IT was happy days for Winchester City FC as they got the thumbs-up from ‘The Fonz’ in Hedge End last weekend.

Henry Winkler, who played Fonzie in 1970s hit sitcom Happy Days, was on the south coast ahead of their key FA Cup clash against Newport Isle of Wight on Saturday (Sep 27).

The sitcom star was in enemy territory the previous day after giving a talk at Newport’s Medina College on overcoming dyslexia.

But he showed his true colours on returning to the mainland, where he stayed at Macdonald Botley Park hotel in Hedge End.

City season ticket holder and committee member Robert Conway works at the hotel and took the opportunity to recruit a new fan.

“I had a selfie with him, as you do these days,” he said. “One of the guys from the club said ‘if you see him, try and get a picture of him with the scarf’.

He said Mr Winkler preferred fly fishing to football but was more than happy to have the photo taken.

Unfortunately the Citizens couldn’t keep their cool, letting a three-goal lead slip in the second half to draw 3-3.