A NORTHUMBERLAND footballer has told of his brave battle against a muscle degenerative disease.

Semi-professional footballer Scott Bell, of Cramlington, Northumberland, knew something was wrong when he started to get a tightness in his legs which got progressively worse playing his beloved game.

The 32-year-old was passed between doctors for more than two years before being told in May that he had Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Scott and his wife of three years Louise were left in shock at the life-changing news.

He said: “It was a relief to know what it was, but at the same time it was not nice to know that was what it was. I was not as surprised as some people might be as I knew something was not right. I think it was more of a shock to my wife and family.

“The symptoms started two and a half years ago now. I played football at quite a good standard and it started to affect my legs. I had been going to hospital to see doctors for about two years until I got diagnosed.”

However, the former Blyth Spartans player and his family have pledged to work to bring more attention to the MND through a special fund set up in Scott’s honour, the Scott Bell Fund.

He said: “There are a few reasons I decided to set up the fund – the most basic reason was to try and raise money for research for the MND Association and then for myself and my wife if we need the money for pieces of equipment over the years you can not get on the NHS.

“As your muscles die and stop working there are pieces of equipment that help you. The other reason is to let people know more about it, I had not heard much about it before my diagnosis apart from what I read when I was looking at my symptoms.”