A Croydon and Sutton footballer who fought his way back to fitness after a violent assault in Greece has been rewarded with a new contract.

Robert Hughes endured four life-saving operations after being attacked by a group of men in the resort of Malia last year.

Despite a 10-year gap in his memory and battling obsessive compulsive disorder, which once made him wash his hands hundreds of times a day, the former Sutton and Croydon player has just signed a one-year deal with Welling United.

The 28-year-old from Croydon said specialists told him he was never going to play football again.

“I have got more motivation than ever,” he said.

“If you want something you have to work harder than anybody than else to get it. That's just what I'm going to do.”

Officials at Welling United say Mr Hughes signed a contract with the Conference South side on Tuesday night (August 4).

Your Local Guardian: Mr Hughes in action from Bromley FC last month

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