Tomorrow will be a momentous occasion for Neil Harris.
Not only will the striker be lining up for his beloved Millwall in their League One promotion play-off final against Scunthorpe at Wembley.
It will also be exactly eight years to the day since he received the news every Lions fan had been praying for — that he would be able to play again following his battle with testicular cancer.
As he prepares for another fight, Millwall's talisman said: "I love playing for this club and success means so much because it brings pleasure to so many people I know.
This is a cup final and all the euphoria that comes with it is why you play football.
But it will also be special because it will be eight years to the day when I was told I could play again."
Harris, who had a testicle removed after being diagnosed in May 2001, added: "That is a big anniversary for me.
"I was sitting at home when I answered a voicemail from the club doctor.
It was just after I'd had my operations and it was a big moment. As you can imagine, I was quite chuffed!
There was a possibility I might not play again. I was also told I might not be able to have children. It doesn't get much worse than that.
But when things like that happen in your life they help build your personality. It's all about how you respond."
And Harris responded the only way they know how to in Bermondsey.
He beat cancer and the odds to help Millwall reach the FA Cup final in 2004.
And after then-boss Dennis Wise shamefully bombed him out of the Den a few months later, he returned in 2007 to overtake Teddy Sheringham's record as the club's greatest marksman of all time.
Oh, and he also defied the docs again by becoming a father along the way.
Missus Clare, son Cameron, seven, and two-year-old daughter Olivia will be among the 43,000 Millwall fans worshipping him at Wembley.
Harris remembers the way his team-mates rallied round.
He recalled: "When I first got diagnosed a lot of the lads didn't know what to say. So they would send me texts.
Marc Bircham was the one who broke the ice. On my first day back after the op we were all in the showers and he just said 'Come on, let's have a look at it then'. .
He then started taking the mick out of me about being 'lopsided' and asked if it meant I would now only be able to run in circles.
That type of banter was only acceptable because we were such a close-knit group.
The importance of team spirit can't be underestimated."
NEIL HARRIS is supporting the Keep Your Eye On The Ball charity run in Victoria Park, London, on June 7. Visit www.keepyoureyeontheball.org
(Courtesy of Paul Jiggins, The Sun)
