Manchester United fan Tom Cooper who was granted his dying wish of meeting his heroes has lost his battle with cancer

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Tom Cooper, his wife and his daughter meet Bastian Schweinsteiger, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick Credit: MEN SYNDICATION

A Manchester United fan who was granted his dying wish of meeting his heroes has lost his battle with cancer.

Tom Cooper, 28, was diagnosed with a rare form of the disease four years ago.

On his ‘bucket list’ of things to do before he died, the dad-of-two said he would love to meet the Reds’ squad.

And he was overjoyed when he was invited to spend a day at the club’s Carrington training ground and got up close and personal with several members of the team, including midfielder Ashley Young, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick.

Carrick presented Tom with a shirt, signed by the entire squad, and he then stayed behind to have a kick-about with his daughters Tienna, eight and Ziani, five and even made ‘snow angels’ in the grass with them in a heartwarming video.

Tom Cooper's two daughter's with Michael Carrick Credit: MEN SYNDICATION

However his wife yesterday revealed he had passed away and paid tribute to the doting dad and husband.

Tom, from Burnley, wrote a daily Facebook blog where he documented his daily struggle with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which affects the throat and area behind the nose.

And in an emotional post, his wife Tammy said: