HE has more reason than one to be a happy man.

Not only is John Slade in line to become Southampton's mayor next week but his teenage daughter is dating England's World Cup wonderkid Theo Walcott.

The 66-year-old councillor is delighted that the lightning-fast striker, who has been going out with daughter Melanie, known as Mel, for the past nine months, is among Sven's squad.

Yesterday Mel spoke of her delight that her boyfriend was on his way to Germany.

Yesterday afternoon, while walking the family dog, called Snoopdog, outside the family home in Cobbett Road, Bitterne Park, she said: "I'm extremely happy for him.

"Neither of us can believe it. It's unreal. He was so excited. This is such a good thing for him. I hope he does well."

Her dad is full of praise for her boyfriend. Cllr Slade said. "He is a lovely young man and he deserves to be chosen.

Brilliant

"He works really hard and he is a brilliant talent. We have seen him play many times at Southampton.

"Mel and my wife Sheila went to watch Arsenal play their final game at Highbury last weekend."

The pair, both 17, met while shopping in WestQuay, where Mel has a part-time job, last year.

Before moving from Southampton to Arsenal in a deal worth up to £12m, Theo often spent time at the Slades' house and shared family dinners.

Now the young couple only tend to meet at weekends in north London where Theo lives.

"He has not come around recently. He used to spend quite a lot of time here," said Cllr Slade.

His daughter, who attended Sholing Technology College, was described as "a popular girl" by head teacher Karen Dagwell.

"She did very well in her exams and came out with very good results," she said.

It was at last summer's school leavers' prom at the Botley Grange Hotel where Mel, wearing a pale blue strapless dress ordered from New York, and three of her close friends, made a grand entrance by helicopter.

Theo's call-up will mean the young couple's holiday plans to spend a fortnight in Spain will have to be put on hold as preparations for the World Cup get underway.

More on this in tonight's Daily Echo