FRIENDS, teammates and opponents of a Hampshire footballer left paralysed in a stunt show rehearsal accident are to hold a fundraiser to raise cash for his rehab.

Popular Jay Young, 22, was left unable to move from the neck down after severely damaging his spinal chord when he landed on his head when a back flip routine went wrong at Legoland Windsor.

The former Bitterne Park School pupil, who also attended Taunton’s College in Southampton, has just been moved to Southampton General Hospital after receiving initial treatment in Oxford after the accident last month.

Now bosses at UKfives in Eastleigh are planning a tournament on Sunday May 29 in honour of Jay, who was a regular player in their Wednesday night league for several years.

Gifted footballer Jay played with friends in the five-a-side league for Samson’s Gym, scooping the Premier Division golden boot award as topscorer in the competition.

The fundraiser will be held at Eastleigh Football Club in Stoneham Lane.

Organiser Paul Darke said: “It’s a chance for a lot of lads to get together and we want to send a message out to Jay that he’s got a lot of friends and we want him to be strong and get through this.

“We’ve had a lot of requests from his team and a lot of his friends to do something and it’s come from that. If we can raise a couple of grand then that’ll be great because it’ll all help.”

Jay’s older brother Lewis said the tournament is just one of several fundraising ideas suggested so far, although nothing else has been confirmed yet.

He said doctors are still waiting for the swelling to subside before they can assess the full extent of Jay’s injuries, but the budding stuntman has been warned he may never walk again.

Lewis said his brother has been delighted with several fundraising ideas that have already been suggested.

Lewis said: “He’s up and down really, but generally he’s in good spirits – he’s making other people feel good rather than the other way around at times.

“I want to get him involved in some of the fundraising stuff now so he feels part of it all, because I think that’ll help him.”

The UKfives tournament costs £50 per squad of eight players, with all money raised going towards Jay’s rehab costs. For more information or to book a team or individual place call 023 8023 1232.