IT'S BEEN a long road to recovery but Shaun Lynham has finally seen his beloved Saints play live - and they beat Arsenal 3-2 to boot.

Last weekend Shaun walked unaided into St Mary's to watch Southampton play, three years after suffering a brain haemorrhage, which changed his life.

Now the former amateur football star hopes to make regular return trips to St Mary's as part of his recovery process.

Shaun, of Grangewood Gardens, Fair Oak has had his progress described as remarkable.

Doctors told Shaun's family he would not survive after he suffered a brain haemorrhage three years ago while visiting his girlfriend.

Shaun, 34, lay in a coma at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital for two months.

But now he is upwardly mobile and lives in a semi-monitored flat at Peartree House, in Bitterne, a care home for adults with acute brain injuries.

Activity co-ordinator Pat Fletcher, of Peartree House, said: "He has made a lot of progress and is now walking unaided.

"He still needs a carer to walk alongside him but yesterday he managed to do some Christmas shopping. We are all very hopeful.

"Shaun has not lost his love of football and the stimulation of watching Saints play helps."

Shaun is well known in football circles, having played for teams including The Cricketers, Brook Social, the Clump Inn, Woolston and Fair Oak as well as representing Hampshire FA and Southampton FA.

With the aid of Dial-A-Ride, a special free minibus service provided for people to get to St Mary's, Shaun was able to see them thrash Arsenal and he hopes to see the same treatment meted out to Man Utd next February.