West Ham pay emotional tribute to academy goalkeeper, 15, who tragically died of cancer this month, ahead of Premier League match with Brighton
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West Ham have paid tributes to 15-year-old academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, who died of cancer earlier this month, ahead of their Premier League match against Brighton. Oscar Ray Fairs had been diagnosed with ependymoma in August 2023 — a rare tumor that grows in the brain or spinal cord.
![[West Ham paid an emotional tribute to Fairs ahead of their Premier League match with Brighton]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/17/93384415-14206627-image-a-1_1734800673518.jpg)
West Ham said that despite undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Fairs sadly passed away with his family at his side on December 12. The Premier League side played their first home match at the London Stadium since Fairs' passing, with the club offering a series of tributes around the fixture against Brighton.
![[A minutes' applause took place ahead of kick-off at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/17/93384423-14206627-image-a-2_1734800685068.jpg)
A pre-match ceremony saw wreaths laid on the centre spot, with a minute's applause held prior to kick off. The ceremony had included members of Fairs' family - his parents Natalie and Russell and brother Harry - as well as team-mates from West Ham's Under-15 side.
![[West Ham players warmed up for the match with t-shirts featuring a picture of Fairs]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/17/93384413-14206627-image-a-6_1734802523450.jpg)
West Ham academy player Oscar Fairs, 15, died after a battle with cancer earlier this month. West Ham paid an emotional tribute to Fairs ahead of their Premier League match with Brighton. A minutes' applause took place ahead of kick-off at the London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
![[Fairs' academy team-mates participated in a pre-match ceremony as part of the tributes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/17/93384419-14206627-image-a-4_1734802507847.jpg)
West Ham's first team squad warmed up pre-match in t-shirts featuring a photo of Fairs. Academy players were also seen wearing jackets which featured the message 'One Of Our Own'. Fairs had been misdiagnosed for eight months with mental health problems and migraines after suffering with strange panic attack symptoms.
![[Jackets worn by the academy players featured the message 'One Of Our Own' in a tribute]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/21/17/93384417-14206627-image-a-5_1734802516140.jpg)
