The last time striker Brian Green had an Eastleigh Football Club haircut, it was when he was larking around with his teammates on the ferry back from the Isle of Wight.

This week he was still smiling as Ten Acres chairman Roger Sherwood sheared away his auburn locks - only this time there was a serious purpose behind it.

At 27 years of age, Green is in Southampton General Hospital being treated for leukaemia. The likelihood is he will lose his hair in any case when he begins having chemotherapy, so, sportingly, he had it shaved instead to raise money to for the hospital's Ward C6 Haematology Charitable Fund.

From a player who set Stoneham Lane alight with 45 goals in the 1998/99 season, Green hardly kicked a ball last term because he felt so out of sorts. The reason only became apparent last month when he went into hospital for a minor operation and was diagnosed with leukaemia.

He said: "I hadn't felt well for a year. People used to think I was a lazy footballer, but I was getting tired quickly because of the illness.

"I had a rare blood condition that has developed into leukaemia."

The good news for the man from Cornwall, who is affectionately known as "Pasty" to his teammates, is there is a bone marrow transplant in the pipeline.

Younger sister Katie is a perfect match and, if all goes to plan, he could be ready for the operation once his chemotherapy has finished in 15 or 16 weeks' time.

"I've been ever so lucky," smiled Green. "There's only about a 25 per cent chance of getting a match from a sibling, but it means it's not such a major operation.

"When it's all over I will lead as normal a life as possible and my big goal is to be playing football again within a year.

"I'd be happy to turn out for anyone , but I'd love it to be Eastleigh. The club's been so good to me and I'd like to say a big thank you to Roger (Sherwood) and his partner, Jenny, for organising the sponsorship forms for my haircut."

Jewson Wessex League rivals Lyming-ton & New Milton have set the ball rolling with a surprise £250 contribution raised at their end-of-season presentation night.

"Ever since Roger told me about that, I've been walking round with a big smile on my face," said Green. "It's great for another club to do that - especially when I've scored against them! - and it's made me very happy knowing that people are thinking about me."

The Bitterne-based estate agent has also had fantastic support from his firm Austin & Wyatt and his wife, Louise, who intends to raise money for leukaemia research in the future. Any clubs or players wishing to sponsor Pasty's haircut can phone Eastleigh's general secretary Derik Brooks on 023 80 557147.