Former Norwich City star Peter Mendham has been charged with the attempted murder of his girlfriend, it emerged last night.

Former Norwich City star Peter Mendham has been charged with the attempted murder of his girlfriend, it emerged last night.

The 46-year-old ex-midfielder, who served the Canaries for nine years before working for charity, will appear before Norwich magistrates today for a preliminary hearing.

Mr Mendham had been in police custody since his arrest on Wednesday night, when officers were called to his rented cottage home in Whitlingham Lane, Trowse.

His girlfriend Charlotte Hyam, 39, suffered stab wounds to her back, underwent life-saving surgery and remains in a serious but stable condition at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where she continues to receive treatment.

Detectives were given a further 24 hours to question Mr Mendham on Thursday and announced he had been charged late last night.

The King's Lynn-born player helped Norwich City to one of the pinnacle games in the its history - the famous 1985 victory in the Milk Cup final - and picked up a Second Division Championship medal in 1986.

He signed schoolboy forms for the club before signing full-time in 1978 and devoted his entire professional career to Carrow Road, playing 267 games and scoring 29 goals.

A pelvic injury forced him to retire in April 1987 but he went on to play for a number of other clubs, including Lynn, Watton, Swedish club Hammarby and NAC Breda in Holland.

He joined Diss Town in 1991 before moving to Wroxham the following year, but was re-signed for Diss in 1993 and scored the winning goal in the FA Vase final against Taunton Town at Wembley in 1994.

He also ran football sessions for youngsters and in more recent years became well known as a fundraiser for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Trust.

Mr Mendham, who has two children from a previous marriage, had been renting the cottage for about 18 months.