A TEENAGER was treated to do one of the biggest days of his life after training with Eastleigh football club to congratulate him on reaching the final stages of a disability sports award.

Dylan Price, from Romsey, has been a season ticket holder for two years and was nominated for Eastleigh Borough Council’s disability sports person of the year award.

With 35 nominations, Dylan has been shortlisted for the final three.

The 16-year-old is autistic and has global development delay, and functions academically at a five to seven-year-old level.

Dylan has also overcome a severe type of epilepsy and asthma and is currently working hard on getting fit, with PE his favourite subject.

Dylan, of Osborne School, Winchester, said: “I met the whole team, had breakfast with them and took a picture with them as well. It’s been a great day and I only heard about it a week ago (Friday 27).

“I’m very tired now, but I think things like this are great for the community and I’d like to see other people have the same opportunity I’ve had.”

Dylan’s father Gerard thinks that it was one of the biggest days of Dylan’s life.

Gerard, 52, said: “Martin Allen was fantastic and Dylan has an amazing time. He trained, completed the sessions and took some penalties out there too. It was a pity it was raining and so it was indoors, but it shows the passion of the club.”

“As Dylan’s father, it must have been one of the biggest days of his life. He was speaking to Martin Allen who seemed to take it personally, they don’t have to do these things but he wants to give back to the community, which is fantastic.”

Dylan has grown in confidence since joining the PAN disability league in September last year.

The league is a series of bi-monthly league competition for young football players with a range of disabilities.

It was a member of the league who nominated Dylan to the council. The award ceremony from the council taking place on February 13 with Dylan in the final shortlist.