A DYING football fan who donated his season ticket to terminally ill children has hailed the hospice they call home.

Oxford United supporter Steve Dyer, who defied his incurable cancer by flying 3,000 miles to watch Saturday's game, stopped by ahead of the match to meet patients at Helen & Douglas House.

The 59-year-old, who was given months to live last year due to aggressive bladder cancer, gave the Oxford hospice a season ticket so children and young adults including Sam Bailey could experience the joy of the game.

He said: "It's a beautiful place to spend your life. I'm nearly 60-years-old and I look the young boy I met, and have no business feeling sorry for myself. I've been given a fantastic life and I see people like that who have still got a smile in their face and it tells me everything about where he is."

United superfan Mr Dyer was invited back to his home city by the club, and watched the match against Charlton Athletic in the director's box with wife Carol Dyer.

The father-of-three, who grew up in Hinksey and Blackbird Leys, said: "I got off that plane and wanted to kiss every bit of land here. Oxford people are my people and the club have treated me like a king.

"Oxford United did something for me that I could never top. I knew I wasn't going to be able to use a season ticket but I thought 'let's find someone who can, someone who needs it'."

He travelled from his home in New Hampshire, America, having made the same journey in April for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy cup final at Wembley.

He added: "It's much more than football - it's about family, and feeling part of a community."

Mrs Dyer, who herself has just been given the all-clear after being treated for breast cancer, brought 100 maple lolly pops to share with the patients.

She said: "The music room and art room and grounds allow the children to play and have fun and have the most normal, creative life.

"Those children's parents had their hearts broken when they found out they were sick, but this facility gives them more to look forward to."

The 59-year-old added: "Steve and I both have a newfound gratefulness. You take things for granted in your merry little life, but people need to take a step back and look beyond their own picture."

Veronique Thouroude, fundraiser at the respite care hospice, said: "Steve and Carol understand Helen & Douglas and have been supporting us for a long time. Giving the gift of going to a football match is giving the gift of fun, those things they might miss out on."

Mr Dyer added: "Everybody has the capacity to help somebody else. Even if it's just giving a stranger a smile or a helping hand.

"My friends and Oxford United have given me a reason and a purpose; something to look forward to. It's a lovely way to finish a life."