Tributes have been paid to a Burnley fan who lost his lifelong battle against an incurable muscle wasting disease.

Ashley Kirkham, 27, died at Royal Preston Hospital from Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy – a condition which affects one in 3,500 boys in the UK.

He was diagnosed when he was a child and doctors did not expect him to live beyond his late teens.

A spokesman for Muscular Dystrophy Campaign yesterday confirmed it was rare for someone with Duchenne to live to the age of 27.

Ashley, a former pupil at Calder View Special School in Burnley, grew up living with his family on the Stoops and Griffin estates, in Burnley.

His sister Margaret, who lives in the area with her mum, said he died a 'happy man' after seeing his team win promotion to the Premier League.

The 23 year-old said: “He always knew that he would not always be here, but it was his dream for Burnley to be promoted to the Premier League in his lifetime. When it happened he said it was the best day of his life - I’d never seen him so happy before.

“He couldn’t go Wembley - he didn’t really go out at all in the last two years - but he watched it on TV and had all the staff wearing shirts and hats. I remember ringing him up after the result and he was just screaming his head off. His dream had come true.”

Described as a ‘late developer’ by his mum Sheila, he was not able to walk until he was four.

The condition affects the 'proximal' muscles, which are those near the trunk of the body, around the hips and the shoulders. This means that fine movements, such as those using the hands and fingers, are less affected than movements like walking.

By the age of 12 he relied on a wheelchair after the disease, which first causes muscles in the legs to weaken, led to mobility problems.

Eight years ago he moved to into a house in Lytham St Annes with friends he met at Beaumont Specialist College, in Lancaster.

Margaret said the distance and worsening symptoms did not stop him from following his ‘beloved’ Burnley.

She said: "He was a mega Burnley fan. He used to go to every match when he was younger. Even after he moved to St Annes and he wasn’t able to go the matches he still bought a season ticket for himself and his carer."

He was so obsessed with the Clarets that he named his pet parrot Burnley and taught it to shout the word in support of the team, his sister said.

In his will he requested that his family wear Burnley shirts with his name printed on the back.

He will be buried with the Burnley FC curtains from his bedroom and his coffin will be adorned with claret and blue flowers.

According to Margaret, Ashley was a ‘huge’ music fan and loved singing old songs by Frank Sinatra and other ‘Rat Pack’ members.

One of his own compositions - ‘When I’m Away’ - will be played at his funeral.

Speaking on behalf of Burnley FC, chief executive Paul Fletcher said: "It is always a sad time when we lose one of the ‘family'.

"Clearly Ashley was a devoted Burnley fan and it is comforting to know that the club gave him such joy late in his life by winning promotion to the Premier League.

"Everyone at Burnley FC would like to send their sincere condolences to all of Ashley's family and friends."

Ashley devoted much of his time to raising awareness of the disease via the internet.

Two years ago Ashley set up a group on Facebook where people affected by the disease could seek support.

On the group’s website he wrote: “I want to set this group up so that I can help people with the same condition as me.

“It would mean a lot to me if I could help. If anybody would like to ask me any questions or have any concerns with this condition I would be happy to share the problems that I've had in order to help you.”

Ashley leaves behind mum Sheila and dad Leonard as well as siblings, Gavin, Shelley, Nicholas, Nichola, John and Tony.

His funeral procession will leave from the Alderson and Horan Funeral Home on Friday, February 26th at 12 noon passing Burnley Football Ground prior to Requiem Mass at St Mark’s Church, Rossendale Road, at 12.30pm. followed by interment at Burnley Cemetery at 1.30pm.