A FOOTBALL league committee member who suffered head and spinal injuries in a motorway crash has won a settlement to fund vital rehabilitation care.

Frank Clayton, a 65-year-old stepfather-of-four from Accrington, was waiting in stationary traffic during road works on the M6 in April 2009, when an overloaded car transporter slammed into the rear of the queue, causing a car to be flipped on to the roof of Frank’s vehicle.

Mr Clayton suffered a brain injury, serious injuries to his jaw and face, a spinal fracture, as well as injuries to his chest, arms and legs.

Mr Clayton has had to retire from his job as an operator at a foam manufacturer, and for months after the accident was unable to attend the Football League Committee meetings as he had done for 13 years.

Now specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have secured a settlement that will pay for an adapted bungalow, specialist equipment to help him around the home, dental treatment, private surgery, speech and language therapy and an adapted vehicle and driving lessons.

Mr Clayton said: “One of my major goals throughout the rehabilitation process was to get back to attending local football league committee meetings, as well as going to the matches.

“It has been a huge boost to be able to do these things again, as they were such a large part of my life.

“We’ve also been able to go to some concerts, which I never thought we would be able to do again.

“Considering I didn’t even have the strength to get off my bed in the hospital after the accident, I am now confident living with my disabilities to try and tackle everyday household jobs.

“Life will never be as it was before the crash, but I do what I can and the positive attitude of my legal team at Irwin Mitchell has certainly helped me along the way.”

The driver of the car transporter responsible for the crash was convicted of dangerous driving and interfering with his tachograph.

He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and banned from driving for five years.