Tombides’ heroic fight and inspirational legacy

“Obviously in life health always come first, but for me, and if you would ask a lot of footballers they would say that football is just all they want to do… we love it, it’s what we want to do in life.” – Dylan Tombides.

There are no silver linings to be found in the tragic passing of young Dylan Tombides. It is sad, unfair and, if so upsetting to those of us who have never met him, tough to imagine just how this news has impacted his loved ones.

What can be done, however, is to commemorate and undoubtedly become inspired by his story; by his courageous battle against cancer and his incredible passion for the sport we love.

I do not know Dylan or his family personally, but have been moved by his story. I am writing this not as a piece of journalistic opportunism, but with the hope that you can be too.

In a blog I wrote featuring Tombides just over a year ago, I described: “If the Australian spirit involves overcoming adversity, never say never, then young Dylan Tombides captures it perfectly.”

And while adversity may have won its way, it is safe to say that Dylan never failed to encapsulate the Australian fighting spirit.

Touted as one of the country’s most talented youngsters, Tombides got off to an early start to his footballing career. His family moved to Macau due to work commitments, forcing Dylan to travel to Hong Kong every weekend to play football at the Brazilian Soccer School.

Aged fifteen, his family allowed him to take on his aspirations, moving to England where he was signed by English Premier League club, West Ham United.

The striker was quickly impressive for their youth squad, as well as representing Australia at U16 and U17 level. He scored twice in a 3-2 win over Arsenal’s Premier League Reserve team. He was named the academy’s Player of the Year for the 2010-11 season.

Tombides made such an impact that, at only seventeen years old, he was given a spot on West Ham’s Premier League bench in May of 2011, against Sunderland.

Later that year, he went on to score a memorable goal in the U17 World Cup in Mexico, dedicating the goal to his mum, Tracylee – one of his inspirations, who had long supported his football dream.

Dylan Tombides played at the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2011. This was his celebration. A sad loss. http://t.co/s8P7V25ShN pic.twitter.com/YizcPO4snC

— Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) April 18, 2014

 

Tony Carr, West Ham’s academy director, declared that Tombides would make it to the absolute top of football in England. The boy’s talent was bursting at the seams.

In the very same summer of 2011, Dylan was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It came to light after a random drug test in the U17 World Cup.

The terrified youngster turned to his dad and asked, “Dad, could this kill me?”

“I was on such a high throughout the entire first six months of last year and then came down with a thud,”

Testicular cancer is the second most common cancer among young men, with the risk of being diagnosed in one’s lifetime at 1 in 214. For unknown reasons, the rate of testicular cancer diagnosis has grown by more than fifty percent in the last thirty years. It is particularly common in men aged twenty to forty. The survival rate, however, in Australia as of 2009 was 97.6%.

Tombides was sent immediately, as you would imagine, to surgery where the testicle was removed. The procedure lasted forty five minutes, but that was far from the end of Dylan’s difficulties.

He spent the next couple of weeks at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, falling in and out of consciousness. The chemotherapy was intense, and the seventeen year old was unable to stay awake for more than fifteen minutes at a time.

“There were times when I would just look at Mum and tell her, ‘I don’t want the chemo any more, I will live with the cancer’. That’s how I felt at times.

“It took five to ten days to bounce back from each chemo blast and there is no trick to dealing with it.”

Even during this period, Tombides would find time to walk to the nearby training ground and visit his team mates. They were inspired such that they wore shirts in his honour before West Ham’s home game against Nottingham Forest.   It was at this point Tombides was hit with more devastating news. He would need further operation after doctors discovered a ten centimetre blood clot on his abdomen and cancer cells on his lymph nodes.

He spent another eleven days in hospital, waking up with a large scar down his stomach and unable to use his core muscles.

“I had to work out how to roll in and out of bed because it was so painful and it was weeks before I was allowed to do any exercise. I just wanted to play football again…”

Dylan later described that the hardest part was that “you’re helpless… I’d have times where… I’d turn a lot of people away because I just didn’t want to let them see me in that vulnerable state.”

