League Vice-President Bob Eccles is preparing himself for a gruelling start to 2010, as he begins a long spell of treatment for prostate cancer.
After being diagnosed a couple of months ago, Bob has begun attending hospital for injections, and after a scan in a couple of weeks time he will then be faced with a period of treatment which will involve him attending hospital in Preston every day for nearly eight weeks.
But in typical style, Bob is maintaining an upbeat outlook.
"The strange thing is that I don't actually feel ill, and don't really have any symptoms", he said. "I feel the cold a lot, and get tired quicker than usual, but that's about it".
A Darwen man born and bred, Bob has always been an outdoor person, so being confined largely to an indoor existence at the moment isn't easy for him. "I've never been much of a television watcher or a reader, and I've always enjoyed walking in the hills and looking after my two greenhouses. I can't do either at the moment and I do miss that, and once I can get back to doing that I know I'll be OK.
"I'm actually looking forward to going to Preston in February, as that will mean the treatment will have started. I'm told the success ratio is actually quite high, so hopefully they'll see me right. I don't mind that it's a long spell of treatment, as long as they can cure me.
"For now, it's just a case of keeping going, and staying positive. I've got a brilliant nurse looking after me (his wife Rosemary) who's doing a great job, and I'm just hoping that it will all work out for the best".
League Chairman Dave Tomlinson said: "Bob is one of our longest serving officers, and has a lifetime of experience in non-league football, going right back to when he first became involved at Darwen in the 1950s.
"Our thoughts are with him at this difficult time, especially with him being largely confined indoors at the moment, as anyone who knows Bob will know that being housebound is not something he enjoys.
"If any of his many friends and contacts in non-league football can spare time to give him a call over the next few weeks, I'm sure he will be delighted to hear from them".
