Tranmere Rovers' Kane Hemmings dedicated his first two goals for the club to a five-year-old fan who lost his fight to cancer this week.
Nate Gidman lost his battle with cancer in the early hours of Monday morning.
After being diagnosed with Medulloblastoma - a cancerous brain tumour found in children - in 2020.
READ MORE: 'Loving' boy, 5, dies in mum and dad's arms
Tranmere Rovers learned about Nate's condition after his dad, Phil - a life-long Rovers supporter - began posting updates of his son's diagnosis on Twitter.
In a bid to support Nate and his family, fans launched a crowdfunding page in November last year for 'their hero' with a target of £1,000. However it wasn't long until that mark was surpassed and the fundraiser went on to raise over £11,000 for the family.
Ahead of last night's game against Swindon, Tranmere Rovers posted they would be holding a ground bucket collection for the Children's Brain Tumour Research Fund in memory of Nate.
But the tributes did not end there and in fact laid out the theme for the evening's game.
Tranmere striker Kane Hemmings fittingly scored in the fifth minute of Tranmere’s 3-0 win over Swindon Town on Tuesday night.
He ran to the touchline after scoring and held up a shirt that read “Nate 5” on the back.
Nate's dad Phil, who is originally from Birkenhead, said the tributes from last night's game left him and his other son "in tears".
He told the ECHO: "[I felt] overwhelmed but in a good way. The way they conducted themselves at the end of the match I was in tears, we all were, parading his shirt around.
"His brother was in tears. It was truly lovely."
After the match Hemmings said: “I’m pleased to get my goals, but I’d like to dedicate it to Nate and his family.
“I wasn’t aware when the goal went in [that it was the fifth minute] but I was told that when I came off. Some things are written in the stars and made to be.
“From everyone, we want to dedicate the win to him and his family, we’re all thinking of them."
At the end of the game, captain Peter Clarke laid the shirt with Nate’s name on in front of the Kop End.
The entire squad joined together to applaud the fans and celebrate Nate’s short life. The team then went and spoke with Nate’s family in the changing room.
Hemmings added: “The moment at the end where his shirt’s down and everyone’s clapping, it was one that gave shivers down your spine.
“To speak to his family afterwards, you kind of grasp how much it meant to them.”
In the post match interview, manager Micky Mellon assured all of last night's acts in honour of Nate were "not staged" and the player's arranged them "off their own backs."
