‘Well-wishers’ astonishing support is bolstering my cancer battle’
A video from John Terry, 40,000 Twitter likes and how his friends paid for the test that found his cancer – Wales football legend Mickey Thomas tells Rob Griffiths that he’s been overwhelmed by the support he’s receiving...
FOOTBALL legend Mickey Thomas says he is now even more determined to win his battle against stomach cancer after receiving an overwhelming amount of support from across the globe.
The 64-year-old began his treatment to battle the disease on Monday and will undergo a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink a large tumour before undergoing an operation in a few months.
Capped 51 times by Wales in a career spanning 22 years, Thomas, from Mochdre in Conwy county, has received messages of support from across the world, including from former and current footballers such as John Terry and Ashley Young, as well as members of the public.
And it is this level of support that has helped to raise his spirits and he begins his fight.
A tweet posted on Monday morning by Thomas received more than 2,000 replies and was liked more than 40,000 times, while he has also been sent a heart-warming personal message from former England skipper Terry.
“I put a tweet out yesterday and got 40,000 likes on it,” said Thomas.
“People are messaging me, I can’t reply to them all, but they are amazing messages.
“People from in the game, Manchester United have been magnificent with me, all the players, Ashley Young sent me a tweet, it gives you a lift.
“I am no different, I am just another patient, obviously I’ve done something in playing football, but it (the response) has shocked me, it is incredible.
“I’ve had messages from all around the world... from America, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, I am getting messages, I have never seen anything like it. I said to my daughter, ‘I want to fight this, so many people are behind me’, it is unbelievable, it really has shocked me. I didn’t know I was that well liked. It has been amazing, just amazing.”
Thomas was in the crowd on Saturday at Wrexham as the Dragons claimed a 1-0 win over Dagenham & Redbridge.
Saturday’s game was a first in charge for newly installed Dragons boss Bryan Hughes, who was a youngster coming through the ranks at the Racecourse during Thomas’ second stint at the club.
Hughes dedicated the win to Thomas following the game, while it was noticeable the Racecourse crowd were singing his name.
Thomas added: “I went there for a little break, I thought, ‘I have got to get out and get on my feet’.
“I went to see Bryan before the game and had a chat with him, and wished him all the best. I like Yosser (Hughes), he is a lovely fella.
“I read what he said after the game, they dedicated the win to me, that is nice. The fans singing my name on Saturday, it was unbelievable, it brought a tear to my eye, I thought, ‘oh my God’, that just gives you a lift, it really does give you a lift and makes you want to fight this even more. I am made up with going to Wrexham on Saturday, they are a special club and it made me feel really, really proud that they think a lot about me.”
Thomas’ first steps in his battle started on Monday as he began his chemotherapy, the former winger stating it had already had a major effect.
Thomas revealed he first noticed something was not right as he was having difficulty eating properly, and reserved special mention for two of his friends, Michael and Sean Walsh, who paid for him to privately have an endoscopy examination, the treatment later revealing his disease.
“I didn’t sleep too well last night,” said Thomas. “The chemo is there to hopefully shrink the tumour, it is a big one, I’ve got a large tumour that I need to get smaller.
“They know what they are doing, I am in good hands. They (the doctors) are the heroes, but they don’t want any publicity, they just do it, they are amazing people.
“The doctors have been great, they are keeping me confident that I can beat this. I am going to have my bad days, they have said I will have some bad days. So many people have said it is a nightmare, and it is not nice, I don’t want to hear that, but me being me it might help me even more.”
He continued: “I have to mention Michael and Sean Walsh, they helped to pay for me to have some treatment, and without them I wouldn’t be where I am now.
“They paid for me to have an endoscopy, that is when I found out I had cancer.”
Thomas began his career at Wrexham, and is famously remembered for his goal in the Dragons’ FA Cup third-round victory over Arsenal in 1992.
During a 22-year career he played for Manchester United, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Stoke City, Chelsea, West Brom, Wichita Wings, Shrewsbury and Leeds, before returning to the Racecourse and eventually finishing his playing days with Porthmadog.
Since his retirement Thomas has carved out a career as a pundit. A crowdfunding page has been set up to help pay the bills during his treatment, and after just three days the total stood at more than £13,000.