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Geoff Horsfield |
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Geoff Horsfield last night revealed he has been forced to
retire after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The former Fulham, Birmingham and West Brom striker was
given the devastating news after discovering a lump in his
left testicle and will have surgery next week.
Horsfield, 34, had hoped to earn a contract with Walsall after
being released by Sheffield United in the summer, but is now
determined to win the biggest battle of his life.
“I found a small lump in my left testicle and went to see the
doctor at West Brom, who’s a good friend of mine,” he said.
“I was diagnosed last Friday and I’m going in for surgery next
Thursday. The surgeon has told me that this is the end of my
professional career, which is disappointing.
“But I’ve had 10 good years with Fulham, Birmingham, Wigan,
West Brom and all the other clubs I’ve played for and
enjoyed it.
“That’s at the back of my mind now. It’s just one of those
things and I’ve come to terms with my career being over.
“All I’m thinking about now is beating this. I’ve always been a
fighter right through my football career and I’m going to fight
this and win.”
Horsfield has been told he has a good chance of making a full
recovery because he acted so quickly.
“The specialist told me I did well to find the lump because it is
so small,” he said. “He says I stand a good chance of making
a full recovery because we’ve got in early.”
Geoff Horsfield was always fearless on the pitch but telling
his family he had cancer was the most daunting thing he has
ever done.
Horsfield's first thought when he was diagnosed with
testicular cancer was how he would break the devastating
news to his wife and three kids.
He spoke to his wife Tina and they sat down with Chris, 17,
Chloe, 12, and Leah, eight, in their Staffordshire home and
told them what had happened. The former Fulham,
Birmingham, Wigan and West Brom striker knew they would
fear the worst because some of their relatives had died from
the disease.
Horsfield told them he didn't want to see any tears and that
with their help, he would win the greatest fight of his life.
"The kids have seen some of the family die of cancer so when
they heard the word cancer, they immediately thought 'is he
going to die?" he said.
"It came as a huge shock to them and I had to sit them down
and talk them through it, which was tough. I had to explain
that the lump would be taken out and that I might have to
have chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
"I tried to joke about it to soften the blow by saying I might
need to wear a cap or a wig if my hair falls out.
"I tried to get across to them that I would get better. I'm a
fit, relatively young man and I'm going to get through it.
"I told them I needed them to be positive and I didn't want
to see any of them crying.
We're going to deal with this as a family as we have done
with everything." Horsfield, who will forever be remembered
for scoring the goal which helped keep West Brom up on the
final day of the 2005 season, has received support from
Millwall striker Neil Harris, who was diagnosed with testicular
cancer in 2001.
The Yorkshireman will have the lump in his left testicle
removed by surgeons next Thursday and has been told his
chances of making a full recovery are good.
Horsfield, 34, is determined to be upbeat and said: "No one
wants to be told they have cancer, but if you've got to have it
then testicular cancer is a good one to have because a lot of
people have recovered from it.
"The specialist and the surgeon are positive too and once
they remove the lump and do a biopsy, they will be able to
tell me what treatment I'll need next.
"I've already spoken to Neil Harris and he was great, telling
me what to expect, while Alan Stubbs also beat it. I've got
my head round it now and I'm just focused on getting better.
"I'm determined to beat it.
I've been a fighter all my life and I'm going to fight this with
everything I've got."
Horsfield had hoped to win a contract with Walsall and is sad
there will be no more moments like helping Birmingham win
promotion in 2002 or scoring for the Blues against Aston Villa.
However he claims being diagnosed with cancer puts any
disappointment at seeing his career ended into perspective.
"I left Sheffield United in the summer and after training for a
month on my own I was invited to train with Walsall because
I know some of the guys there," he said.
"I got back into it and played in a reserve game for them. We
were going to speak about a deal or a pay-as-you play
contract and I was looking forward to playing again.
"But the specialist and the surgeon have told me this has
ended my professional career."
Horsfield is already planning for life now that he has hung up
his boots and wants to move into coaching. "My mum always
said everything happens for a reason and that's the way I'm
looking at this," he said.
"I could have done my coaching badges a couple of years
ago, but I'd put it off because I thought my career would go
on like Gary Speed and Dean Windass until I was 37 or 38.
I've always been fit and healthy and had a good diet so
cancer was the last thing I expected.
"I just hope what has happened to me will encourage other
people to check for lumps. No one can think it won't happen
to them."
It came as a huge shock to the family and I had to sit them
down and talk them through it, which was tough
I'm determined to beat it. I've been a fighter all my life and
I'm going to fight this with everything I've got
HORSFIELD'S CLUB CAREER
Halifax Aug 97-Oct 98 Played 34 Goals 38
Fulham(£300,000) Oct 1998-July 00 Played 54 Goals 31
Birmingham(£2.25m) July 00-Sept 03 Played 126 Goals 29
Wigan(£1m) Sept 03-Dec 03 Played 17 Goals 7
West Brom(£1m) Dec 03-May 06 Played 73 Goals 21
Sheff Utd(£120,000) May 06-June 08 Played 3 Goals 1
Leeds (loan) Aug 06-Jan 07 Played 15 Goals 2
Leicester (loan) Jan 07-May 07 Played 15 Goals 0
Scunthorpe (loan) Jan 08-April 08 Played 12 Goals 0
Total played: 349
Total scored: 129 (A goal every 2.7 games)