Nottingham Forest fans rally to buy season ticket for 36-year-old who had both legs amputated

A Nottingham Forest fan who had both his legs amputated after complications with diabetes has been overwhelmed by the support of strangers who rallied together to buy him a season ticket.
Ben Neil, 36, at Queen's Medical Centre before surgery (Image: Ben Neil)Ben Neil, 36, at Queen's Medical Centre before surgery (Image: Ben Neil)
Ben Neil, 36, at Queen's Medical Centre before surgery (Image: Ben Neil)

Ben Neil, 36, of Clipstone, has supported the Reds since he was six years old, and turned on his phone after life-altering surgery to have his left leg amputated at Queen's Medical Centre to discover what fans had bought him.

He is still recovering from the operation in hospital, and had previously his right leg amputated in September 2017.

The website designer has been charting his journey through Twitter, which caught the attention of Forest fans who wanted to help with his recovery.

Ben Neil, 36, at Queen's Medical Centre before surgery (Image: Ben Neil)Ben Neil, 36, at Queen's Medical Centre before surgery (Image: Ben Neil)
Ben Neil, 36, at Queen's Medical Centre before surgery (Image: Ben Neil)

And what better present than a season ticket in the Lower Brian Clough stand, where he has set himself the challenge of walking with prosthetics to his seat on the first home game next season, which will take place in August.

Ben has undergone 11 operations in total after type 1 diabetes caused poor blood circulation to his feet. He suffered with diabetic ulcers, which later became a bone infection.

He decided that he would have his right leg removed in September 2017.

Speaking from his hospital bed, he said: "I had 10 years of this and they had tried everything. I decided to have my right leg removed because I had lost my mobility and could not walk anymore.

Ben Neil, 36 (Credit Ben Neil)Ben Neil, 36 (Credit Ben Neil)
Ben Neil, 36 (Credit Ben Neil)

"I proposed to my girlfriend in New York and my goal was to get a prosthetic and walk down the aisle at our wedding in June 2018.

"I had a wonderful wedding day and honeymoon but when I got back I had a problem with my left foot. I only had two toes left after my 10th operation.

"I thought 'what if I do the same with my left leg?' and I decided to make this life-changing decision for my quality of life. I wanted control of my life and to enjoy it.

"I just got married, we want children, and these problems were impacting on what we want to do.

Ben Neil, 36, with his wife Kirsty (Image: Ben Neil)Ben Neil, 36, with his wife Kirsty (Image: Ben Neil)
Ben Neil, 36, with his wife Kirsty (Image: Ben Neil)

"We had to sell our first house because I had to be close to the hospital and now we are putting this one on the market because we need a bungalow."

He said the support from complete strangers helped him through the most difficult times, with so many well wishes on his Twitter account.

After the operation on Thursday, May 2, he turned on his mobile phone to find that money had been raised to buy him and his wife a season ticket.

He said: "I try to be positive and you see people on social media struggling and you send them a nice message but you don't know how much that message means to people.

Ben Neil, 36, on his honeymoon (Image: Ben Neil)Ben Neil, 36, on his honeymoon (Image: Ben Neil)
Ben Neil, 36, on his honeymoon (Image: Ben Neil)

"I have never been on the receiving end before. We have one thing in common which is 'talking football' - the line up or Martin O'Neill and then they are wishing you well and interested in what you are going through.

"I just want to thank everyone. I would like to shake everyone's hand who has donated.

"I have been in hospital for six days and I have got a long way to go but the fact they are telling me 'I am inspiring' and 'helping other people' makes it all worthwhile.

"My new goal is to get my new prosthetic and walk to my seat for the first game of the season."

Forest fan Neil Blake, 45, of Carlton, who set up the GoFundMe Page, said: "I knew him through Twitter and being a Forest fan I saw what he was going through and thought we should treat him.

"If we could pay for his season ticket for him and his wife - and we raised £1,200. Ninety-three people donated and some donated £100.

"We want to see if Forest will do some event day for him or behind the scenes tour.

"His sense of humour, his spirit, you put yourself in his place. Everyone goes through things that are bad and it is good to do something nice."

As told to Matt Jarram, Notttinghamshire live