FORMER Ipswich manager George Burley has received the all-clear following his cancer diagnosis.
The 68-year-old publicly announced his diagnosis in September but did not disclose the form of the disease.
He said: “It has been a difficult time, but I am feeling much brighter now.
“In fact, I am able to get to matches at Portman Road and I am enjoying watching the team playing back in the Premier League.
“We are grateful to the club (Ipswich) for the support they have shown me and my family and I would ask that everyone is respectful of our privacy at this time.”
Burley, who played for Ipswich before managing the club, underwent six cycles of chemotherapy as well as an operation which left him in hospital for three weeks.
But the former defender has this week revealed that he is now cancer free.
He told BBC Radio Suffolk: “It’s been a long road – it didn’t happen overnight.
“It started almost a year ago where I was having symptoms and wasn’t feeling great.
“It was great to eventually come through it all – I’ve been very, very lucky with the amount of support I’ve had.
“My family’s been unbelievable… and I’ve been very well looked after.”
Burley felt unwell for several months before being diagnosed with cancer.
Opening up on the early stages of his battle, the Ipswich legend continued: “Eventually, when I did get diagnosed, I thought I’ve got to get on with it.
“The people around you, you’ve got to make sure you’re not moping around [and] keep their chins up.
“It’s not easy because initially you don’t want to speak much about it, but once you grow into it, people around you know you’re accepting the fact – and [you] get on with life as normal as possible.”
The Ipswich hero also said he was “lucky” his body responded to the treatment and believes the fitness levels he built up as a player helped him in his recovery.
Burley enjoyed spells with Sunderland, Gillingham, Motherwell, Ayr United, Falkirk and Colchester United as a player.
But his longest term came in the form of 13 years overall at Ipswich.
After hanging up his boots, he spent eight years as manager of the Tractor Boys.
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