CORSHAM Town's assistant manager John Woods, who has spent the past five months battling cancer, hopes to pull on his boots again for a charity match inspired by his bravery.

The Gazette is backing the event to take place at Corsham's ground on Sunday, July 17 between a team of Chippenham Town Wembley Vase heroes and a Corsham select XI.

Woods underwent a vital scan yesterday but must wait until Tuesday to get the result. That together with a blood test tomorrow will show if he has beaten the disease.

Woods, 33, said: "When I was first diagnosed back in January my blood count was 9,000. Last week it was down to 15. The magic number is ten."

Woods, who was part of the Chippenham team that reached the FA Vase final at Wembley in 2000, has remained optimistic throughout his gruelling chemotherapy.

"There have been some low points and I have felt very ill at times. When you are walking around a hospital at 3 or 4am with an IV drip you can have some dark thoughts but most of the time I have tried to stay positive. Now all the indications are looking good but I won't be able to relax until I see my consultant on Tuesday.'

But Woods has already started trying to win back his fitness. "I have started walking. I did about four miles yesterday evening but I have to take it carefully as I have an infection in my leg from one of the many injections I have had.

"My immune system is almost zero so you are bound to pick up infections. I just have to realise I can't do too much too soon."

Woods hopes to be back playing football next season but even if he can't take a full part on the pitch he is already helping Corsham manager Nobby Bush plan next season's campaign.

"We have been talking about what new players might be available and thinking ahead.

"We will start back in training on June 30 and I am really looking forward to it. Everyone at the club has been fantastic to me."

The match on July 17 will raise money for the Dorothy House Hospice at Winsley. Woods has already been given a £200 cheque from the Mid Wilts Youth League and £100 from the Wiltshire FA.

"I hope the match itself will raise thousands," he said. "We can really start the planning now and I hope to play for a t least part of it."