Man City academy player who had his leg amputated to save his life is the first disabled player to compete on The Million Pound Cube

Manchester City player, Jamie Tregaskiss who had his leg amputated to save his life is the first disabled player to compete on The Million Pound Cube. 

Just so you know, Jamie Tregaskiss had his leg amputated when he was 13 and feared he would never kick a ball again.

Jamie discovered his football talent at 10-years old and he  was recognised when he was scouted by his favourite football team Manchester City.

But at the age of 13, when he was on the books at the Manchester City Academy, there were concerns when Jamie felt pain in his left hip.

But tests showed he had osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer that starts in the bones, and Jamie had his leg amputated to stop it from spreading.

Now, aged 25, he is thankful to be still playing football for City and his country on their amputee football teams - and tonight Jamie will compete as the first disabled player on the ITV game show The Million Pound Cube hosted by Phillip Schofield.

Jamie was approached to go on the show and it was another dream come true for him after being a big fan of the original version of the show The Cube, which has increased its prize money to £1m after being off our screens for five years, while growing up in Hattersley.

"I thought 'this is definitely me'. I'm a very determined person after what I have been through.

"When I was 13 I found out I had a form of cancer in my hip that was very aggressive. It was either my leg or my life.

"After my leg was amputated I thought it my football career was over.

"But I was determined and I now play for the Manchester City amputee side and England.

"We play in World Cups and European championships and there is a national league."

He added: "I travel the world playing football and I'm now classed as one of the best amputee players in the world."

Recalling how he came to be diagnosed, he told us: "I was very active, always playing football and I had pain in my hip.

"My parents noticed that I was limping and it was put down to football injury.

"But I was in too much pain, it was like toothache.

"I had physio and the physio scratched his head and said 'this lad shouldn't be limping.'

"I was losing weight so I had X-rays and a biopsy.

"They caught it just in time. The cancer was in my hip and it was going towards my tailbone."

The former Pinfold Primary and Alder Community High School pupil, who also played for the youth football club Hattersley FC, heard about Manchester Amputee Football Club when he was in hospital and he returned to the pitch two years after his life-saving surgery and chemotherapy.

"There is no doubt that having my leg amputated saved my life. They couldn't save my leg, it was too high risk,"said Jamie, who had his operation at Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.

The winger adapted to playing football with his crutches and says it came naturally to him.

"It felt so good to kick a ball again. It felt like it was the start of something new," he said.

Jamie competed on the game show alongside his girlfriend Annalise Holt, 23.

The couple celebrated moved into a new home together during lockdown.

"It was an amazing experience and I'm so proud that I've done it. Phillip Schofield is such a nice guy and really put us at ease," he said.

There was no studio audience because of COVID-19 restrictions but their families joined them in the studio in London to cheer them on in the show, in which pairs can win £1,000,0000 if they have the nerve and skill to conquer various agility challenges in a giant cube