Kizza Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 (edited) The Beautiful Game 26 mins · West Ham United have confirmed that 20 year old Australian Dylan Tombides has passed away following his battle with cancer. -- West Ham United announce the sad news that forward Dylan Tombides has passed away at the age of 20 following his brave battle with cancer.Dylan passed away on Friday morning with his family by his side having courageously fought the disease for three years after initially being diagnosed with testicular cancer in summer 2011.He remained a regular visitor to Chadwell Heath throughout his treatment and his positive attitude and professional approach to his football and training always impressed and boosted his team-mates and coaches alike.Dylan's amazing resilience and positivity saw him through months of surgery and chemotherapy, while his outstanding talent saw him make his first-team debut in a League Cup tie with Wigan Athletic at the Boleyn Ground in September 2012.Away from the pitch, Dylan did a huge amount of work to raise awareness of male cancer, supporting the One for the Boys campaign at a number of high-profile events alongside the likes of Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson, snooker star Jimmy White and fellow Australian Peter Andre.Dylan was respected by everyone who knew him for his intelligent views on the game and his larger than life character. He was a loving son, amazing brother and well-respected member of the West Ham squad. He will be hugely missed by everyone who had the honour of knowing him.His passing will be marked by a minute's applause ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture with Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground. The Hammers' players will also wear black armbands in his memory.The thoughts of everyone associated with the Club are with his parents Tracylee and Jim, brother Taylor, his family and friends at this sad time. The Club request that their privacy is now respected and they are allowed to grieve their much loved son and brother in peace.http://www.whufc.com/articles/20140418/west-ham-united-statement_2236884_3774196 Edited April 18, 2014 by Kizza Link to comment
marron Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Terrible news. He'd beaten it at one stage. RIP Link to comment
bombagol Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 ****! He was only 20 years old! Poor boy! Very sad. Link to comment
zola Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Really makes you take stock of the fleeting nature of life. Link to comment
Neverbloom Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 that is ****ed, RIP, it made my heart sink when i read the news Link to comment
theguest7 Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Gutted, so sad to hear this about someone even younger than me! RIP Dylan. Link to comment
Montalbano Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 He was a real talent too. Twenty years of age is just too young to go. RIP. Link to comment
jocosmic Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Very sad to hear. What a horrible thing to go through and such a terrible time for his family. Too young. RIP. Link to comment
GunnerWanderer Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 This came out of nowhere. One of the guys at work is a big irons fan and said he had heard he'd being playing well in the youths/reserves a month ago and now RIP. Shocking really. Link to comment
Lookers Posted April 18, 2014 Share Posted April 18, 2014 Such awful news and a disease that you would never expect a teenager to have. He had so much potential as well. Rest in peace, bud. Link to comment
Pablo Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Some wonderful tweets including from high profile football people in recognition of Dylan are included at: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/aussies-abroad/news/1187152/Tombides-loses-his-fight-with-cancer You can also leave comments at foot of this article. My own is: "Like so many we mourn the loss of a fine young man and wonderful footballer. Yet, let's also celebrate the achievements of Dylan in his all too brief 20 years. He has excited us all with his football talent for Australia and West Ham. Over the past three years Dylan has helped to inspire, educate and give hope to so many other young adults either living with cancer or facing the possibility of it. His legacy will live on in so many others. My heart felt sympathies to all of his family and friends. Vale Dylan Tombides." Link to comment
Prydzopolis Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Loved the West Ham tribute to him, it was: -Pre game minutes applause just before kick off plus his dad and brother carrying his 38 jersey to the middle - 38th minute, applause plus joined in by the palace fans too Great tribute! Link to comment
marron Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 (edited) I'm sure someone else did it first but west ham were in there early with the minutes applause as opposed to silence. They copped a lot of grief at John lyalls memorial when the fans were chanting during the minutes silence, people didn't realize it was out of respect. Much better tribute imo. Edited April 20, 2014 by ciudadmarron Link to comment
Pablo Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 fine piece by Mike Cockerill in today's Sydney Morning Herald sports section about legacy opportunity in memory of Dylan http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/dylan-tombides-tragic-death-a-chance-to-raise-awareness-of-testicular-cancer-20140420-zqx1d.html Link to comment
nisman94wfc Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Loved the West Ham tribute to him, it was: -Pre game minutes applause just before kick off plus his dad and brother carrying his 38 jersey to the middle - 38th minute, applause plus joined in by the palace fans too Great tribute! They've also retired the number 38 jersey making him the second retired number at the club, alongside Sir Bobby Moore Link to comment
braad Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Rest in peace Dylan. Lets hope his story inspires other young blokes to get checked Link to comment
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