A number of teams paid elegant tributes to David Brooks from Bournemouth and Dan Barden from Norwich after the two were diagnosed with devastating cancer over the past week.
24-year-old Cherries star Brooks previously revealed shock news that he was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma after retiring from the Wales squad to begin treatment.
Sadder news was to come when Norwich City announced that 20-year-old goalkeeper Barden was due to retire from the game after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Ahead of Bournemouth’s league game against Huddersfield on Saturday, the club released a video of Brooks’ clearly emotional teammates sending their best wishes to the Welsh winger.
The players of their opponents, Huddersfield, also wore warm-up t-shirts with the words “Together as one, stay strong Brooksy” across the chest in an elegant gesture from the visiting side.
Both groups of supporters then stood up and cheered throughout the seventh minute of the match in tribute to Brooks’ jersey number.
The other second tier team, Luton Town, also offered their support to Brooks, with shirts featuring his picture and the message “Everyone in Luton is with you Brooksy” ahead of their game against Hull.
Norwich also paid tribute to Barden ahead of his Premier League loss to Chelsea with shirts bearing his name and the words ‘We are with you, stay strong Dan’.
Barden spent the season on loan at Livingstone’s Scottish side and thanked all of his two teams for their support.
“It has been a very difficult and difficult time but the support of my family, friends and colleagues has helped me through the last few weeks,” Barden said on the official Norwich website.
“I cannot thank the medical services in Norwich and Livingston enough, and everyone at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
“The speed at which everything has moved has been insane, but everyone has been absolutely brilliant with me. Daniel Farke and Livingston manager David Martindale were also very supportive.
“The initial diagnosis came as a real shock to me, but what’s good is that we caught it early and the prognosis and next steps were all positive.
“I am optimistic and have a positive mindset. I am convinced that I will be able to beat him and that I will be back soon to do what I love.
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