TRIBUTES have been paid to a larger than life character who died last week following a battle with cancer.

Wayne Hagland, 61, from Goldthorpe, was a lifelong Barnsley supporter and an incredibly popular character across the town.

Wayne had been complaining about back pain for a few months in early 2024 and was prescribed painkillers.

But in September that year, a scan at Barnsley Hospital revealed he had an incurable type of bone marrow cancer called multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma is a rare blood cancer where abnormal plasma cells accumulate in bone marrow, causing bone damage, anemia, kidney issues, and high infection risk.

It affects the immune system by crowding out healthy cells and producing faulty antibodies.

He was in and out of hospital but never failed to smile despite the pain he was in.

Wayne was placed on end-of-life care last week and died last Wednesday.

His partner, Kim Hunt, told the Chronicle: “He was diagnosed in 2024 and he’s been fighting it ever since.

“He was having ongoing chemotherapy and Barnsley Hospital couldn’t help any further with that so he went to Sheffield.

“The cancer became aggressive and he started with kidney problems.

“He was blue-lighted on Monday morning back to Barnsley Hospital and was placed on end-of-life care before he passed away on Wednesday.”

Wayne’s popularity was clear to see and an array of people have been paying tribute to him.

Kim said that he was a larger than life character and never let anything get him down, despite the predicament he found himself in.

She added: “He was always smiling, even when he was in pain and upset.

“He was just a big personality, always joking around.

“He was well-known to everyone and very loud.

“You could hear him before you saw him.

“Wayne was an outgoing person - he always made everyone laugh.”

A lifelong Barnsley FC supporter, fans of both Doncaster Rovers and the Reds paid tribute to him in Saturday’s South Yorkshire derby with a minute’s applause in the 61st minute.

Kim admitted he was always watching the Reds on the TV as he was unable to attend Oakwell in recent months.

She said: “His funeral is going to be Barnsley FC related.

“We want everyone to wear their Barnsley shirts or red and white.

“He never missed a game.

“He didn’t get to go to the games recently but he was always listening to them and watching them on TV.

“You didn’t disturb him on a Saturday afternoon.

“From 3pm you just left him alone.”