'I wouldn't wish it on anyone' - the manager raising skin cancer awareness

"I felt blessed to beryllium there, it was conscionable nan medicine I needed during my recovery," says Ross Weatherstone astir being astatine Wembley successful March to spot his relative observe Newcastle United's Carabao Cup triumph.

Simon Weatherstone, first-team coach and a cardinal personnel of Eddie Howe's backroom squad astatine Newcastle, shared an affectional clasp astatine nan nationalist stadium pinch his younger sibling, who 5 months earlier had undergone awesome room aft being diagnosed pinch melanoma tegument cancer., external

"I had a chunk taken retired of my correct calf," Ross, head of Berkshire non-league nine Binfield, tells BBC Sport.

"I primitively went to nan doctor's because I recovered immoderate flaky tegument connected my near limb which ended up being keratosis moles, which was each fine.

"During nan aforesaid cheque successful April 2024, we agreed to do a afloat assemblage check, which turned retired to beryllium 1 of nan champion decisions I've ever made.

"While checking my different leg, nan reside of nan doctor's sound changed, which will unrecorded pinch maine forever, erstwhile she said 'oh, ok, this 1 looks a small different, we request to get this checked and a biopsy done arsenic soon arsenic possible'.

"The NHS were great, I was seen wrong 2 weeks and they diagnosed maine wrong 24 hours pinch melanoma tegument cancer. It was rather an fierce shape but they were assured they had caught it early.

"I consciousness unbelievably lucky. If I had not been checked complete that day, if I had near that mole exposed successful nan summertime of 2024, nan advisor informed maine my business would person been life-threatening."

Ross, a erstwhile defender pinch Oxford United, is telling his communicative to raise consciousness astir nan dangers of tegument cancer.

He says getting his near limb checked retired helped prevention his life.

"I was now successful nan system, wherever I had trial aft test," he adds.

"During an oculus test, nan consultants recovered a mole/freckle astatine nan backmost of my eye, adjacent to my unsighted spot, which was diagnosed arsenic precocious consequence choroidal atypical nevus pinch leaking subretinal fluid.

"I americium still being treated for my oculus and monitored each mates of months.

"The scary portion reliving this now is, if I had not been checked erstwhile I was, I wouldn't beryllium present to stock my story.

"I wouldn't wish what I person been done connected anyone."

According to Cancer Research UK, melanoma tegument crab is nan 5th astir communal crab successful nan UK, and rates are climbing.

There will beryllium astir 21,300 cases of melanoma, external diagnosed this year, according to their projections. Since nan early 1990s, tegument crab rates person doubled successful women and almost tripled successful men.

Wife Angela proved a immense support for Ross erstwhile he was diagnosed successful May 2024 astatine nan property of 43. It was a daze for nan couple, who had welcomed their daughter, Amelie, to nan world nan erstwhile year.

Ross, who runs nan International Development Football Academy successful Reading, had 2 procedures earlier undergoing a awesome cognition successful October which near him incapable to locomotion for respective weeks.

"One of nan toughest challenges for maine was seeing my daughter's look of disappointment, arsenic I couldn't play aliases look aft her," he says.

"Not being capable to beryllium a begetter fig to Amelie was mentally challenging. It's been a very reliable process."

While doctors are happy pinch Ross' near eye, nan Binfield leader now wears sunglasses during training and matches for protection.

"It should beryllium made mandatory that coaches deterioration sunglasses astatine this clip of year," he adds.

"No-one wears sunglasses arsenic a coach, yet we are knowledgeable arsenic teachers and coaches to look nan sun while delivering debriefs, truthful students and players aren't squinting while you are talking.

"Protecting your eyes and wearing sunglasses should not beryllium frowned upon.

"I've started wearing sunglasses successful nan dugout for wellness reasons. It is thing I americium going to person to negociate for nan remainder of my life."

Ross stepped distant from his managerial duties astatine Binfield while he recovered from his operation.

The colony nine adjacent Bracknell play successful nan eighth-tier Isthmian League South Central Division.

On Saturday, Binfield are distant to Marlow successful nan preliminary information of nan FA Cup (15:00 BST kick-off).

Ross is grateful for nan support nan nine provided him and his family while he recovered.

"I beautiful overmuch missed half of past play done illness," adds nan erstwhile Stevenage and Boston United player.

"My adjunct Andy Bullett and first-team coach Keith Pennicott-Bowen stepped up and took my place.

"The nine could rather easy person moved maine connected for wellness reasons but they stood by maine and my guidance team. I'm fortunate to person nan president I do. Andy Cotton had been done crab himself and has been a stone to me.

"The level of support has been overwhelming from everyone astatine Binfield and nan shot organization successful general.

"I cannot accent capable really important nan shot nine has been for maine done this process.

"Just earlier awesome room I was announced arsenic head of nan month. We won six games connected nan bounce and it showed maine that nan players were pinch me."

Ross is urging group to get themselves checked if they are worried astir nan possibilities of tegument cancer.

"Be brave, spell and get your moles checked. The bid of mind is huge," he says.

"I promote immoderate coaches, players aliases athletes who activity successful nan sun to deterioration sunglasses and usage sunscreen because arsenic overmuch arsenic it is bully moving outdoors, enactment protected."

Back to 16 March and that time erstwhile Newcastle ended a 70-year-wait for a awesome trophy, beating Liverpool 2-1 successful nan League Cup final.

Ross sat pinch his mum, Jennifer, and step-dad, Brian, astatine Wembley.

It was a proud infinitesimal for nan family arsenic Simon, who was appointed Newcastle first-team coach successful 2021, celebrated pinch Howe and his players connected nan transportation astatine nan nationalist stadium.

"After everything I'd been done pinch my illness, to watch my relative climb nan Wembley steps and assistance nan League Cup, I had an affectional moment," adds Ross, who played successful nan aforesaid squad arsenic his relative astatine Oxford United and Boston United.

"Imagine if I hadn't been location to witnesser it.

"My relative is my shot leader and I'm immensely proud of what he's achieving."