[19] John Stiles on his father Nobby’s fight with cancer

[Red News]

“Bobby Charlton is his big mate. Bobby has always stayed in touch and called in to see him a couple of times because they are friends. Geoff Hurst asked if he can come up and see my dad. When the news broke about the prostate cancer, we got a lot of support. Everybody was really supportive like that. These are guys that have gone to war together. They are just really concerned. I saw Geoff and Gordon Banks recently. My dad’s like a brother to them. Just the look on their faces and the concern, it’s totally genuine. But it’s been great. My father’s had loads and loads of wishes of support. Every time the World Cup comes around, everyone associates that iconic image of him dancing around without your teeth in. He was 5ft 5ins, had no teeth, couldn’t see properly and had bad knees. But he was somebody who had the will to win and succeed. He’s like a working class fellow really. It doesn’t distinguish does it, the cancer? It hits everybody doesn’t it.”