A TALENTED footballer who has been diagnosed with bowel cancer will come face to face on the pitch tonight with some of his sporting heroes in a charity game held in his honour.

Striker Barry Cunningham, 27, has played for Ashford Town reserves for five years but was forced to take time out when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer five months ago which spread to his liver.

This evening the Ashford squad are set to be joined by Kent cricket stars, boxer Terry Marsh and Ashford-born Neil Ruddock as they take on the Arsenal Old Boys team at Homelands Stadium in a benefit match for him.

But the star player sure to get the biggest roar from the crowd is Barry himself who was awarded last season most improved player in the reserve squad.

“As long as I feel well enough they would have to wrestle me to stop me getting out there,” said the Arsenal fan.

“I definitely won’t make the whole game but just about 10 or 15 minutes would be great.”

Barry, who lives in Crownfield Road, South Ashford, and is a glass fitter by trade, is half way through a six-month course of chemotherapy.

“In the past few weeks I’ve been able to walk more without getting tired and even run. I’ve been kicking a ball about in the garden and doing a bit of training and running and it has helped me to see some of the games.

“I’m a well-known face around the club and am still made to feel really welcome.

“I’ve also been to watch Arsenal but it is frustrating watching someone doing something you know you can do and want to do.”

Tonight’s game kicks-off at Homelands at 7.45pm.

Barry, a former Christ Church pupil, is determined not to let the illness keep him off the pitch for long.

“To be a professional footballer is what I always wanted. I would have been in the first team squad this season which is annoying.

“I’ve never smoked, I’m a social drinker and fit and healthy but still I have bowel cancer, which they class as an older person’s disease.”

The managers of both the first and reserve teams have said how devastated the club is by Barry’s illness.

Former reserve manager Lee Ealham said: “He is a great lad with a good attitude.

“As a player he has a good touch, scored a lot of goals and was looking like a strong contender to move on to the first team. We are all absolutely gutted and it has really hit a few of the lads hard.”

Ashford Town manager Tim Thorogood said: “He has been very loyal to the club and put in a lot of hard work. As a club it puts everything in context, none of us could believe it.

“We felt that as there is nothing we can specifically do for him, we all wanted to do the game on Thursday.”