories on what's going on at Old Trafford. A lot of time and planning has gone into organising the benefit match by FCUM fans and officials, for which we are very grateful. Thanks to those fans who organised the original website and organised the sale /auction of items for his family. Finally thanks to the many anonymous people who have donated items to be raffled. Often these were unique and real mementos, which people have willingly sold in order to benefit Jamie. In these difficult times we find great comfort in people’s kindness.

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   To contact this web site send an email to jamieturnerappeal@blueyonder.co.uk