A “friendly and cheerful” West Ham academy goalkeeper has died aged 15 after being diagnosed with cancer.
Oscar Fears, of Benfleet, Essex, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm (2.8in) ependymoma brain tumor in August 2023.
He underwent seven surgeries, a round of chemotherapy and a round of radiotherapy, but was told palliative care was the only option.
The club’s sporting director Mark Noble said he had “such a bright future ahead of him, and it is so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken away from his family and friends at this age”.
A donation page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 for a treatment trial in France.
According to the family, West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan £10,000 and Arsenal footballer and former West Ham star Declan Rice £5,000.
Mr Noble said: “Oscar was loved by everyone at the academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a real hammer and a fantastic young man, who will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. was done
“I have wonderful memories of playing Oscar in my garden. [my son] Lenny and his teammates all loved him.
“The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this very difficult time.”
All scheduled Academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed out of respect.