Cup final tribute to brave Joshua
ATOUCHING tribute was paid to a young football fan at the English Football League cup final.
A full page article about Rochdale FC supporter Josh McCormack, who died in January aged five after battling cancer, was included in the match programme.
His mum Nicola was also a guest of honour at the Wembley final, which saw Manchester United beat Southampton 3-2 thanks to a late Zlatan Ibrahimovic winner.
Josh, from Whitworth, was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumour in October 2015.
The St John with St Michael primary school pupil was dubbed a ‘superhero’ by thousands of people around the world who followed his battle on Facebook.
In November he was named as a substitute for Rochdale’s game with Hartlepool.
Josh was too ill to attend the match, but the Dale squad later visited him at Derian House children’s hospice to present him with his shirt and the EFL also named him Player of the Month.
Writing in the programme, Rochdale manager Keith Hill said: “His debut win away at Hartlepool will stay with me forever and he will always be the first name on my team sheet.
“As a manager I look for key characteristics in a player: heart; courage; bravery; love; passion and fight.
“Joshua possessed all of these qualities.
“He is a true inspiration and quite simply the best signing I have ever made.”
Writing on the Facebook page Josh McCormack – In loving memory, Nicola said: “Honoured that my boy has been mentioned in the programme at the EFL Wembley final.”
Josh sadly lost his fight for life in mid-January.
Hundreds of mourners lined the streets of Rochdale and Whitworth before his funeral.
Players and staff from Rochdale FC, including Hill, also paid their respects as the cortege made its way past the club’s Crown Oil Arena.
On Sunday football supporters also raised money for Derian House children’s hospice and also Joshua’s family when the Superhero Joshua Super Raffle was held in his memory as part of Monton AFC’s family fun day.