Former Hibs, Man Utd & Aberdeen star opens up on cancer battle and urges men to get checked

Former Hibs goalkeeper Jim Leighton has urged men to get checked for prostate cancer following his battle with the condition. The 66-year-old played for the Edinburgh club from 1993 to 1997.

He hung up his gloves back in 2000 and then delved into the coaching world. The Johnstone-born man worked as Aberdeen’s goalkeeping coach under Mark McGhee.

The ex-Hibs stopper has opened up about his battle with cancer and has said in an interview with The Press and Journal: “It’s one of the biggest killers of the male population and yet there is still a lack of awareness of how much can be done for those with prostate cancer. I know what it’s like, because I was in the dark myself until I had a conversation with my former Aberdeen teammate Willie Garner who had been diagnosed with cancer.

“When I heard the news about Willie, I phoned him up. We chatted for about 10 minutes, then he asked if I had ever been checked out because he knew that my late dad, Sam, had also suffered from prostate cancer.

“It is a hereditary condition, so that was enough to convince me. I got the tests and it turned out that my PSA [the prostate specific antigen test] was through the roof. Initially, I was told I would have to get my prostate removed, then I got called into Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and learned it had spread into my lymph nodes.

”As soon as they mentioned cancer, I just switched off. I had to be told later by my wife Diane about the other stuff they told me. It hits you hard. But it is treatable.”

He added: “I’m in good hands and they are doing a terrific job keeping on top of it. The charities and the medical staff are fantastic. You can go to hospital in the morning and you’ll know by lunchtime what the problem is.

“In my case, it probably took about three months before it was properly diagnosed, so they have made a lot of progress since 2018 and this new centre will be invaluable. But it’s still important to hammer home the message that the doctors can’t do anything without people being sensible. If something doesn’t feel right, please go and get yourself checked out. Don’t think it won’t happen to you.”

Leighton went on to make 91 caps for the Scotland national team. He started his career at Aberdeen and also ended it with the Dons.

He moved down to England in 1988 to join Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson and went on to 94 times for the Red Devils. They also loaned him out to Arsenal and Reading during his time at Old Trafford.

Leighton returned home to Scotland in 1991 and had a stint at Dundee before Hibs snapped him up. He played 178 matches for the Edinburgh outfit before going back to Aberdeen.