A man was left with life-changing injuries after heading a football and suffering a stroke.

Tom Hooper was 32 when an injury during a game in Preston Park, Brighton, left him with physical and emotional difficulties that mean he can no longer work.

These include right-sided weakness in his arm and leg, which makes walking difficult, and aphasia, a speech and language condition which makes communication difficult.

Recalling the match in August last year, Tom said: “I was playing seven-a-side football with friends at Preston Park - anyone can turn up and play.

“The ball got passed to a centre midfielder who went to shoot towards the goal. I headed the ball to clear it but boom, the ball had been pumped up hard.

“I couldn’t remember anyone’s name. All I could say was left and right, yes and no. I sat down, I tried to get words but nothing would come out.”

Tom was unable to use his phone to message anyone but somehow managed to make his way to his mum’s home nearby.

He went to the Royal Sussex County Hospital twice but was sent home then a week later he woke up and the right side of his body was numb.

“I couldn’t call anyone - I got out of bed and went to walk and fell over,” he said.

Tom was rushed back to the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he was diagnosed with a stroke. He then underwent six weeks of treatment and a further two months of rehab at the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath.

Tom was initially unable to speak at all, but his speech began to return after two days, along with regular speech and language therapy.

He now faces weekly bills of £380 for the therapy and physio, which his family are having to pay for privately.

Tom, who lives in Brighton and previously worked as a strength and conditioning coach at Cardinal Newman School, said the stroke has had a huge impact on his life.

He said: “The right side of my body is weak. I can grip something but I can’t let go. I can type and move the mouse with my left hand.

“I can walk within my house and can walk upstairs but I have to have a rail on my left side. I use a stick when walking and have foot drop.”

To coincide with World Stroke Day, taking place today, Tom is backing a stroke awareness campaign by the Stroke Association, which has provided him support.

Nick O’Donohue, the charity’s associate director for South East England, said: “Our research highlights that people still think stroke is a condition that only affects older people.

“It’s crucial that we challenge this misconception and make people aware that stroke affects young adults too.

“Young stroke survivors are having important milestones and their planned futures stolen from them while they have to learn to adapt to their new life affected by stroke.”

Information on support available for stroke survivors of any age is available on the charity’s website - stroke.org.uk/worldstrokeday.