A MAN who has just been diagnosed with advanced Myeloma - cancer of the blood - took part in a five-a-side football match to mark his 70th birthday.

Despite starting chemotherapy to tackle the disease on December 4, Michael Brooks was keen to take part in Saturday's five-a-side game at Kendal Leisure Centre which was organised by his family and friends to show their support.

Mr Brooks, of Kendal, was still playing football competitively into his 60s and won a cup winners medal while playing for North West Water in the North West Water Sunday League. Mr Brooks, who writes the Classic Vinyl column in the leisure section of The Westmorland Gazette, still trains to play football twice a week and says he has no plans to give up his hobbies of mountain biking and surfing.

His son Matt said: "For his 70th we again decided it would be nice to hold a football match for him to celebrate his landmark birthday but to also show support in light of his recent news.

"His chemo has not stopped him. He's trained twice in both weeks since beginning his chemo and he managed five, 12-minute five-a-side games on Saturday. He refuses to entertain the idea that his playing days are numbered and many of the lads suggested that we'll be doing the same again for his 80th birthday!"