A retired postman and lifelong Watford FC fan has been given an early Christmas present when he received a mobility scooter.

Mel Goman, 74, who has multiple-sclerosis and relies on his wife to help get him around was awarded the scooter with help from the football club’s community trust.

Life has become a lot more difficult for Mr Goman and his wife after she was diagnosed with dementia so the club wanted to do something to change the pair’s life this festive season.

Working with CareCo, a mobility specialist, and the Disability Recreation Unity Movement, alongside Watford FC’s CSE Trust, Mr Goman was presented with his new scooter at Vicarage Road last Wednesday by defender Adrian Mariappa.

Hillingdon Times:

A delighted Mr Goman knows exactly where he will be heading with his new found freedom.

He said: “I’m going to the pub! And the paper shop. I’ve not been able to go on my own in years. I’ll even be able to check the football scores.

“You’ve made an old man very very happy. You see these good things on the telly, but you never see them in real life. Now I know these good things exist because this has happened to me, it will be a very good Christmas.”

Hillingdon Times:

Karen Stephanou, disability football development manager at Watford FC’s CSE Trust said: “We know Mel through our delivery of sessions at D.R.U.M courtesy of the Premier League and BT Disability Programme, it’s fantastic to be able to surprise him in this way.

"At Watford FC’s CSE Trust we have a vision of improving lives and this has undoubtedly done that.”