A TEAM of footballers have rallied round their former coach after the grandad was diagnosed with cancer.

James Hayes, more commonly known as Jimmy, coached youngsters for many years at clubs including Grange Sports FC and Appleton Sports FC.

But the 60-year-old, who recently moved to Woolston having previously lived in Latchford for his whole life, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which has spread to his liver, last month and will start chemotherapy tomorrow, Friday.

Now friends and family are hoping to raise £20,000 so that the former DJ, who also coached with Warrington Town, can travel to Germany for immunotherapy treatment - which is not currently available on the NHS.

Daughter Kerry Hayes said: “Dad was diagnosed on my birthday last month.

"Its spread to his liver, so it’s going to be difficult to do anything for him.

“Immunotherapy is available but it costs £20,000 and he’ll need to go to Germany for it, which is why we’re hoping to raise the money.

“They’re offering chemotherapy to slow the growth but immunotherapy has cured terminally ill people.

"It shouldn’t come down to money when you really need something like this but unfortunately it has, and it’s lovely what people are doing for him."

Jimmy, who has three children and eight grandchildren, often would not take subs from young players in deprived areas and helped them to play the beautiful gave through his own pocket.

On Saturday, September 16, Jimmy's former players will reunite for a match Grange Sports and Social Club to raise funds for his treatment.

Jimmy regularly helps out in the community, delivering presents to youngsters at Warrington Hospital every Christmas and refereeing an annual charity football match at Sir Thomas Boteler High School in memory of former pupil Temi Abimbola as well as regularly giving blood.

Kerry, from Latchford, added: “He never tells anybody what he does, he just does it.”

“It might be unlikely that we’ll be able to raise the money, but if we don’t manage to we will give the money we get to charity.

“We just want to thank everyone because a lot of people have already been so supportive."

Players in the charity match are paying £10 each to play, while donations will be taken on the door.

The game will be followed by comedians and entertainment plus an auction.