After recovering from surgery twice, the battle was not yet won. Fighting cancer involves ongoing treatment, and Tombides was required to go through heavy chemotherapy sessions. Each session would leave him bed ridden for days and sometimes unable to eat. The eighteen year old lost more than sixteen kilograms.

“It makes me feel terrible but it is something I have to do.”

“Unless you know someone who is going through it, or you’ve been through it yourself, you really have no idea just how hard it is, or just how much it takes out of not just yourself but your loved ones and family.”

Remarkably, during this period, Tombides began to train with his team mates. He worked as hard as he could manage, eventually reaching the stage where he was able to train from Monday to Thursday in their development squad, and occasionally with their first team, before undergoing chemo on Friday. This would leave him bed bound for the weekend before returning to the football pitch at the start of the next week.

“I’d always come down to training and try to train, even during chemotherapy, because I loved the game and I wanted to be there.”

U21 coach, Neil Haycock, described: “He’s a fighter, and I wish I had a team full of them.”

At the same time, Tombides put immense effort into helping spread awareness for the cause. He was a champion for the One for the Boys campaign, appearing at events alongside celebrities such as Samuel L. Jackson.

Gone too soon Dylan Tombides . It was a pleasure to have met you. My thoughts are with your family. pic.twitter.com/Wly8TeVHYR — Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) April 18, 2014

 

Eventually, Dylan began to beat cancer.

What is inspirational about this period is that, not only was he able to fight against the ailments of chemotherapy, he was able to earn his first team debut. Such was the kid’s talent. On the 84th minute of West Ham’s League Cup clash with Wigan, Tombides came on “bald and white as a ghost”. The stint was short, but left him physically drained.

He tweeted after, “To be involved tonight and get on the pitch while going through treatment is so rewarding … Thanking all fans, friends and family who have messaged me tonight congratulating me. I hope to repay you with goals in the near future!!”

My boys meeting Dylan they were so happy @Dylantombides pic.twitter.com/BBd2TnhCOJ

— michelle (@chelleg83) March 12, 2014

 

Family played a huge role in his fight and recovery. The parents who had supported his footballing dreams since infancy did not relent. Meanwhile his younger brother, Taylor, also at West Ham, was a source of pride for Dylan as much as Dylan was an inspiration for Taylor.

“I relied very heavily on my family to function during this period. It was a difficult time,”

Happy birthday to my younger brother @taylor_tombides love and think about you every single day mate

Though still requiring regular treatment, things looked on the up and up. By 2013, Tombides had regained weight, returning to 83kg which was only one less than before surgery. He again made the first team squad, on the bench against Burnley in the League Cup. The nineteen year old then set up a goal for the reserve side against Chelsea’s development squad.

He remarked in an interview with The World Game, “Looking back at the game verse Sunderland, I wanted to break records… I wanted to be the youngest player out there.

“But now I look back and I’m only nineteen, I’ve still got plenty of time ahead of me. That’s a massive statement in my head… there’s no rush, your time will come.”

Everytime he stepped out on to the pitch, his body language made one thing clear: he was grateful, and happy to be there. Deservedly so.

Cancer had been unremitting, but Tombides more so. His fight was incredible.

He even forced his way back into international contention, representing Australia earlier this year in the U22 AFC Championship.

He tweeted, “Good to be back in the Green and Gold after a long 2 and a half years. Also pleased to get 60 minutes after having chemo just over 3 weeks ago.”

He celebrated his twentieth birthday last month, sending out this heartfelt message to those who wished him well.

As news filtered through last night that Dylan Tombides had passed away, I was lost for words. Nothing could express just how amazing a character, how inspirational he was and how devastating his passing is to the community.

In a blog I wrote featuring Tombides just over a year ago, I described: “While cancer has slowed him down, the talent that once had him regarded as a prospect worthy of the “very top” still lives on…”

This potential will never be realised, but in the end, that doesn’t matter. Tombides’ influence on the footballing community has spread its wings further than any goal tally could ever.

Many people have sporting role models, those they look up to having never met. Tombides is one of Australian football’s greatest heroes.

Vale.

You don’t have to fight anymore, you’re no longer in pain. May you forever play football in the clouds. #RIPDylanTombides

— Paul (@PG3_12) April 18, 2014

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