He died with his wish fulfilled

A lifelong Manchester United fan got his dying wish to meet his heroes - just 45 minutes before he passed away.

Patrick Lawler, 73, told his family he would love to be visited at his home in Wythenshawe by his favourite Reds as he was in the final stages of his battle with cancer.

So granddaughter Kayleigh, 27, posted an emotional plea on Facebook asking if anyone could help make Patrick's dream come true.

And just days later Wythenshawe's Marcus Rashford and fellow players Jesse Lingard, Ashley Young and Timothy Fosu-Mensah turned up at his home.

The stars posed for photographs with Patrick, who was dressed in a United shirt, as well as signing autographs.

Less than an hour after the visit Patrick passed away.

Kayleigh said that her granddad known as Paddy and himself previously a professional footballer, was told there was nothing doctors could do for him after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer four years ago, which spread to other parts of his body.

And she says she decided to try and grant the lifelong United fan his dying wish after his condition deteriorated in recent weeks.

She said: "He had been talking about watching the derby and I later asked him if there was anything he wanted.

"He said nothing at first but when I mentioned meeting the players his eyes just lit up and he became dead excited as if to say 'is that possible?'

"So I posted on Facebook and I couldn't believe the response.

"Within hours people said they knew people at the club and I got a number for someone who knows Jesse (Lingard).

"Then they said they would come round after training on Tuesday and his eyes lit up again when we told him.

"They were great with him. They were so down to earth and and chatted to him, had pictures and signed some shirts.

Kayleigh paid tribute to the 'incredibly selfless' gesture, writing on Facebook: “Top lads, all four of them. Thanks so much to everyone who helped. Sure my grandad's over the moon.”

In her original post Kayleigh wrote: “Please can everyone share I'm trying to get a few of Manchester United players to come and visit my grandad we asked him the other day if he would like to do anything before his time comes and he said to meet the team I've emailed the Mufc foundation but no reply yet!