The former Halifax Town striker, who will be 35 on November 1, was diagnosed with the disease last week and will have surgery next Thursday.

And while he has been told it is almost certainly end of his professional career, the man known to all Town fans as "Super Geoff" is determined to make a full recovery with the help of his family – wife Tina and children Chris, 17, Chloe, 12, and Leah, eight.

"I have fought hard throughout my career and before I started playing football," said Mr Horsfield who scored 30 goals in the 1997-98 campaign to fire the Shaymen to the Conference title and a place back in the Football League.

"I sat down with the family and explained everything. Now we have to get on with it.

"It was a bit surreal when the doctor was telling me because you never think it is going to happen to you."

Mr Horsfield was told he had the disease virtually 10 years to the day after he left Town for Kevin Keegan's Fulham in a deal worth an initial £300,000.

He went on to play with Birmingham, Wigan, West Brom, Sheffield United, Leeds United, Leicester City and Fulham.

"I had a great time at Halifax and 10 fantastic years since I left," he said.

"I thought I maybe had a couple more years left, but having to stop now does not bother me."

"If you are a professional sportsman, fit and strong, and you can get the disease, anyone can," said Mr Horsfield, who now lives in Redditch.

"That was partly why I made it public."

Mr Horsfield's former Halifax Town teammate Paul Stoneman, who played for the Shaymen between 1995 and 2005, said he was "gutted" when he got the news.

"He is a strong lad and I am sure he will fight this.

"He was a legend at Halifax. All the players and supporters will no doubt be wishing him the best."

dave.fletcher@halifaxcourier.co.uk