Best Of

Wycombe Wanderers need to keep every supporter they have. This thread is about my own very recent experience with prostate cancer. I thought it was important to talk about it and I consulted with @micra and he agreed and has been giving me good advice. There are no gory details or nasty surprises, in the story.

The last five weeks weeks have been busy. A health review for me triggered a PSA test and a slightly raised level triggered a MIR scan and that triggered a biopsy and I have a diagnosis of prostate cancer - I have started treatment and the prognosis is good and I feel fine. It appears fairly likely that was caught before it spread.

I want to suggest that anyone reading this who has a prostate and has celebrated 50 years or so of having one, should consider asking for a PSA test. I think if it hadn't been for Bill Turnbull I would have been more reluctant to submit to the testing regime and that was a timely decision because it looks as though for me it was caught in time to treat completely. I talked for a while to the people at Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge and they tell me that often, as for me, that particular cancer is often virtually symptom free until it begins to spread from the prostate. I was told that consideration was being given to offering tests to all men who are over 50 as standard: I don't think funds for NHS initiatives are readily available at the moment so please don't hold your breath.

@micra told me his story, a similar diagnosis with some spreading outside the prostate itself 17 years ago. In complete remission after treatment until 2021. His treatment was similar to what I believe mine will be. I am grateful, as I know we all are, that to quote @micra he is "still alive (if not exactly kicking) nearly 17 years after [he] was first diagnosed." I think he would want me to say that he was completely in remission until 2021.

I know it is sometimes difficult to access GPs surgeries in these times. @micra would say, and I would echo, if you fit the age profile use any opportunity you have to take a PSA test. If you think an opportunity won't present itself and you are concerned, please make an opportunity.

I have been thinking about participating in Jeff Sterling's walk from Wembley but I am not yet sure when I will have radiotherapy.

If anyone has a question, I am happy to answer a direct message. Sorry about the short term delay to the attendance thread postings.

Take care. Your club needs You.

Nice touch from the club again

It’s truly touching to see the Gasroom community at it’s very best. I was lucky to be a family friend of Phil’s, having been at school with his eldest. From memory Phil & family moved to the area at the tail-end of the MoN era, what a super time to discover the club. Which meant there would now be a convoy of two cars heading from Hughenden V to AP on a Saturday. Many fond memories followed of Phil’s halftime routine of offering around either a drop of bovril or instead coffee&drambuie, in fact, thinking about it - the drambuie might explain the somewhat imaginative parking spots Phil would be able to pinpoint on Hillbottom Rd in the late 90s. And there were far too many great away days to mention them all. But a couple of my most memorable trips were the weekday evenings, bouncing straight off the school bus into Phil’s Astra, then off to the Vetch, Layer Rd or Ashton Gate. Phil clearly loved the camaraderie of the club, the atmosphere of a matchday, the personalities of the players and he bloomin’ loved a hobby. Though wasn’t short on the latter – being a sailor, aviator and of course he dabbled in silly cars, why not. His was a gentle soul, who liked to do what he could for others – be it volunteering to clear snow in the top car park or running the village junior football team. In recent years I’ve endeavoured to payback some of the petrol money by buying Phil the post-match pints in the Vere Suite – matchdays certainly won’t feel the same

Needless to say I could go on, there’s a great deal to say about a great man, but I’ll leave it there. Will pass on your kind messages to Phil’s family. And thanks Gasroom for creating this wonderful community – long may it continue. COYB

I got to know Phil when we were both members of the 500 Club and during post-match chats with @bluntphil, @NorsQuarters and others in the Caledonian. Also met him and Val in the Chairboys Village on several occasions. A really lovely couple.

Back in December Phil and I had a long telephone conversation at the end of which we talked about the four of us meeting for lunch in the New Year. I’d told my wife what a lovely couple they were and how much she would enjoy their company. At the time of our telephone conversation Phil was about to start a course of chemotherapy so we decided to defer the lunch for a month or two.

Following the wonderful news yesterday about Matt Bloomfield returning as manager, I telephoned a few fellow Wanderers and was planning to contact Phil. Logging on to the Gasroom before retiring for the night, my heart sank when I saw the awful news. So sad that the lunch never materialised.

My thoughts are very much with Val and the boys.

If anyone is interested here is what I wrote for the club website, sorry it’s a long read but don’t know how to post a link.

The news that John Motson has passed away hit me like a sledgehammer. Not just because we shared the same profession, not just because we were once colleagues at BBC Sport, not just because we played in the same football team, but because we were great friends for over fifty years.

I first met Motty after replacing him at BBC Radio when he moved to Match of the Day in 1971 and he couldn't have been more helpful in ensuring that I settled in to my new career.

He was an inspiration and taught me the importance of preparing thoroughly for every commentary and for treating people in the game with respect.

We got to know each other well by playing for the Commentators X1, a charity football team that played games all over the country.

On the field he was the opposite of me, Motty a cultured left winger who steered clear of trouble, me a rough house right back who loved a sliding tackle and a row with the referee.

It was in the bar after the game where we really bonded through our love of a beer or three and a good laugh. He was a very sociable guy and in later years we often put the world to rights over a meal and a bottle of wine.

I last saw him in December at our Commentators X1 annual Christmas dinner and he was as chirpy as ever, making the shock news of his death even harder to take.

Before that I had chatted to him when Wycombe figured in the playoff semi final at MK Dons where he was a regular being close to where he lived.

He would always be interested in what was going on at Wycombe whenever we met and I'm sure everyone remembers that iconic photo of Motty in his famous sheepskin coat at a snow covered Adams Park.

We have lost a master of his trade, a non viveur who would be the centre of attention in any room he entered, an amusing and entertaining character.

But most of all I have lost a great friend.

RIP Motty, I'll see you one day in that great bar in the sky and it's your round.