Watch: Diehard Sunderland supporter has Newcastle United tattoo in support of little Bradley

Eddie Goodwin, 44, decided to get the controversial inking after he was touched to hear about the four-year-old's battle with neuroblastoma, having been diagnosed in 2013.

Until a few weeks ago, the father-of-one had not heard of Bradley's plight, which has seen well-wishers raise £700,000 to pay for anti-body medication in the US.

The appeal relaunched earlier this year when the disease was found to have returned, and was helped by a massive £200,000 donation from Everton FC.

When Eddie got chatting to a friend who was fundraising for the Blackhall youngster, he looked him up on the internet and was so moved by what he was going through that he wanted to do something to help.

Eddie, a roller shutter fitter from Thorney Close, Sunderland, said he was drunk when he came up with the idea, and that family and friends did not believe he would actually go through with it.

But he has proved them all wrong and put up with an hour of pain at the hands of tattoo artist Phil Pescod, of Ace Tattoo Studio, in Stockton Road, Sunderland.

Eddie said: "I went on facebook and I expected people not to agree with it, but everybody has.

"Even when I phoned Phil, because I din't think Phil would put the tattoo on, but he agreed to it is doing it for nowt.

"It's more like a badge of honour for the people who have donated.

"I can look at it and feel proud and honoured and even humbled by the amount of people that have supported us and also who have donated."

So far Eddie says he's raised well over £1,000, with the help of friend Mel Fenton, who works in Chaplins bar, over the road from Ace Tattoos, who has collected £400.

A friend in Spain has also donated £400 directly to Bradley's fund.

But Eddie was met with some opposition from his family, with wife Nicola, 44, daughter Trinity, 13, and even his own mother trying to talk him out of the idea.

Also a Sunderland supporter, Trinity is a season ticket holder along with her dad, in the south stand of the Stadium of Light.

"My daughter said 'nee way' and my wife just sore, she wasn't happy like," Eddie added.

"But they have now realised why I'm doing it and are supporting me all the way.

"You need to realise I'm diehard Sunderland, the same as Phil is, and I had to do something that appeal to everybody and it's all for a worthy cause."

The badge joins around 15 other tattoos on his body, which include Mauri artwork and dragons.

Eddie’s campaign follows on from one run by Newcastle United fan David Stonebank, from Blackhall, who got a Sunderland tattoo to support the fund.

More details about Eddie’s fundraiser can be found on www.facebook.com/bradleylowerytattoo