THE victim of a mugging has been given a boost thanks to good sports at Swindon Town Football Club.

Fourteen-year-old Robins' fan Fraser Joyce was thrilled when he caught one of Brian Howard's boots after last Saturday's match at the County Ground.

But minutes later it was snatched from his hands by a young mugger.

Yesterday, to help make up for his despair, the club gave him a football, signed by the whole team.

"It made me feel a lot better," said the St Joseph's School pupil. "I should have had something but it was taken off me so to have this as a replacement is really nice.

"I will put it in my room as a souvenir."

Fraser, of Harcourt Road, said the boys that mugged him looked about 18 or 19 and didn't think he would have had a chance of fighting back. Despite this scare, he has not been put off going to matches. But he said he would be more careful.

"I'm still wary of people when I walk home," he said.

The family reported the incident to the police but have decided not to take any further action.