Family and friends have been rallying around a former Colchester United player who has been diagnosed as suffering from cancer.

Mark Sale, who left the Colchester team in July to play for Northamptonshire club, Rushden and Diamonds, was told he had Hodgkin's Disease several weeks ago.

Mr Sale, 27, who became a father for the first time in the summer, will now begin treatment to tackle the illness.

David Joyce, club secretary for Rushden and Diamonds, said: "We are all supporting him - the players and staff and everybody here. We are just hoping he gets better.

"He had played several games but then he had a bit of an injury. When he returned to the reserves he felt very tired so he had a check up and unfortunately he found out he had Hodgkin's Disease."

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