Shrimpers fan Keith hails his 'Chris of life'
Much-loved coach Chris Powell makes a life-saving intervention
Shrimpers fan Keith hails his 'Chris of life'
When he sits down at his desk every day, Basildon’s Keith Smith always glances up at a picture of the man he believes saves his life.
Anyone walking past his desk would see a picture of Keith alongside former Southend United manager and current Tottenham Hotspur and England coach Chris Powell, but the relationship between the duo is deeper than that.
When Powell was at the helm at Roots Hall his work with Prostate Cancer UK saw him complete the 2018 London Marathon, raising £14,000. The charity were also proudly on the front of the Shrimpers kit in 2018/19.
Around the same time, Keith Smith, 65, who has supported the team for more than 25 years, was scouting the Blues’ website when he came across an article by Powell relating to the cancer
“I was looking to see if there was any news on us signing a player, and I saw an article with Chris Powell regarding prostate cancer. I was reading about the symptoms, and I thought ‘that’s me, I’ve got one of them symptoms’. From there I looked it up further and eventually went to the doctor, and after a range of tests it was confirmed I had prostate cancer,"
It was during a scan that a cancerous kidney tumour was also spotted, and he has since had his kidney removed as well as brachytherapy treatment on his prostate cancer.
Smith was surprised by former manager Chris Powell ahead of a match in February 2019 with the emotional meeting captured on camera – and the duo reunited four years on to join Prostate FC, Powell inviting him and his wife to watch a Spurs academy game and have lunch with him.
He added: “For many years I’ve supported the brilliant work of Prostate Cancer UK, and it’s brilliant that the support for this wonderful charity will continue across the football industry with fans, managers, players and personalities uniting against this deadly disease. Prostate cancer affects one in eight men. If you are black, like me, those odds shorten to one on four.
“Those statistics are shocking. I’ve met men affected by this horrible disease and seen the affect it has on families too. Seeing Keith again brought everything home to me, and it was quite emotional, to be honest. It’s wonderful that we will always share a bond, and I’m so proud of him facing up to this disease.”
Keith added: “I have no doubt at all in my mind I would not have been around in 2023 if it wasn’t for Chris. Since recovering I have taken many holidays to some lovely places, making the most of my reprieve. It has changed my attitude to life.
“I am still amazed at how oblivious men are to the threat of prostate cancer and am eternally grateful to Prostate Cancer UK and what I call ‘The Chris of Life’. I just hope more men come forward to get themselves checked out.”
