The former custodian played in goal for Hibs for four years.
After overcoming prostate cancer, former Hibs custodian Jim Leighton has encouraged men to be screened for the disease. From 1993 to 1997, the 66-year-old was a member of the Edinburgh team.
In 2000, he hung up his gloves and entered the coaching profession. Under Mark McGhee, the man from Johnstone served as goalkeeping coach for Aberdeen.
In an interview with The Press and Journal, the former Hibs stopper talked candidly about his fight with cancer, saying, “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 understand, having been unaware of Willie Garner’s cancer diagnosis until I spoke with him. Garner was a former teammate of mine from Aberdeen.
Upon learning of Willie’s condition, I called him. After ten minutes or so of talking, he enquired if I had ever had a check-up, as he was aware that my late father, Sam, had also had prostate cancer.
“The fact that it is inherited was sufficient to persuade me. When the tests came back, my PSA [prostate specific antigen test] was really high. I was called into Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and informed that my prostate had spread to my lymph nodes after first being told I would need to have it removed.
“I basically shut off the moment they brought up cancer. My wife Diane had to tell me later about the other things they had told me. It strikes you forcefully. However, treatment is available.
“I’m in good hands and they are keeping on top of it,” he continued. The medical staff and charities are excellent. You can visit the hospital first thing in the morning, and before lunchtime, you’ll know what’s wrong.
They have come a long way since 2018, and this new centre will be really helpful. In my case, it took roughly three months to get a thorough diagnosis. But it’s still necessary to hammer home the notion that the doctors can’t do anything without people being sensible. If you feel uneasy about something, please get checked out. Never assume that it won’t occur to you.
Leighton continued to play for the Scotland national team, earning 91 caps. His career began at Aberdeen and concluded with the Dons.
In 1988, he relocated to England to play for Manchester United, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, and ended up playing 94 games for the Red Devils. While he was at Old Trafford, they also let him go on loans to Arsenal and Reading.
In 1991, Leighton went back to Scotland and played for a while with Dundee before being signed by Hibs. He returned to Aberdeen after serving as a player for the Edinburgh team for 178 games.
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