A football match was stopped mid-game to honour a nine-year-old fan who has died from cancer.
Play was stopped during the ninth minute of Hartlepool United’s home game on Tuesday to honour Riley Bains who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma two years ago.
He touched people’s hearts the world over when he met his hero, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, following an appeal from cancer charity Miles for Men on Radio Tees.
Reynolds paid tribute to Riley on social media and called him the “best piggy-back passenger ever”.
“Riley, you weren’t here long enough,” he said.
“You left a ton of love behind…. But you left a bunch of people behind who’ll take good care of that love.
“See ya down the road.”
Hartlepool United celebrated his life during Tuesday’s league match against Tamworth.
Fans, staff and all 22 players on the pitch stood for a minute’s applause in his memory.
Riley was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2023 and had his lower leg amputated.
In 2024, his family found out the cancer had returned and spread.
An online appeal was spotted by Reynolds who then contacted Riley to invite him for a meet-up at his football club, Wrexham.
His wife, actress Blake Lively, also surprised the family with messages.
Micky Day, from the Miles for Men charity, described Riley as an inspiration and an amazing young man.
“When I first met Riley he already knew he was going to lose the bottom half of his leg and he was practicing hopping up the stairs,” Mr Day said.
“That just says everything.”
Riley’s mother Sarah Kidson led the tributes to her son following his death.
“We will forever be proud of our little warrior,” she wrote on social media.
“Rest in paradise, gorgeous boy. Love you to the moon and back.”
