AN ARDENT football fan got to see his dream come true when his beloved Slough Town won promotion - just months before he lost his battle with cancer.

Tributes have been flooding in for David Pearcy, of Wyndham Crescent, Burnham, who died from bowel cancer on Saturday (6), a day known as Non-League Day, during which fans are encouraged to support their local club.

He spent 25 years following The Rebels up and down the country and sold programmes for the club every week, earning the nickname Dave Programmes. He was named Supporter Of The Year several times, including last year.

Mr Pearcy, 42, suffered from Asperger syndrome and his relationship with the club helped him live with this difficulty. Fellow Rebels fans said he embodied everything good about supporting your local team.

Dad Michael said: “He tried to go to every single game, home and away. It was brilliant. He found the club himself and developed his relationship with them. It was his thing, and the club responded to that.” Mr Pearcy was diagnosed with bowel cancer in June 2012 and was told at Christmas it was terminal. But he got to see his beloved club win promotion into the Southern Premier Division in May - with players dedicating the victory to him.

It was the club’s first promotion for 25 years.

Mum Pat, of Burlington Road, Burnham, added: “Everybody has said to us that he was special, but he just wanted to be ordinary and accepted. He went out and lived his life and did everything he enjoyed. He didn’t let anything hold him back.” The former Priory School pupil was also a member of Berkshire Autistic Society, Slough and Windsor Railway Society and CAMRA. Slough Town has been playing outside the town in Beaconsfield since 2003, but plans are afoot to move the club back home. And dad Michael added: “His dying wish was to see them get back in the town with their own ground.” His funeral is due to be held at Chilterns Crematorium on Thursday (18) at 1.45pm. All who knew David are welcome, but the family request you contact mike@michaelpearcywriter to say you are attending.