Source: Telegraph
West Ham footballer Calum Davenport seriously injured in stabbing attack
The 26-year-old defender has undergone surgery on both legs after being attacked at his mother's home in Bedford in the early hours of the morning.
Both he and his mother, Kim Stupple, 49, are described as being in a serious condition, although their injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Officers were called to Ms Stupple's home in the Kempston area of the town, at 5am. Davenport lives nearby with his wife, Zoey and their daughter, Angel-Skye.
Two men, aged 19 and 25, have been arrested in connection with the attack.
Sources close to the footballer said that the attackers were 'not unknown' to the family.
Ann Desics, who lives near the scene, said that she was woken up by people arguing in the road outside the footballer's mother's house shortly before 5am.
"I just thought it was people passing by but then the ambulances came," she said. "I didn't see the incident, I just heard all this shouting.
"The main person shouting had a very strong Caribbean accent. It's an awful thing to happen - I hope he's okay."
Mrs Desics, 61, said the road was cordoned off for some time after Davenport was taken to hospital while the scene was examined.
There was "quite a lot" of blood on the road, she added.
Davenport was a "mad keen" footballer from a young age, according to Mrs Desics, who had known him when she worked as a dinner lady at his primary school, Camestone.
Mrs Desics said she had not seen him "for years" until his mother moved into the street around a year ago and Davenport became a regular visitor.
Another resident of the quiet suburban street where the stabbing happened, said: "We are all a bit shocked to tell the truth. You just don't expect something like this to happen here, it's a peaceful, quiet spot normally."
The man who did not wish to be named added: "You can't get near the house now, it's all been taped off by the police."
Davenport, a centre half for West Ham, is a former England Under-21 international, who cost the Hammers £3 million when he joined from Tottenham Hotspurs in 2007.
He did not play in West Ham's first game of the season, against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and has recently been linked with a move away from Upton Park.
In a statement, the club said: 'The thoughts of everyone at West Ham are with Calum and his family.'
Born in Bedford, Davenport spent a spell on loan at Premier League rivals Sunderland last season and has also been loaned out to Watford.
The centre-back started his career at Coventry and has also played on loan at Southampton and Norwich.
Last year, while on loan to Watford, Davenport broke his neck after a collision with two other players during a match with Charlton Athletic.
