Stockport County’s Connor Jennings made a perfect return on the pitch this week, nine months after being knocked off football by a cancer diagnosis.
The striker was diagnosed with low-grade chondroid sarcoma back in March of this year.
The rare form of cancer was identified after an MRI scan found a tumor in his upper arm.
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Since then, the 30-year-old has been in treatment and has made himself fully fit again, reports The Mirror.
On Tuesday evening, Jennings competed for the National League for the first time since February.
And it was the dream return as he climbed off the bench in the final nine minutes of the game – and crowned it with a goal.
Jennings added the icing on the cake when County declared a rampant 5-0 winner at home against King’s Lynn Town.
An emotional Jennings speaking after the game summed up his joy.
He said, “I probably didn’t think I’d see such a moment again in my career.
“It was a roller coaster ride. But you always have hope and the entire football club has been great to me all this time. “
The former Scunthorpe and Tranmere striker received an overwhelming ovation from the crowd when he was introduced in the 81st minute.
With the hosts already 4-0 up at the time of its inception, Jennings added shine in stoppage time with an intelligent finish.
His manager, Dave Challinor, admitted he was delighted to see Jennings return to the action so positively.
He said, “It is good to be able to take him with you. When you go through what he’s been through, no one can describe that feeling for him.
“He’s worked incredibly hard, he’s going to get more minutes tomorrow (a friendly with Burnley) and he’s going to continue on his way back.”
Tuesday’s win puts Stockport in ninth place in the Vanarama National League and is in touch with the promotion spots.
Challinor, who also met Jordan Keane, Ryan Rydel, Ollie Crankshaw and Ben Barclay added, “The control we have shown is very gratifying.
“It’s always on your mind to leave and score more goals, but it’s just as important to be solid all over the field.
“To do that and still score goals, I thought it shows real control on our part.”
County are now just two points behind the Solihull Moors, who are in seventh place and occupy the final play-off spot.
The win was the latest in a memorable season for the hatters.
The week before they knocked League One Bolton Wanderers out of the FA Cup. Challinor’s team defeated the Trotters 5-3 after extra time in a pulsating repetition of the first round, which was attended by more than 10,000 spectators at Edgeley Park.
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