'Attack almost ruined my life’

7:45am Saturday 23rd August 2008

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A promising former Oxford United footballer's career has been left hanging in the balance after a sickening street attack in which his jaw was smashed in three places.

Daniel Meade, 19, was part of United's youth team who went the whole of last season unbeaten to win the South West Under-18's league title, but the teenager was reduced to eating baby food after the assault in Bicester.

Mr Meade, who lives near the Kassam Stadium in Swallow Close, Greater Leys, was approached by a man and punched in the face in what police have described as an "unprovoked attack" outside a fast food shop.

The blow smashed his head into a window and left him needing three metal plates in his jaw and 100 stitches.

Mr Meade's dentist, Nader Fallah, who has analysed hundreds of facial injuries, said it was one of the worst broken jaws he had seen. At first he thought the damage was caused in a road accident.

Mr Fallah said: "This was an extraordinarily heavy blow to the face and caused quite horrific injuries."

The blow came at the worst possible time for the former U's and Bristol Rovers trainee who was on the verge of kick-starting his soccer career in America, after winning a place at a college in California.

Mr Meade, who has only just recovered enough to be able to talk about his ordeal, underwent a four hour operation to rebuild and re-align his jaw.

Doctors have told him he cannot play football again until late November, which means he will miss the entire US season.

Last night he said: "I've been through hell. I was just in complete and utter shock after the attack. I'd never been punched before in my life and there was pain running through my whole face.

"I was still spitting and swallowing blood seven hours afterwards."

Mr Meade said he was sober when the attack happened at 3am on July 26. He added: "The pain I've been in has been unbearable. I only began to eat pasta and soft foods four days ago.

"Since childhood I've dreamed of playing football and I thought that dream had been taken from me.

"It was so quick and cowardly. This mindless thug could have ruined my life and my career, but I believe I can still become a professional footballer. I've been told by two coaches that I'm good enough, so I'm staying positive.

"This is only going to make me stronger. I'm just going to have to work doubly hard now to make it happen but I'm ready for it."

Mr Meade, who flies out to California next week, said the injury had set back his plans of becoming a professional footballer in the US by at least a year and he will need to fork out another £7,000 in tuition fees to impress coaches in the hope of winning a soccer scholarship.

Daniel is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his cousin, Nathan, who won a scholarship at Conneticut University and played in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers for the Caribbean nation St Kitts and Nevis.

Det Sgt Steve Haddock of Oxford CID said: "This is still an active investigation and we have some strong leads to follow."