A FOOTBALL fan who was attacked in Southend has been left with permanent brain damage and is unable to respond to his devastated family.

Simon Dobbin, 42, was brutally attacked as he walked to Prittlewell railway station after watching his beloved Cambridge United take on the Blues at Roots Hall in March.

Mr Dobbin, a father-of-three and grandfather, has been left severely disabled and brain damaged after suffering serious injuries and is now in a rehabilitation unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where he has daily physiotherapy and speech and language therapy.

Today, three men from Southend and another from Westcliff are due to answer bail in relation to the attack on March 21.

Mr Dobbin’s sister, Victoria Forsythe, 44, said: “The nurses say he is making some positive responses, but it’s very limited.

Simon is very physically disabled.

His arms and legs are contracted.

He has had his eyes open, but is not able to speak because of a tracheotomy and it’s unclear whether he understands who is there.

“His response is mostly emotional and he moves his body. I called his name and for the first time he moved his head and looked at me, but I don’t know if he recognises us.”

Mrs Forsythe, who lives in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, and only gets to see her brother once a fortnight, hopes those responsible for the attack will be brought to justice.

She said: “We hope people will be called to account for their actions. The assault they undertook on Simon ricocheted round his family. Their lives will never be the same again.

“His children are now responsible for him when it should be the other way round. That’s very sad. The best friend who was with him on that day doesn’t sleep. It’s been awful for him.”

Mrs Forsythe and Mr Dobbin’s children Rebecca, 24, Liam, 22, and Emily, 16 have been helped by the brain injury charity, Headway, which they are now fundraising for.

Mrs Forsythe said: “We’ve had a cricket tournament which raised £1,000 and we have a sponsored walk planned. We’ve also been working with Southend United which some people think is strange, but we don’t feel anything negative about Southend.

Simon was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Southend asked to help with the community work they are doing, telling people how violence results in violence. I think that’s really positive.

“Headway helpline has been fantastic. They are always at the end of the phone and they have a family support group.

“Rebecca lives in Oxford and Liam in South Wales, but we have all still been helped by Headway. The charity is brilliant.”

The four men to answer bail include a 19, 22 and 33-year-old from Southend, as well as a 23- year-old from Westcliff. All were arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.