Against all odds: Alan Aylward defies cancer and umpires 1600th match

Once told he would be wheelchair bound for life following a cancer diagnosis, Alan Aylward has defied the odds — now not only walking but also celebrating his 1,600th game as an umpire.

A retired schoolteacher told by doctors he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair has reached a remarkable milestone by umpiring his 1600th match in country Victoria.

Bendigo’s Alan Aylward got the fright of his life three years ago when an oncologist declared he could never walk again due to cancer complications.

But he refused to bow to the medical advice, slowly regained his strength to walk – then returned to the footy field.

“My wife and I never believed I’d be in a wheelchair forever, even when the powers that be were telling me otherwise,’’ he said.

“We knew we were going to make a difference.

“You have to believe you can make a difference.’’

As the AFL celebrates Community Umpiring Week, 72-year-old Aylward is one of the oldest ump’s in the state, dedicating 36 years of his life to the craft.

The AFL believes he is among only about 3 per cent of Victorian umpires to reach 1500 plus matches and the third most in the Bendigo region, where the record is 1700.

His 1600 career games is a mix of senior and junior football across three associations — Sunraysia, Rochester-Echuca and Bendigo.

Alan Aylward defied the odds and returned to the footy field. Photo: Brendan MCCarthy

These days he is a goal umpire in senior football and still does field umpiring in the juniors.

“I just love being involved in footy,’’ he said.

“I played footy before I umpired and then I gave it up for a year before I started umpiring.

“I love the involvement with the players, administrators and the game itself.’’

But his continued love and involvement of the game almost came to a screeching halt after a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2016 and serious medical complications six years later.

After umpiring a match at Eaglehawk, he collapsed three times and was rushed to hospital where scans revealed widespread cancer in his spine.

Ignoring the doctor’s orders for surgery and threats of being stuck in a wheelchair, he underwent radiation treatment at Bendigo Hospital and embarked on a long road to recovery.

After six months in a wheelchair and daily pool sessions, he slowly developed strength in his legs, graduated from walker to walking cane, then walked on his own again.

Last year he returned to umpiring and has no intentions of giving up any time soon.

Aylward is back where he wanted to be with no intention of giving up any time soon. Photo: Brendan MCCarthy

“I've got back to where I wanted to be,’’ he said.

“I wasn’t going to accept that I was going to be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.

You can’t use the ‘why me’ mentality.

“If you try to see the brighter side of things then you build towards where you want to go.

“I know sometimes we don’t always get there, but the reward is in the attempt.

“You have to keep going.’’

Balancing health with fitness, Aylward has turned vegetarian with “ a little bit of fish’’ and begun growing garlic to bolster his immunity.

“I eat it raw,’’ he said.

“When I first started I wasn’t sure if I could do it, but now I’ll have a garlic sandwich.’’

And he is thankful for his return to health.

“They can’t find any cancer at the moment,’’ he said.

“It’s a really good feeling.’’

Originally published as Against all odds: Alan Aylward defies cancer and umpires 1600th match