Dave BusbySWINDON Town football club manager Andy King has paid tribute to a lifelong fan who died from lymphoma.

Dave Busby, 18, triumphed over leukaemia as a child after a bone marrow transplant from his sister, but fate struck a cruel blow when he was diagnosed with a different form of cancer two years ago.

He passed away on January 24.

Andy King, manager of Swindon Town, said his thoughts have recently been very much with Dave.

He said: "He never moaned about life and I got to know him over the past 15 months during his illness.

"I will miss the kid dearly and he should be an example to all Town fans."

Dave became a Swindon Town fanatic after being taken to the County Ground by his father, Steve.

Steve, 46, a quantity surveyor from Chipping Norton, said: "There were more than 300 people at the funeral in Chipping Norton.

"Dave was very popular. The way he was accepted by all the people at Swindon Town shows how well liked he was.

"I was a Swindon Town supporter as a lad and I started taking Dave when he was six years old.

"During his first season he ended up at Wembley for the play-off final and was hooked from then on.

"He loved Swindon Town."

Steve and his wife Jean, 45, have been touched by the support they have had from Swindon Town football club.

He said: "Andy King takes a lot of stick, but he has been such a great support to us over the last 15 months.

"He came to our house on Christmas Eve to visit Dave and has kept in contact since he died. He rang last week just to see how we were."

Dave saw off leukaemia in 1993 after receiving a bone marrow transplant from his sister Gemma, now 20.

His father said: "He was made a mascot by Swindon Town for the last game of the season against Leeds United because he had been so ill."

He then had a period of normal health, and was a promising footballer and cricketer. In 2003, he became ill again with what turned out to be lymphoma.

Steve said: "Dave had been a life-long supporter of Swindon Town.

"He came into contact with Andy King in September 2003 through Football in the Community.

"Initially he would go and watch Swindon Town train. Then Andy invited him down to a couple of games as his guest, and he got to know all the players."

Club secretary Linda Birrell said: "He was an avid fan and used to come to all the games. He was a lovely lad and will be missed by everyone at the club."

David Andrew