It’s not very often that these pages turn solemn, but Rage Online was saddened to hear of the plight of young Oakley Waterman. Oakley is six years old, and is the son of former United midfielder/defender Dave Waterman, currently at Weymouth.

Early last season Oakley was diagnosed with cancer, and had to undergo major treatment. It was thought that this had been successful, but the news has just broken that Oakley has gone into remission, and this time there is no cure. The boy has been given just weeks to live.

A fund has been set up to buy a ‘static home’ for Oakley’s use, as he has been happy staying there while undergoing treatment, but it costs ?300 a week to hire. The static home will in future be used for others in a similar position. Although not yet a charity there is no doubt that this is a genuine and heartfelt appeal, and Rage Online urges people to send donations to Oxford United, made payable to Oakley Waterman. As a parent of a boy of similar age, I can only empathise with the Watermans, and hope that this appeal will lead to some good coming from tragedy.