Ipswich Town: George Burley on his fight with cancer

The 68-year-old, a promotion-winning ex-boss and decorated former player for the Blues, revealed his diagnosis in September.

And, speaking about his illness for the first time in a chat with Brenner Woolley on BBC Radio Suffolk, Burley explained that he's already undergone six rounds of chemotherapy.  

Burley is an Ipswich Town legend as both player and boss “Yeah, I’m good," he said. "It’s been a difficult time. I wasn’t very well for a few months and then I got a diagnosis of cancer and it was a was case of where do we go from there?

“I’ve been fortunate, I’ve been through six cycles of chemo and that’s gone well, to shrink the tumour, and my next step is getting an operation.

“I’m speaking to the specialists later in the week to try and sort out a date. So it’s one step at a time but at the moment I’m feeling well – I played golf today and enjoyed that, so that was good getting out.

“And I’ve been to every Ipswich home game, so it hasn’t stopped me. It was a big shock, but having my family behind me has been immense – they’ve supported me and kept me positive.

“So I want to just get this operation done and move on from there.”

Burley celebrates Town's famous win at Wembley in 2000 (Image: Archant) Asked if getting his cancer diagnosis was scary, Burley replied: “Well it is scary, but that’s life.

"There’s always somebody worse off than yourself.

“I’ve always been fairly positive. I had a really bad injury when I was a player and got told in 80/81 that I would never play football again and I managed to get to a World Cup Finals in ’82 so as I say, my family give me strength and I’m always fairly positive day in and day out.

“I’ve been lucky to have that and now, as I say, the next step is to have an operation and hopefully that will happen in the next two or three weeks.”

George Burley says that Town boss Kieran McKenna is among those at the club now who have sent him well wishes (Image: PA) Burley said he'd heard from many friends in the game since his diagnosis, including current Town boss Kieran McKenna.

"People I haven’t spoken to in ten or 15 years have texted me to say how are you, so that’s been great," he enthused.

“Everybody round the area and even one or two players from Ipswich Town – and Kieran – have texted me as well to wish me luck and a quick recovery.

“So that’s been very kind of everybody.”

Burley stressed that keeping positive during his treatment was fundamental to his approach in facing the disease.

He said: "They’re talking about one in every two people will get cancer at some point in their life, so you’ve got to deal with it.

“The only way you deal with it is face on, be positive and make sure you do everything possible to recover, do what the medics tell you to do and keep yourself lively and fit, eat the right food and do the right things.”

Burley played 500 games for Town (Image: Archant) Burley has been involved in more matches than anyone in the club's history - 500 as a player and 413 as a manager.

A right-back, he was a key man during an era in which the Blues won the FA Cup (1978) and UEFA Cup (1981). The Scot then returned to lead the team to a Championship Play-Off Final win in 2000 at Wembley and a subsequent fifth-place finish in the Premier League.

And that remarkable history is celebrated in a new book, All to Play For, written by Neil Prentice in association with Burley.

“A lad called Neil Prentice came and spoke to me a few months ago to say that he’s been looking at my career and kept detail," Burley explained. 

"I’ve been involved in 913 games as a manager and a player, which I didn’t realise.

“500 appearances I did as a player and 413 as a manager. So that’s the most anybody has been involved and he wanted to do a thing for the Ipswich fans.

“I live in Ipswich, been back here 11 years. I went to a few different clubs but I came to Ipswich when I was 15-years-old, went through the youth policy, played 500 games from ’72 to ’82.

“So I’ve been an Ipswich man virtually my whole life and to have that many games involved with the club has been incredible.

“I’ve enjoyed doing it – but Neil’s done all the hard work and spoken to 20 to 25 ex-players and people who have been around the club.

“My family as well, my wife and David Sheepshanks – so there’s a lot involved and he’s really done a top job.”

George Burley, right, celebrates winning the FA Cup with Town in 1978 (Image: Archant) He added: “Being the manager was a dream job for myself, finishing fifth in the Premiership in my first season, which is still a record. We won 11 home games and nine away games and then I won manager of the year.

“So a lot of highs and great memories, and I’m still walking the dog in Ipswich park and being among the community, which I really enjoy.

“All my family are settled here and looking forward to going to every game at Portman Road.”

You can buy All to Play For at georgeburleybook.com