I have always been a positive person.I'll beat it

FORMER CITY MANAGER BRIAN HORTON REVEALS CANCER BATTLE

-  SIMON BAJKOWSKI

AT 74, Brian Horton feels fit enough to be on the pitch when two of his former clubs face off at the Etihad today.

Instead, the former City and Brighton star will be in hospitality in the stadium hoping nobody is too downbeat about his prostate cancer. At the very least, he feels better for helping to spark others into action.

Horton, who enjoyed a memorable two years managing the Blues back in the 1990s, has a long list of people that he wants to thank - starting with current Wrexham assistant Steve Parkin for letting him know about the free League Managers Association (LMA) medical he could get to check everything was okay.

The initial check-up flagged something that was then confirmed as prostate cancer.

It was upsetting to get the news and upsetting for his wife Val and his two children to hear. However, the support from Prostate UK as well as some advice from Colin Bell's son Jon - a consultant at The Christie 

where Horton will undergo his radiotherapy treatment - helped him to come to terms with what he is facing.

With his mind made up on how to approach it, the only remaining question was whether to make news of his illness public. That answer was a no until he bumped into Mick Harford at the start of this season.

"Initially I thought maybe just keep it close. Do I want everyone to know, coming up to me Saturday and saying sorry you've got cancer? I'm not 56 where Horton will undergo his radiotherapy treatment - helped him to come to terms with what he is facing.

With his mind made up on how to approach it, the only remaining question was whether to make news of his illness public. That answer was a no until he bumped into Mick Harford at the start of this season.