Crystal Palace legends Geoff Thomas and Steve Coppell have backed former chairman Ron Noades to overcome his battle with cancer.
In an interview with the Croydon Guardian, Mr Noades revealed he had been battling lung cancer for the past year.
The 76-year-old only has 19 per cent of lung capacity left and as a result needs oxygen if he walks more than ten yards.
Doctors only gave Mr Noades a year to live if the tumour remained. After courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy the Purley resident is now waiting to hear if the treatment has been fully successful.
Former Eagles and England midfielder Geoff Thomas, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2003, said his thoughts went to everyone in Mr Noades’ family.
Thomas, who captained Crystal Palace in their 1990 FA Cup Final against Manchester United, said Mr Noades had the strength of character to recover from his illness.
He said: "I have been through my battle with leukaemia and sometimes the person who is going through it like myself and Ron, you get focused on what needs to be done.
"It is the people around like your loved ones that sometimes need more support.
"It is a difficult time for everybody but after initial shock you do just get on with it and I am sure Ron will."
"You do rely on people around you. We are both very lucky we have loving people around us. I think when it comes down to the personal battle you have to get in the mindset where you enjoy life.
"It is a tender thing is waking up every morning as it can be soon be gone and it makes you more fortunate when you are healthy. It makes you realise what is important and you get up every morning and get on with what needs to be done."
Steve Coppell, who managed Crystal Palace for the majority of Noades’ ownership at the club including guiding Palace to the top flight and the FA Cup final, also offered his support to Mr Noades.
He said: "He has never been a physical animal as such but mentally there are not many as sharp as him. Ron has always been a man with a purpose and I could never imagine him sitting around doing nothing.
"He spent an awful lot of his life making Crystal Palace significant. And that is what it became."
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