A TERMINALLY ill Oxford United fan who lives in the USA says “it will mean everything” for him to cheer on the U’s at Wembley.

Cancer patient Steve Dyer will make the 3,200-mile journey from New Hampshire to the national stadium to watch his favourite side in the flesh for the final time.

With just four or five months to live, the 59-year-old said he had to take his son Steven, 21, to a game just like his father Richard, who worked in the Cowley car factory, took him back in 1963.

The father-of-three said: “My dad took me to the Manor Ground when I was just a boy. I remember leaning over the fence and watching the players warm up.

“I loved the whole deal, the trip up, the pie at half time, the atmosphere. It was great.

“I fell in love with it and I never missed a game until I moved to America in 1986. I remember being gutted because I moved a couple of months before the Milk Cup final.

“I just thought I have to take my son to a game and show him what it’s all about. It’s something I want to do before I die.”

Growing up in Hinksey and Blackbird Leys, Mr Dyer first clocked eyes on United at the old Manor Ground in Headington.

He moved stateside and set up a masonry business with his brother, but still follows the ups and downs of the U’s closely.

Diagnosed with bladder cancer in November, he has endured two courses of chemotherapy to curb the aggressive disease.

Also coping with the devastating news is his wife Carol, 59, daughters Brittany, 29, Gemma, 26, and son Steven.

He added: “The first thing I asked when I got told ‘was how long have I got?’ “I was told four or five months, but they tell of incidents when people have gone on to live for a year.

“You never know, do you? You hear the stories where people have been told they’ve got a month to live and they are still here six years later.

“I have a few tests next week to see if the chemotherapy is working and I will go from there.”

Tears streamed down Mr Dyer’s face when he heard of the club’s triumph against Millwall on Tuesday night that takes them through to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final on Sunday, April 3.

The grandfather-of-one added: “I have never seen them at Wembley, but I would have tried to go to a league game even if we didn’t make it because my flights were booked.

“I always tuned in and kept up to date with Oxford United through the fan pages and reading the Oxford Mail online.

“I was reading and following the stuff on the Swansea game [in the FA Cup] and I was thinking ‘I wish I could have been there’.

“When I listened to the Millwall game it was amazing. I burst into tears when we managed to get through.”

Oxford United chairman Darryl Eales said: “Everyone at the club was greatly moved by Steve’s story and we are delighted he will be at Wembley with us.

“I think his story perfectly sums up the pride and passion that Oxford fans have.”