A TERMINALLY ill Oxford United fan has donated his two season tickets so that children staying in Helen & Douglas House can watch the U's next season.

Cancer patient Steve Dyer, who lives in the USA, said he still wanted "to feel like a real supporter" and hoped children and young adults at the hospice would be able to enjoy watching United in his place.

The hospice said it would be inviting patients and families to put their names down to use the tickets throughout the club's League One campaign.

In a heart-felt post on the club's social media fan page, Mr Dyer – who was given four months to live in November – said: "Knowing that I can't make the games, I still want to feel like a real supporter.

"So I have donated the tickets to Helen & Douglas House, so that someone else can enjoy the mighty U's for me."

The 59-year-old first saw his beloved Yellows when his father Richard took him to a game at the old Manor Ground in 1963 and was ever-present at United games until he moved to America in 1986.

With help from the club, the father-of-three made the emotional 3,200 mile journey from New Hampshire to Wembley in April to watch United play in the national stadium for one final time with his 21-year-old son Steven for the Johnstone Paint Trophy final against Barnsley.

Touched by the "wonderful gift", the Oxford-born man was inspired to give his own season tickets to those young people receiving respite or end-of-life care at the Helen & Douglas House hospice.

He said: "I'm an Oxford boy born and bred and I love my team.

"When the chairman Darryl Eales made it possible for me to take my son to the JPT Final at Wembley it was such a wonderful gift and something I will be forever grateful for.

"So I have bought my tickets and will be giving them to the house to use this season, and, I've got to tell you, it feels good."

The hospice, which looks after sick and terminally ill children and young adults, said it would aid their work to give those in their care the fullest possible lives.

The hospice's communications manager, Lin Crowley, said: "This is such a wonderful thing for Steve to do and we would like to send him our best wishes and thanks for being so thoughtful.

"Even when facing his own failing health, he has thought of our young patients and wanted them to enjoy precious time with family and friends, while supporting his home football team, Oxford United."

She added: "Alongside the medical, emotional, therapeutic, respite and end-of-life care is a very important part of the work we do."