A FORMER Burnley FC chairman has turned author to help save more men from dying of prostate cancer.

Barry Kilby, who has fought his own battle with the disease, has penned a novel called ‘As Good As Some’.

The book will help raise funds for an appeal in his name and raise awareness of the UK’s biggest killer of middle-aged men.

Mr Kirby, who is using football as a way of encouraging men to be tested early for symptoms of the disease, said: “The book was something I had in my head for a long time, and I’ve tried to use it to complement and help fund the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal.

“We managed to get it out digitally on Amazon, where we have managed to sell copies all over the world and now, with the thanks of local printers B&D Print, we are making it much more portable and accessible through a paperback version, again to raise money for the appeal.

“I enjoyed writing it, although I don’t think Charles Dickens has anything to worry about.”

As well as raising awareness of prostate cancer, the book contains two new football poems.

They reflect Mr Kilby’s childhood experiences of travelling to matches with his late father and the contrasting experiences of a football chairman.

Mr Kilby, who took over as chairman in 1998, stepped down from his role in 2012 after his prostate cancer diagnosis.

He has since returned as vice chairman and established the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal, which has saved hundreds of lives offering subsidised prostate cancer tests at football grounds.

Ten testing events have taken place across East Lancashire, with 3,391 men tested and over 300 referred to general practitioners for further testing.

Mr Kilby, who has a further ten sessions at football clubs planned for 2019 now wants to roll the scheme out nationally.

He added: “Along with the East Lancashire Prostate Cancer Group, who do a lot of good work to help us, we have proved that men will go down to their local football club with their mates to get tested, where going to the doctors is something we procrastinate on time and time again.”

The paperback version of ‘As Good As Some’ is now available through the Clarets Store at Turf Moor at a price of £2.50.

All funds raised from the sale of the book will go to the cancer appeal and will fund prostate cancer testing at football grounds across the country.