Former England star Luther Blissett rushed to hospital after ‘collapsing at a charity event and suffering a bleed to the brain’

Former England international Luther Blissett was rushed to hospital over the weekend after reportedly collapsing at a charity event.

According to The Mirror, Blissett, 66, felt unwell at a community event at the Grove Hotel on Saturday and is now being treated in hospital after reportedly suffering a bleed to the brain.

Blissett is considered a Watford legend after three separate spells at the club, and they have released a statement following the concerning reports about his condition.

The club statement read: ‘Watford FC is aware of reports that the club’s all-time record appearance-maker and goalscorer Luther Blissett OBE DL is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital.

‘Chairman & CEO Scott Duxbury said: “Luther and all of his loved ones know they have our full support. We will do all we can to help.”

‘The Hornets wish to confirm at this stage, however, that the club has had no direct confirmation of his circumstances from Luther or his family.

Blissett is a Watford legend, and the club have issued a statement of support for their former player

Blissett won 14 caps for England and scored a hat-trick on his debut against Luxembourg

‘Everyone connected with Watford FC would like to wish Luther the fullest possible recovery.

‘”Watford’s Favourite Son” was helping raise money at a community event last weekend when he was taken ill.’

Blissett’s wife Lauren Fox has thanked hospital staff and the football community for rallying around her husband after his health scare.

‘The care Luther received at Watford Hospital was excellent and we’d like to thank them for looking after him so well,’ Fox told the Watford Observer.

‘We also must thank Daniel Ginder and Norman McGuigan, fellow guests at the event, who assisted us in getting Luther to hospital.

‘He has been greatly cheered up by receiving messages from teammates in the Former Players Association and all around the world, as well as from fans of Watford and football in general. We’re really touched by the concern so many people have shown.’

Blissett won 14 caps for England in the 1980s, and became the first black player to score for the Three Lions when he netted a hat-trick on his debut in a 9-0 win over Luxembourg.

He is most associated with Watford, but also played for AC Milan, Bournemouth and Bury, as well as several non-league clubs towards the latter stages of his career.

Blissett (left) also played for AC Milan, and went on to do punditry on Serie A football

After hanging up his boots, Blissett returned to Watford as a coach under Graham Taylor, and went on to manage non-league outfit Chesham United. 

He has also previously worked as a pundit for Channel 4 and Bravo’s coverage of Serie A following his playing days at Milan.

Blissett is an immensely popular figure in football, and Soccer AM famously honoured him by calling the area where they sat fans each week the ‘Luther Blissett Stand’.

Blissett was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to football and charity.