 In early 2008 , he was diagnosed with malignant <unk> , a severe form of skin cancer . He had fought the disease before , when he had a form of skin cancer removed from his back in 2006 . Cooksey suspected his cancer originated from a six @-@ month spell coaching schoolchildren in the searing heat of Las Vegas in the United States . In April 2008 , Grays Athletic staged a benefit match for Cooksey . The match consisted of former professional players , as well as current professionals such as <unk> <unk> , Nicky <unk> , Aaron McLean , Ray <unk> , Justin Edinburgh , Iain Dowie , Bob Dowie , Clive Allen , Scott Fitzgerald and Paul <unk> . He returned to his former club Oldham Athletic in May 2008 , where another benefit match was staged for his appeal at <unk> Park , attended by 1 @,@ 500 fans to see such former players as John Barnes , Luther <unk> and Chris <unk> as well as television actors from Coronation Street . 
