Geoff Horsfield, who played for Boro between 1992 and 1994 after starting with the club as a YTS player, was released by Sheffield United last summer and has been forced to retire as a result of last week's diagnosis.

He is due to undergo surgery next week but has been told he has a good chance of recovery because the diagnosis was made early.

Mr Horsfield said: "I found a small lump in my left testicle and went to see the doctor at West Brom, who's a good friend of mine.

"I was diagnosed last Friday and I'm going in for surgery next Thursday. The surgeon has told me that this is the end of my professional career, which is disappointing."

He added that he has had 10 good years with Fulham, Birmingham, Wigan, West Brom and all of the other clubs he has played for during his career.

Mr Horsfield said: "That's at the back of my mind now. It's just one of those things and I've come to terms with my career being over. All I'm thinking about now is beating this. I've always been a fighter right through my football career and I'm going to fight this and win."

He added: "The specialist told me I did well to find the lump because it is so small. He says I stand a good chance of making a full recovery because we've got in early."

As well as playing for Boro, Horsfield was a striker for Halifax, Fulham, Birmingham, Wigan, West Brom, Sheffield United, Leeds United, Leicester City and Scunthorpe United, his transfers have amounted to £7.7 million and he has scored 107 goals in a total of 255 league appearances.

He now lives in Staffordshire with his family – wife Tina and children Chris, 17, Chloe, 12, and Leah, eight – and he said the telling them the devastating news was the hardest thing he has had to do.