FORMER Newcastle United owner and millionaire businessman Sir John Hall said yesterday he was facing the “battle of his life” after being diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer.

The 77-year-old, whose family home is Wynyard Hall, near Sedgefield, County Durham, has vowed to fight the disease.

Doctors have advised the grandfather that his condition can only be slowed by treatment.

The tycoon, who made his millions building the Metro- Centre, in Gateshead, found out earlier this year that he had the disease following a routine blood test.

Now facing a three-month course of drugs and radiotherapy, Sir John has spoken about his illness to help raise awareness of the condition to boost other men’s chances through early detection.

Sir John, who was chairman of Newcastle United from 1992 to 1997 and remains an honorary president, said: “I just went for a routine blood test and by the end of it I found out I had aggressive prostate cancer.

“Since then I’ve just been trying to come to terms with having cancer.

“I will need to go in for treatment, I’ll be having radiotherapy.”

“I’ve been in for X-rays on the cancer ward and had it confirmed.

“I’ve been told they can’t cure it, all they can do is try and slow it down.”

He added: “I know I’ve got a battle ahead. It’s going to be the battle of my life, but I’m determined and there’s no substitute for that – I’ve learnt that with everything I’ve done.

“I’m doing this with my wife, we’re going to face it together.”

Sir John said that Newcastle United’s promotion back to the Premier League earlier this week had given him a huge boost.

“I went on Monday and watched them get promotion.

It took me back to Grimsby, when we won promotion there. It was a great moment,” he said.

“Monday night took away some of the hardship I’ve felt since I was told about the cancer.

“It gave me a lift because I’m just a Newcastle fan at heart.

“It gave me a huge lift after having a tough time.”

Sir John is waiting to begin treatment at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.

“Cancer is something I never thought would happen to me.

“You don’t know anything about it until you get it, then you realise how common it is.

“All men from 50 onwards should be conscious of prostate cancer.

“They should ask the doctor about it because there are tests they can do.

“If you catch it in its early stages it can be treated. It’s when you let it get on, it becomes a problem.

“The initial difficulty is coming to terms with it. You have to build yourself up.”

Sir John also paid tribute to his doctors.

“I have very good consultants at the Freeman Hospital, it’s the best place to be treated.

“You’re up there nearly every day, but I’m quite happy coming back to Newcastle, it’s where I’m from, it’s my home, so it’s always nice to be back here.”

Information about prostate cancer and its symptoms is available, in confidence, from The Prostate Cancer Charity, on 0800-074-8383.

Multi-millionaire’s rise from humble roots

SIR JOHN HALL, who spoke yesterday of his cancer battle, rose from humble beginnings as a miner’s son to become a highly influential businessman.

Born in Ashington, Northumberland, in 1933, he began his working life in the mining industry as a surveyor in the North-East Estates Department for the National Coal Board.

He started a property development business aged 36 and in the Eighties, as chairman of Cameron Hall Developments, he masterminded the construction of Gateshead MetroCentre, Europe’s largest shopping centre.

As the centre boomed, he sold his stake in it for £70m.

He was knighted in 1991.

In the early Nineties, he fronted the Magpies Group, which took over Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

During his six years in charge, he hired Kevin Keegan as manager and lured Alan Shearer to the club, with a world transfer record of £15m.

He took Newcastle to the brink of the Premiership title in the 1995-6 season, and also bought the Newcastle Falcons rugby team, the Newcastle Eagles basketball club and the Durham Wasps ice hockey club.

He presided over his empire from his home at Wynyard Hall and has more recently been pouring his energies into his passion for restoration and gardening.

In October 2008, proposals to transform parts of his North-East mansion into a luxury hotel were given the go-ahead.