Comment: Everyone will unite for courageous Carl Ikeme
Writing so soon after this shattering and truly shocking news has been announced, it's hard to put emotions into words.
However it's safe to say that the news Carl Ikeme has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia has knocked everyone for six.
It's certainly floored me. Carl is one of the nicest, genuine and most humble guys you could wish to meet – not just in football but in life – and the thought of him going through such an ordeal aged just 31 is difficult to process.
This is a footballer in his prime who's admired and loved by thousands. He's a beast of a man, all 6ft 3in of him, with the hardest handshake you'll ever get to grips with in your life...the fact he's contracted such a serious disease is impossible to comprehend.
But this isn't about how we're feeling – there's no time for self pity when one of our own needs all the moral support we can physically, mentally and spiritually offer him on what's going to be a long road.
If anyone can beat this, though, it's Carl Ikeme. And if any club can offer limitless assistance, help, aid and support, it's Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Molineux and Compton Park are full of good, honest people for whom Wolves is about far more than trying to win three points on a Saturday afternoon.
There's a tangible community spirit when you meet people who work there, not just the players and football staff, but the unsung heroes like the groundsman, the kit man, the receptionists...these are the people that make football clubs what they are and Carl will have all the support he needs.
The same can be said of the city, one that has adopted this likeable Sutton Coldfield lad as one of its own since he made the Wolves number one jersey his in 2012, continuing a fine tradition of academy-bred goalkeepers following in the footsteps of Wayne Hennessey and his great pal Matt Murray.
Carl is part of the fabric of Wolves and Wolverhampton and there is no doubt that everyone who knows this softly-spoken gentle giant will unite to help – in whatever way any of us can – him to beat this disease.
The same also goes for the Express & Star and I'm sure I speak for everyone at the company in offering our love and support to Carl and his family.
And for advice and encouragement Carl needs to look no further than Geoff Thomas and Stiliyan Petrov, formerly of Wolves and Villa respectively, who have both taken on and beaten leukaemia.
The inspirational Thomas, currently out in France riding the Tour de France route as part of him numerous and deeply honourable charitable exploits, spoke to the Express & Star this evening and said that amid enduring snapping a tendon in his foot and suffering a bruised hip he was considering quitting his ride, but people like Carl and the fight that now awaits him are what keep him going.
Everyone is with you Carl. If anyone has the determination and the bravery to beat this, it's you, a man with the strength of a bull and the heart of a lion.
As Tony Daley said tonight: "Kemes you've taken charge and showed courage and strength throughout your career; I know u will meet this challenge head on and win."
Stay strong big man. We're with you every step of the way.
