Football Star Surprises Amputee Veteran

West Ham captain Mark Noble handed over a pair of signed football boots to a veteran who lost his leg in Afghanistan.

The midfielder met a group from Blesma, the limbless veterans charity, at the club's training ground and posed for photographs with them.

He left a pair of white boots for Matty Woollard, a West Ham fan who lost his right leg to an IED when he was only 18.

The 28-year-old from Colchester said:

"It was great to meet him and the other players as I'm a big West Ham fan. He had to leave pretty quickly but after he'd gone someone gave me a bag and said 'he wanted you to have these'. It was a pair of signed boots.

"He didn't make any fuss, just left them for me. Meeting him was a big enough treat but to take time to do that was amazing. I said he was a legend and he said 'No way, you guys are legends."

Matty lost his leg while on his first tour of duty with the Royal Anglian Regiment in Kajaki, Afghanistan. He also suffered burns to his hands, arms and a severe injury from his left knee to his belly.

West Ham has made Blesma a charity partner and will fund raise at their home match against Swansea on the 8th April.

Defender James Collins said:

"It was great to meet the guys. The sacrifices they are prepared to make to keep us safe humble us. We are big supporters of them and the work done by Blesma."

Blesma has been supporting limbless veterans since 1932, campaigning for their rights and looking after their families.