West Brom to honour 13-year-old fan Oliver O’Brien with 13th-minute applause | OneFootball

West Bromwich Albion will honour 13-year-old supporter Oliver O’Brien at The Hawthorns tonight, Tuesday 21 April, with a 13th-minute applause during the Watford match, when his image will be shown on the big screen.

A minute’s silence will also be held at the game to pay tribute. According to ExpressAndStar.com, Oliver died aged 13 from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia after three and a half years of treatment.

He loved football and had recently been given West Brom goalkeeper gloves by his Nan and Grandad for his birthday to help him play again, but a relapse meant he never used them.

The family had been in close contact with the club to arrange a visit for Oliver, but his health declined too quickly and he missed out. Instead, the club have invited his mum, step-dad, dad and step-mum to attend, with his two younger step-brothers acting as flag bearers.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to create a peaceful resting place for Oliver. It recounts periods of remission and relapse, long spells in isolation including at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and a stem cell transplant. Doctors later attempted further chemotherapy, but a severe reaction ended treatment options, with any extra donations to support funeral costs and related expenses.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com