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Paul Bonney, Jenna Bonney, aged ten and Shella Chinn hold up signed Bolton Wanderers shirts from El-Hadji Diouf given to Aiden Bonney before he died Wanderers star El-Hadji Diouf visits Aiden in hospital

A YOUNG Wanderers fan battling an aggressive muscle wasting condition has lost his fight with the disease.

Brave Aiden Bonney, aged 18, refused to let his condition affect him and was even visited by Wanderers players in the final months of his life.

Yesterday, as his family came to terms with their loss, they spoke of his popularity - and the visits from football stars, El-Hadji Diouf and Abdoulaye Faye.

The Wanderers stars visited him at his Daubhill home the day after his eighteenth birthday in August last year and presented him with a football shirt, which they had signed.

Aiden's proud mother, Shelley Chinn, who was his full-time carer, said: "Aiden was absolutely delighted to meet Diouf. He loved Wanderers and used to go and watch them, first at Burnden Park and the later at the Reebok until he couldn't managed to get there. But even then he always made sure he watched them on television or listened to them on the radio."

Aiden, who has a youngster sister, Jenna, aged 10, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy when he was three-years-old after his parents Ms Chinn and Paul Bonney noticed he was having problems walking.

He attended Devonshire Road Primary School, then Ladybridge Primary School and Parksfield Primary School in Salford. At the age of eight, he was confined to a wheelchair, but went on to attend Mere Oaks School in Wigan. He also developed his second love, rugby, after meeting several of the Wigan players.

Aiden enjoyed trips to Spain with school and even went canoeing, refusing to let his condition hold him back.

He was diagnosed with back problems and his wheelchair became too uncomfortable for him to use.

He gradually became bed-bound, but even then he was still visited regularly by friends.

Ms Chinn said: "I was always answering the door to people coming to see him, he was really popular and really touched people. He was very strong and was extremely funny. He hated to be molly coddled and hated going into hospital."

Aidan died on December 29 with his mum at his side.

Ms Chinn said: "It was so quick. We had no idea how ill he was because he didn't say anything. He was so brave. I was at his bedside and looked away for a moment. When I looked back, he'd gone. It was the way he would've wanted it."

Aiden's funeral service was held at the Salvation Army Church in Daubhill on Wednesday.

On the way to Overdale the family paused at the Reebok Stadium. Songs from a CD Aiden had made were played at his funeral and included Linkin Park "Leave Out All The Rest", Boyzone "No Matter What" and the Spicegirls' "Goodbye".

3:08pm Saturday 19th January 2008

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