Thirteen men are to appear in court in September following an incident that left a football fan from Suffolk with life-changing injuries.

Simon Dobbin, of Mildenhall, was among a small group of Cambridge United supporters who were assaulted in East Street, Southend, at around 7.15pm on March 21 last year.

The 44-year-old suffered a serious head injury and spent almost one year in hospital, returning home in March. He is still undergoing rehabilitation.

Following consultation between Essex Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, 12 men have been summonsed to appear at court and one has been charged.

Eleven men will face charges of affray. They are:

• Lewis Courtnell, 33, a fence installer, of Stadium Road, Southend

• Jamie Chambers, 22, unemployed, of Coleman Street, Southend

• Thomas Randall, 21, a consumer credit employee, of Seaforth Avenue, Southend

• Michael Shawyer, 30, a tiler, of Belgrave Road, Leigh-on-Sea

• Matthew Petchey, 24, a labourer, of Lascelles Gardens, Rochford

• Alexander Woods, 24, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff;

• Philip McGill, 31, an electrician, of Hornby Avenue, Westcliff

• Greg Allen, 28, a painter, of Artillery Avenue, Shoeburyness

• Rhys Pullen, 20, a telecommunications engineer of Bridge Road, Wickford

• James Woods, 24, a chef, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff

• Scott Nicholls, 40, a construction worker, of Sherwood Close, Langdon Hills

Ryan Carter, 20, unemployed, of York Road, Southend, was charged with affray on July 22.

Ian Young, 40, an electrician, of Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff, will face charges of assisting an offender and possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious liquid or gas or an electrical incapacitation device (taser).

All are due to appear at Southend Magistrates’ Court on September 2.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “This has been a thorough and complex investigation and I would like to thank Mr Dobbin’s family for their continued support.

“Thirteen people now face charges but we are continuing our enquiries and ask anyone who believes they have information relating to the incident to contact us as soon as possible.”