A five-year-old football-mad boy who died of a brain tumour "impacted so many people's lives in such a positive way".
Nathaniel Gidman, known as Nate, died in February last year after being diagnosed with Medulloblastoma - a cancerous brain tumour found in children. The youngster, who started becoming sick every day "like clockwork" in 2020, was originally told his health problems were due to an aggressive fever.
However a scan later revealed Nate had a mass in his head which was diagnosed as a brain tumour. A week before his fourth birthday surgeons managed to safely remove 90% of the tumour. But in November 2021, Nate's family were given the heartbreaking news the cancer was terminal. Nate died three months later.
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His dad Paul, who documented his son's health battles on social media, previously told the ECHO: "[Nate] was loving. He was loved. He was strong and he's still making people happy today. He's special. He is, because he's not gone, he's that warmth in my heart."
A football match in memory of the Tranmere Rovers fan will take place a few days after the anniversary of his first death. Dad Phil, originally from Birkenhead but who now lives in Lincoln, said it’s the perfect tribute to Nate.
He said: "Nate was such a quality person, who impacted so many people’s lives, in such a positive way, and what better way to honour him than with a football match. When Sands said they wanted in, it was a massive honour. These guys understand what it’s like to lose someone, and there’s a massive amount of feeling and respect there."
The match will be contested between a team led by Phil and Sands United, a community of footballers comprised of bereaved dads. The game, which is raising vital funds for Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG), kicks-off at 10:30am, a few hours before Tranmere Rovers, the team supported by Phil and Nate, take on Salford City.
Phil and Nate's mum Nicola praised the support that has flocked around them since their son's death. Phil said: "I’m so grateful for the love and support. A lot of these strangers have become friends and I love them dearly. It’s been phenomenal." He added: "One thing football fans know how to do is support and that's certainly something they've done for us as a family.
"Fans sometimes get a bad rap, but I've only seen the greatness, really. The Tranmere fans have been sublime all the way through, but there's been so many clubs that have stepped in and offered their best wishes."
Phil said the support from Tranmere as a club has also been "tremendous". The club has named their community ticket scheme after Nate, but one act of kindness has a special place in dad Phil's heart. He said: "The owners have been fantastic and so, so supportive.
"They set Nate up to be mascot in his final December, a week before Christmas. Just to experience that moment with him, taking him out on the pitch and watching him score a goal - it was beautiful. The fans were singing and cheering for him, he loved it.
"Nate used to be the life and soul of the party, but after all these invasive treatments and surgeries, he did become quite insular, so to carry him out on the football pitch, waving at all the fans, was fantastic.”
The charity match will raise money for CCLG and its ongoing fight to find better treatments for children. Admission to the charity match is free, but people are encouraged to make donations to the charity.
Speaking previously to the ECHO, Phil said: "I’ve lost my son. My best friend but I feel lucky that I’ve been father to one of the finest people to walk the earth. He resonated absolute love and laughter. There’s still him in the air, in the atmosphere. He is light in the darkness."
To donate to the fundraising and for updates on the game, click here.
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