Legg armed for Llanelli onslaught
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Article summary
Still playing at 42 despite a cancer scare, Andy Legg says "every game is a bonus" as Llanelli AFC pursue a Welsh treble despite never before lifting a major trophy.
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Memorable season
The Legg story is a remarkable account of one man's ability to hold back Father Time and also an inspiration to fellow-sufferers because three years ago he fought off cancer to prolong his career. Legg enjoyed success and some silverware with a succession of English clubs but this could prove to be his most successful campaign since he made his senior debut for Swansea City FC on 1 October 1988.
Top spot
Llanelli's hopes of a domestic quadruple came to grief this week when Peter Nicholas' team lost to a late Newport County FC goal in the final of the FAW Premier Cup. However, a five-point advantage over The New Saints FC – champions for the last three seasons – leaves them confident of ending their rivals' hegemony in Welsh football. Llanelli won last week's re-arranged home fixture against them 4-0 and the teams meet again on the final day of the season.
Rhyl meetings
In the other knockout competitions, Llanelli are through to the Welsh Cup semi-finals and the final of the League Cup – where they face Rhyl FC on each occasion. Just one triumph would create history for the west Wales club who in their 112 years have never before lifted a major trophy. "It could be a fantastic season or it could be an absolute nightmare," acknowledged the versatile Legg, who admits that all he does now is play the game – he no longer trains. "I'm fortunate that I've always been pretty fit and the only difference now is that when I was younger I would feel the aches and pains on Sunday – now I feel them on Monday as well.
'Every game is a bonus'
"Every game is a bonus," he added. "I will know when the time comes to hang up my boots. I've had a decent career and I don't want people saying I'm just living on my name. When the day comes that I can't run and compete that will be the time to pack it in."
Annual check-up
There are some big dates ahead for the Neath-born player between now and the end of the season but none bigger than next Tuesday and his annual check-up. Legg was diagnosed with a rare form of throat cancer in 2005 and it forced him to give the game up for a time. "I still get some side-effects such as tiredness but if I'm given a clean bill of health next week it means I'll only need one more and then it will be five years since my illness," he said. "At that point I can be confident it's not coming back. My doctors tell me to live my life and not to look for anything untoward and that's what I'm doing."