WILL Chaundy’s dedication to watch his beloved Hereford FC can’t be questioned, but the man himself can scarcely believe he won a national award for his devotion, WRITES LUKE BAKER.

Chaundy was at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge where he collected the William Hill Fan of the Year gong at The Non-League Paper’s National Game Awards in association with SCL.

Chaundy lives in Great Malvern and has cerebral palsy.

Because he has no transport, he has to catch a train to every game but has only missed one game at home this season.

For home games, he walks 10 minutes to catch a train from Malvern and then another mile from the station at the other end to get to Edgar Street.

He was nominated by his friend Bob Panter, who often sits next to him at Edgar Street, for the award and admits the awards party will live long in the memory.

“I’m shocked to have won the award but I’m delighted. Just having the experience is amazing,” said Chaundy.

“When I got the invitation in the post, I phoned my brother and neither him or me could believe it. I didn’t understand it to start with but it has been a wonderful afternoon.

“It’s the first time I’ve been to a Premier League ground. Going on to the terraces to have the photos taken, I didn’t realise what it would be like to be in the ground.

“You can see just by being in here what other things happen at Premier League clubs other than football. I’d just like to say thank you to Chelsea and all the staff because the day was fantastic.”

Chaundy will be at Wembley tomorrow for the FA Vase Final.

And he is already counting down the hours until he’s at the home of football watching his favourite team once more.

“I’m just delighted to be able to go to the FA Vase final this weekend,” added Chaundy.

""The reason I like Hereford FC so much is because it is a community club where all look out for each other as well as being partly owned by the fans.

“"We won the league, the Herefordshire County Challenge Cup, the League Cup and we are now at Wembley on Sunday and I am very much looking forward to going to Wembley.

"I’m looking forward to it and looking forward to being there.

"If you imagine in December 2014 there was no club as Hereford United FC had folded, it is amazing what Jon Hale and his team have done. Thank you so much to the whole club and well done on there success"

“Now this season is finishing off at Wembley – what more can you ask for?

"I'm looking forward to the 2016/17 season."

* SCL Education and Training are a government approved post-16 education provider in the sports and active leisure sector with an Ofsted Grade 2 “Good” rating. SCL have educated over 15,000 young adults through Academy partnerships with over 70 football, rugby and cricket, professional and non-league sports clubs, foundations and community trusts.