With Soccer Aid happening tonight, 31st May, all eyes are on the star-studded line-up. Fans are particularly hopeful that Tom Grennan will make a significant impact on England's chances of winning since he was named Player of the Match in 2023's game.
He actually tried to pursue a career as a professional footballer before getting into music. The Coventry City supporter had trials at Northampton Town and Aston Villa, and although he wasn't successful, he found his calling as a charting musician instead.
However, what fans might not know is that the singer was actually a victim of some horrific attacks 11 years ago, some of which left him needing metal plates fitted in his jaw.
What happened to Tom Grennan?
Speaking to The Guardian in 2017, Tom recalled being set upon by a group of strangers when he was just 18 years old. He explained, "The injuries were so bad, I had to have surgery on my jaw; they put in metal plates that I’ve only just had taken out".
Whilst the event must have been a horrific physical ordeal, with a long recovery time, Tom described the emotional side affects being more poignant: "The attack made my brain feel as if I had been rewired. I went from thinking that I was loved by everyone, this golden boy, to being someone hated by the entire world"
How did the attack affect him?
Whilst the physical injuries were extreme, Grennan experienced severe mental health impacts alongside the attack, such as chronic depression and reclusion, saying that after the attack, "I was an introvert who was terrified of leaving the house". This was a major character change since before the incident, he was "someone who loved going out, finding adventures, and never thinking of the consequences"
Everyone's clicking on...
But in the dark, there is always light, and in this reclusion and loneliness, Tom found his love for music. Being able to express himself through songwriting gave him a renewed sense of self, explaining that "writing songs to process how I was feeling kickstarted the next part of my life".
What an awful thing to go through, but kudos to Tom for coming out stronger and being so open about what happened to him.
Amy May Ellis (she/her) is the SEO Manager for Cosmopolitan UK, Women's Health UK, Men's Health UK, and Runner's World UK. Her love for all things beauty, fashion, and wellness is evident in her work with these lifestyle and fitness brands. Providing content recommendations for everything from new gut health supplements to the latest fashion trend, Amy has a keen eye for detail and loves to spot trends before they fully flourish.
