Bolton’s Premier League referee Halsey in cancer fight

by Kieran Evans. Published Mon 23 Nov 2009 15:12

It has been revealed that Premier League referee Mark Halsey is battling against cancer.

Halsey had surgery on Monday to have a tumour removed from his throat and now faces an anxious wait to find out if the operation is successful.

Halsey – who lives in Little Lever – found out on Thursday that he had a tumour and was treated two days later at the Beaumont Clinic in Bolton.

His wife said: “We went private last week and the doctors found the tumour on Thursday.

“They have removed his tonsil and we now have to wait until Friday to find out what kind of cancer it is.

“It has come as a real shock, especially after I was diagnosed with leukaemia on New Year’s Eve and I don’t think anything can prepare you for it.

“Mark is holding up okay and we have to just nurse each other the best we can.”

She added: “We are staying strong for Lucy’s sake because you have to when you have a three-year-old daughter.

“The doctors have said it is at the primary stage, so we are just keeping our fingers crossed that it hasn’t spread.”