The incident hasn’t put Stephen Crean off attending Reds games across the country – something he’s been doing for 51 years
10:18, 03 Nov 2025Updated 12:25, 03 Nov 2025
Londoner Stephen Crean says he hasn’t been putting off attending Forest matches across the country(Image: Stephen Crean/Facebook)
The heroic Nottingham Forest fan who courageously saved the lives of others by confronting a train stabber in Cambridgeshire says he ‘just did what anyone else would do’.
Since his brave actions during Saturday’s (November 1) brutal mass stabbing on a train heading towards Huntingdon station, the nation has hailed Stephen Crean as a hero – but he insists he’s “just a normal guy”.
The Londoner had boarded the LNER service from Doncaster to London King’s Cross in Grantham, whilst on his journey back home to the capital following that day’s Forest v Manchester United Game.
Having followed the Reds for 51 years despite living miles away from the City Ground, Mr Crean has become well-accustomed to the usual slog back from away games across the country.
But it was 20 minutes into the final train of Mr Crean’s journey on Saturday evening when it became apparent something wasn’t right.
“The doors to our carriage opened and loads of people started running past me,” Stephen recalled, speaking to Nottinghamshire Live on Monday (November 3) morning.
“They were shouting there’s a bloke with a knife and everyone headed down to the bottom of the train where the buffet bar was but I couldn’t get in there and the toilets seemed full.
“I got to the stage where it was me and him in confrontation. He was waving this blade in my face and he said ‘do you want to die’ to me three times.”
In a moment when most would run, Stephen heroically grabbed the knifeman’s arm, before the individual allegedly retaliated by slicing the top of Stephen’s head.
At one point, the have-a-go hero even remembers grabbing the knifeman’s blade, with Mr Crean’s hands now severely injured. The Londoner has also been left with three or four stitches on his lower back and buttock.
After fleeing the attacker, Mr Crean managed to run to an empty toilet on the train as he tried to stopped his heavy bleeding. He remained in the cubicle until the train was quickly diverted to Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire.
Forensic investigators on the platform by the train at Huntingdon station in Cambridgeshire, after a number of people were stabbed(Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire)
He was guided to an ambulance as his head was leaking blood, before being rushed to the nearest hospital. There, his stitches were treated and his head and hands wrapped up in bandages.
Police officers drove the hero home and returned to London the following morning, at 8am. The Reds fan is now being treated at his local hospital and is recovering, with his bandages expected to be removed by the end of the week.
But he doesn’t regret a thing and rejects nationwide claims he is a hero. “There’s other people much worse off than me – I’ve probably done my bit, but I wouldn’t say I’m anything special,” he added.
“I was able to slow the attacker down and I’ve got no regrets. I’m injured and I’m sore but so be it, I can get that repaired”.
Following his heroic actions during Saturday’s devastating attack, Mr Crean has received widespread praise across the nation. Reds owner Evangelos Marinakis has even offered to cover the costs of medical care needed by fans affected by the incident.
Yet Stephen says he won’t take the club up on their offer as he believes “others might need it more than me”. He added that, while he’ll have to miss the next Forest game whilst he recovers, he hopes to be back as soon as possible and the incident hasn’t put him off.
“I’ll be back up and going once I get my hand sorted and the head heals – I don’t think [the incident] is ever going to put me off,” he said.
“I’ve been going to Forest games for about 51 years and it might take a few games, but I’ll be back. I’ll always follow the games and I’ll always follow Forest everywhere.”
Anthony Williams, 32, from Peterborough, has since been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of actual bodily harm and one count of possession of bladed article, following the attack.
The British-born suspect is understood to have boarded the train at Peterborough station, and the incident is not being dealt with as terrorism.
Eleven people were treated in hospital, with four later discharged, while two patients remained in a life-threatening condition.
