DOMINIC Hill promised his two boys the whole family would go to Wembley if Oxford United got through to the play-off final.

The lifelong U’s fan was keen to be at the crucial game after seeing his team triumph at Wembley in the Milk Cup Final in 1986.

But Mr Hill’s dream of a return to the stadium will never be realised.

In January, the 43-year-old quantity surveyor was diagnosed with lung cancer and lost his battle with the disease just weeks later in March.

Mr Hill’s family will make sure his promise is kept to Joseph, nine, and George, eight, by taking them to the stadium on Sunday to watch their team take on York City.

The boys’ trip to Wembley is also on the day their mum Kate and Mr Hill would have celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary.

Mr Hill’s mother, Kathleen, 81, of Hollow Way, Cowley, said: “Dominic was very fit and he never smoked, but after getting a cough he was diagnosed with lung cancer in January and went downhill very rapidly.

“The boys miss Dominic terribly because he did absolutely everything with them.

“He made a big promise to them that the whole family would go to Wembley if Oxford made it that far.

“Dominic grew up in Oxford, went to St Augustine’s School in Iffley Turn, and followed Oxford United everywhere.

“His brother Andrew, who works at a jeweller’s in the Covered Market, will be going along to Wembley with Kate and the boys.

“When Andrew ran in the London Marathon, he was carrying a flag for Oxford United’s 12th man campaign.”

Kate Hill explained how important the day would be.

She said: “At first we thought Dominic was suffering asthma, but it was very aggressive lung cancer.

“Dominic was coping with the chemotherapy very well, right up until the last fortnight.

“The whole family is going to sit together in the same block at Wembley.

“The boys are very excited about the game – they support Oxford United through their dad. Dominic’s friends were very good, and bought the boys shirts at the funeral, where there was a football match afterwards, to carry the boys through.”

Mr Hill’s aunt, Bernie O’Donnell, who lives near Middlesbrough, added: “Dominic was 6ft tall, climbed mountains and played cricket. He was a fit young man, but he never made it to the second stage of chemotherapy and died on March 31.

“After Dominic married Kate he moved to Sheffield and set up his own business working as a quantity surveyor.

“After he died, his brothers and friends said they would take Kate and the boys to Wembley.

“It is going to be a very emotional day and the boys will miss their dad on the day.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk