Bradford City goalkeeper Matt Duke has revealed that he overcame cancer and returned to football to eventually become part of the League Two side that are experiencing a successful run in the League Cup.
The 35-year-old, who helped his side secure a 3-1 advantage over Aston Villa in the first leg of the semi-final, won his battle with testicular cancer five years ago.
"When you hear the word cancer it is scary," Duke told The Sun. "It really does put everything in perspective. Yeah, I worried I'd never come back and play football again.
"That's what you automatically think when someone breaks the news to you that you have cancer. But once it sinks in, I'll be honest, you don't think of battling back to play in a Wembley final one day.
"You want to see your kid ride a bike, that's how simple my thoughts and my ambitions were. Now I have a different perspective on life."
Duke and his teammates will go up against Villa for the second leg on January 22.
Danielle Joynson
