Five-year-old Joshua McCormack named in Dale squad for Hartlepool match

Five-year-old Joshua McCormack named in the Dale squad for Hartlepool match

Rochdale AFC’s youngest ever signing Joshua McCormack will be in the squad for Wednesday night’s Checkatrade Trophy match against Hartlepool United.

The five-year-old, who is suffering from a terminal brain tumour, has been named by Manager Keith Hill as one of Dale’s seven substitutes for the match at Victoria Park.

Sadly, Joshua is too poorly to attend the game but his shirt will hang proudly in the dressing room before the match and will take pride of place on the substitutes bench. His name will also appear on tonight’s team sheet.

Joshua is currently being cared for in a local hospice and Hill, his backroom staff and the players will visit the young Dale fan at the hospice on Thursday. They’ll present Joshua and his family with his matchday shirt and an official team sheet, as well as his very own junior Dale shirt which has been signed by all of the players.

Hill commented: “It is a real honour to name Joshua McCormack as a substitute for tonight’s game.

“He has touched the hearts of everyone at Rochdale Football Club since we met him for the first time back in February.

“No child should have to go through what Joshua is going through and we, as a club and a group of players, will continue to do whatever we can to support him and his family.

“We hope this one small gesture can bring a little bit of light to his family during this difficult time.”

Joshua was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year and his family were given the devastating news at the end of September that his illness is now terminal.

Since diagnosis, Rochdale Football Club has supported the family where possible. In February, the players presented Joshua and his Mum with a cheque to help towards a fundraising campaign for treatment, whilst the youngster was mascot for the day in August.

The youngster has been given squad number 55.

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/105320/florida-immunotherapy-treatment-'too-risky-for-josh'