FA Cup fifth round: Maidstone United's Sam Bone on being diagnosed with testicular cancer

Sam Bone, sitting (front row second from right) with his Maidstone United team-mates after the non-league side beat Ipswich Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Portman Road

"I had my whole life in front of me when they told me. I remember thinking 'Oh my God, I'm going to die."

Few Maidstone United players are cherishing the non-league club's FA Cup run more than Sam Bone.

Back in 2016, soon after being released by Charlton Athletic at the age of 18, Bone was diagnosed with testicular cancer.

"I was already stressed about life because I was trying to find another club," the now 26-year-old midfielder tells BBC Sport. "To then be told at 18 you've got cancer, it was a very scary and uncertain time in my life."

Bone had a orchidectomy - a surgical procedure to remove a testicle to stop the cancer spreading - before eventually being given the all clear to resume playing again.

Eight years on from his diagnosis, he is playing a pivotal role in Maidstone's extraordinary FA Cup run.

The Stones, from the sixth tier of English football, are the lowest ranked team to reach the last 16 since Blyth Spartans in 1977-78, and are away at Coventry City - from four levels above - on Monday.

"Having testicular cancer doesn't mean your life is over," says Bone. "This FA Cup run has shone a bit of spotlight on Maidstone and enabled me to share my story."

Sam in hospital after being diagnosed with testicular cancer

'Massive lump'

When the referee blew for full-time to signal one of the great upsets in FA Cup history after Maidstone stunned Ipswich Town in the fourth round, Bone turned to where his club's 4,500 ecstatic travelling supporters were to seek out his family.

Aunt Debbie, wearing her amber and black Stones hat, was at Portman Road celebrating with his mum, Elizabeth, and aunt Bella. Grandad Clive was also there after flying over from Cyprus to witness the greatest moment of his grandson's football career.

"We're a close family and they were all a great source of comfort after I was diagnosed," says Bone, whose dad, Billy, is a former Sunderland trainee who played professionally in Asia.

"My nan had gone through breast cancer and talking to her was a big help. It must have been tough for my family, an 18-year-old kid with cancer.

"Not once did I see them cry or look unhappy. They all kept my spirits up."

It was while Bone was in Cyprus for a family wedding that he first realised something was wrong.

"I went to bed feeling really uncomfortable," he says.

"I remember West Ham player Dylan Tombides passing away with testicular cancer in 2014. I remember thinking at the time if I would ever be able to spot if I had testicular cancer. Would there be a lump?

"Sure enough when I checked myself the following morning in Cyprus, I found a massive lump."

Despite fear and anxiety, Bone "pushed it to one side" as he did not want to "put a dampener on the wedding".

He returned to England but instead of getting it checked out went on youth trials at Manchester United, Sunderland and Bristol City.

It was only after Bone watched a television chat show which featured a man who had terminal cancer after being too scared to go to the doctor's that he went for tests.

"I went a couple of months without getting it checked. The lump was still there," he says.

Sam's family, including Grandad Clive who flew over from Cyprus, and his mum Elizabeth (right) celebrate after watching Maidstone United beat Ipswich Town in the fourth round

'Life can be so cruel'

At Charlton, Bone trained with Joe Gomez, who has since gone on to play for Liverpool and England, and Ademola Lookman, who helped Nigeria reach the Africa Cup of Nations final this month.

Aged 17 he played at The Valley, helping the Addicks beat Millwall in the 2015-16 FA Youth Cup. Among the fans in the crowd that night was his old primary school teacher Gill Slatter.

"Gill was an incredibly talented teacher," says Bone. "She was a huge influence on me growing up. I remember being so happy at primary school because she was my teacher.

"She supported Tottenham and I used to pretend I supported Arsenal just to wind her up even though I'm a Chelsea fan.

"We stayed in touch through my teenage years and she reached out to me when I had cancer."

After surgery and months of uncertainty, Bone was finally given the all-clear at a meeting at the Royal Marsden, the specialist cancer treatment hospital in London.

He went to train with Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland in an attempt to build up his fitness and did not return to England for six years, playing for Shamrock, Waterford, St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk.

Shortly before signing for Maidstone in January 2023, Bone received some devastating news that shook him to the core. Gill had passed away from bowel cancer aged 41.

"Life can be so, so cruel," he says.

Sam signed for Maidstone United in January 2023

'I've changed for the better'

Bone is relishing every single moment of Maidstone's FA Cup adventure, which started way back on 16 September with victory at Steyning Town in the second qualifying round.

After cancer, he feels he has been given a second chance at life and has changed for the better.

"Before cancer I was arrogant at Charlton," he says.

"I was selfish and immature. I was a player you wouldn't want in your team because I wouldn't listen to anyone.

"Being out of football with cancer gave me time to reflect on who I was as a person.

"I could have died so it teaches you to be grateful for everything in life. When I was at the Royal Marsden it really opened my eyes.

"I remember thinking if I get injured playing football, I'm never going to complain again because there are people far, far worse than me.

"I'm a better person now, nicer and more helpful in terms of when younger players walk into the changing room I immediately think 'how can I make them feel welcome?'"

Bone is also urging people to check themselves for testicular cancer.

Testicular cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer, accounting for just 1% of all cancers that occur in men, according to the NHS.

Around 2,300 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year in the UK.

"Just make sure if you don't feel right or if you've got a lump somewhere then go get it checked out," says Bone.

The footballer has started all seven of Maidstone's FA Cup ties this season and will have 47 family and friends at Coventry on what he hopes with be another night to remember for the National League South club.

"We've had BBC Breakfast television at the ground, Sky Sports at training. Things like this don't happen at Maidstone United!," he laughs.

Sam will have 47 family and friends at the match when Maidstone play at Coventry on Monday

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