George Burley Reports Feeling Well Following Cancer Treatment

George Burley, a prominent figure associated with Ipswich Town, has stated he is “feeling well” subsequent to undergoing his initial cancer treatment. The former manager of Scotland disclosed his diagnosis of an unspecified type of the illness in September, releasing a statement via his former club. Burley, aged 68, represented Ipswich as a player from 1973 to 1985, accumulating over 500 appearances, and later served as the team’s manager from 1994 to 2002. During an interview with BBC Radio Suffolk, he mentioned having completed chemotherapy and was anticipating information regarding the subsequent phase of his treatment, remarking: “It’s one step at a time, but at the moment I’m feeling well.” The ex-defender indicated that his cancer diagnosis followed several months of feeling unwell. He reported that six rounds of chemotherapy, aimed at reducing his tumour, appeared to have been successful, and he was scheduled to meet with specialists this week to determine a date for surgery. Burley stated: “It was a big shock but my family behind me have been immense – they’ve supported me and kept me good and very positive.” He continued: “It is scary, but that’s life and there’s always somebody worse off than yourself. “I’ve always been fairly positive. I had a really bad injury when I was a player and got told in May 1981 that I would never play football again.”I managed to get to the World Cup finals in ’82.” Additionally, Burley’s playing career included stints with Sunderland, Gillingham, Motherwell, Ayr United, Falkirk, Motherwell, and Colchester United. He managed a total of eight clubs, among them Crystal Palace, Hearts, and Southampton, and held the distinction of being the last manager to guide Ipswich to the top flight prior to current manager Kieran McKenna achieving this last season. Regarding Burley’s diagnosis, Ipswich chairman Mark Ashton, in the club’s statement, characterized him as “one of our all-time greats, uniquely as both player and manager”. Burley, an Ipswich resident, mentioned that despite experiencing a “difficult time,” he was endeavoring to remain active and healthy, alongside concentrating on a nutritious diet. He also confirmed his return to playing golf and his attendance at all Ipswich home games this season. Burley indicated that he had received support both locally and from individuals within the sport, including text messages from several current Ipswich players and McKenna. He further noted that he had been encouraged by the performance of the Tractor Boys, particularly their 2-1 victory against Tottenham away from home over the weekend. He commented: “Their performances have been excellent,” adding, “It’s about making good performances and I haven’t been panicking because the team have been playing really well and there’s improvement every week. “I’ve got every confidence that we get to stay in the Premiership this season.” For updates on Suffolk news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.