Referee Mark Halsey in his element again after gruelling battle with cancer

By Henry Winter 1100PM GMT twelve March 2010

Thumbs up Mark Halsey officiating in his initial diversion behind from seizure - Leicester pot v Scunthorpe pot in the totesport.com Cup semi-final Photo ACTION IMAGES

Halseys oncologist, Professor Tim Illidge, one of those facilely considerable healing men, stood close by, charity support. "By the time he got to the sixth diagnosis Mark was a shade of the man he had been at the start, pronounced Illidge. "He was emotionally and physically drained. He was additionally determined. This poison in his physique would be beaten.

Halsey thought behind to Goodison Park on August 15, the last time he refereed. What he thought was usually a slow bruise throat had usually been diagnosed as a lymphoma. He remembered articulate to his associate officials prior to kick-off and revelation them "Look, I need your assistance currently since Ive got cancer. Somehow, Halsey got by the game.

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His trail was about to cranky Illidges. "I was in Portugal listening to the match, removed Illidge, sitting to one side Halsey at Christies on Wednesday. "I am a big Everton fan. It was the majority miserable day of my year! Little did I know that 3 days after I would encounter Mark here.

"When I initial saw him on the Wednesday, he uninterrupted his mouth and there was a outrageous swelling at the behind of his throat and I was unequivocally utterly worried. There was a really slight colonnade left by that Mark could eat and breathe. The actuality that he had the status quo to keep up with the diversion was extraordinary.

Every day since then, by all the blackest moments, the surgery and chemotherapy, Halsey betrothed himself he would arbitrate again this season. It has been an startling tour behind from the really heart of darkness. After chemo, Halsey went true in to radiotherapy and afterwards came a enchanting day in December.

"When I came here for an exit diagnosis scan, I was in the watchful room and Tim popped his head around the dilemma and went, YES! with both arms in the air, celebrating as if hed scored a goal, laughed Halsey.

"If hed taken his shirt off, Id have had to counsel him! Illidge smiled. "Seeing a indicate that shows full remission, after someone has been by what Mark has been through, that is similar to scoring a idea for me, pronounced the doctor.

More hurdles remained. Having kept up his fitness at Bolton Wanderers precision ground, Halsey underwent status quo and speed tests at Warwick University but pennyless down tears after failing. Refusing to be beaten, Halsey took the exam again. "Mark Clattenburg was precision subsequent to the lane and he came over and cheered me on. When I accomplished I fell to the building and was usually so emotional. Steve Bennett came over and picked me up. I cuddled him for five mins whilst I cried non-stop.

He dug out his whistle, knocked the decay off it and took assign of the Totesport.com Cup semi-final in between Leicester Citys and Scunthorpe Uniteds pot at Hinckley Uniteds Greene King Stadium. "I was similar to a small child who comes using home from propagandize to discuss it his relatives he has been picked for the propagandize team. Ten mins in to the diversion the Scunthorpe right-back came over and pronounced good to have you behind and shook my hand. Later on I had to counsel him!

"People in football have been fantastic. Sir Alex and Arsène, Sam Allardyce, Steve Bruce, David Moyes have contacted me. I even had a phone call yesterday from Neil Warnock. Would you hold it?! Phil Neville, Kevin Nolan and Gary Speed all sent me texts yesterday. Frank Lampard and John Terry wished him fitness on his return.

"I have been since a diversion subsequent Wednesday - Blackpool pot and Rochdale pot at Fleetwood. I will provide it just the same as if it was a diversion at Old Trafford. When I cranky that white line, I am not Mark Halsey the cancer patient. I am Mark Halsey the referee. I dont wish players sympathy. By me on foot on that representation I goal I can give goal to all those people who are pang from cancer. Keep positive. Keep busy.

"On December 31 2008 my mother was diagnosed with myeloid leukaemia, that is treatable but not curable. Two days after I had to arbitrate Hartlepool v Stoke in the FA Cup. On the representation I kept meditative of her. When I gave a preference opposite Hartlepool a couple of fans had a right go at me and I looked at them and thought If usually you knew. People get really romantic about football but my seizure has put the diversion and hold up in to a opposite perspective.

Of march I still caring about football. I shall still get shaken prior to a game. But before, when I done a big decision, I used to think Christ I goal Ive got that right. And of march I shall still wish to get big decisions right but I dont think I shall be concerned about it as much. None of us wish to be on Sky Sports News each hour since of a inapplicable designation we have made. So we all be concerned - but maybe we be concerned as well much.

www.justgiving.com/mark-halsey