A West Ham youth academy goalkeeper has died after being diagnosed with cancer; A club legend called him a “true Hammer” and a “fantastic young man”.
Oscar Gala’s, goalkeeper for the Premier League club’s under-15 academy, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumor in August last year.
Despite undergoing seven surgeries, a round of chemotherapy and a round of radiotherapy, the teenager, from Benfleet, Essex, was told palliative care was the only option.
The Premier League team issued a statement on Friday announcing, with “deep and profound sadness”, that the teenager had died.
Mark Noble, a former club captain who came through the youth ranks and is now sporting director, said Oscar, who had been at the club since he was nine, was “adored by everyone at the academy.”
“Not only was he a great goalkeeper, but he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young man, who will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him,” Noble said in a statement posted on the club’s website.
“I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – Lenny and his teammates loved him.
“He was a friendly, happy, polite and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is so unimaginably devastating that he has been separated from his family and friends at this age.”
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All academy matches scheduled for this weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect to the teenager.
The club said information about plans to honor him would also be shared in due course.
Noble added: “The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time.
“Rest in peace, brave Oscar.”
Following Oscar’s diagnosis, a GoFundMe page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 for a treatment trial in France.
West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan donated £10,000 and former West Ham star Declan Rice donated £5,000, according to his mother Natalie.
In an update on the GoFundMe page in September, the family said they had made a payment for the treatment and it was due in the coming months.
