He was part of the Bradford City team that slayed giants during the club’s phenomenal Capital One Cup run, but goalkeeper Matt Duke had already won the biggest battle of his life. His fight against testicular cancer.

In January 2008, the 35-year-old received the shocking diagnosis that he had the rare cancer and experienced first-hand the gut-wrenching side effects of chemotherapy.

That’s why the Bantams’ star is backing the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Crocus Cancer Appeal.

The £1 million we hope to raise through our campaign will buy Bradford University’s Institute of Cancer Therapeutics a new, state-of-the-art mass spectrometer, which could help its scientists pioneer less toxic ways of treating the disease more than ten times faster than ever before.

The department’s last major breakthrough, a tumour-blasting ‘smart bomb’ treatment, due to begin clinical trials late this year or early next year, has the potential of destroying a tumour with virtually no side effects to the rest of the body.

It would also mean patients need treatment less regularly, causing less disruption to their lives.

Matt said: “It’s vitally important that new medicines and treatment are available to help cure cancer and it’s great to raise awareness towards that.

“I had chemotherapy and the side effects were horrendous.

“Anything that can make that easier for cancer patients has got to be welcomed.”

The dad-of-two’s battle with cancer has been well-publicised. He was playing at Hull City when he discovered a lump in his testicle at the end of 2007.

“I just found a lump which I didn’t think was quite right,” he said.

“I mentioned it to the club doctor and we agreed it could be something of nothing, but it should be checked out.

“It wasn’t on my mind until the night before I went for the scan. Then I had to go back the day after for another one.

“At that point they mentioned I needed to fill in some insurance details and that’s when I started to worry. Then I was told it was a tumour.

“I kept thinking ‘this can’t happen to me’. I tried to ring the physio, who was the only one at the club who really knew what was going on, but I just couldn’t speak to him on the phone.

“The words wouldn’t come out. I was that upset and in shock. As soon as the word ‘cancer’ is mentioned, you fear it’s going to take your life. It was a horrible feeling.”

An operation to remove the tumour took place within two days and was a success. And tests also confirmed it had not spread.

But Matt underwent one session of chemotherapy, which he says “completely wiped him out” and had to stay indoors for ten days to avoid the risk of infection. Since then, he has proven there is plenty of life after the disease, playing in City’s Capital One Cup final against Premier League Swansea in February.

He has also become a supporter of the male cancer charity Everyman.

“I was grateful for those who raised funds previous to my treatment,” he said.

“If it wasn’t for people continuing to raise money then it wouldn’t have been so easy for me to be treated – I’m just one of the many beneficiaries.

“There aren’t many people who don’t know someone who has been hit by cancer in some way.

“Anything the T&A can do to raise awareness is great.”