A CLARETS legend who is suffering from incurable cancer is to marry the week before Valentine’s Day.

Ian Britton, 58, who scored arguably the most important goal in Burnley’s history to keep them in the Football League in 1987, was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year.

He has now decided to wed partner Eileen Bayliss, 63, on February 7, at the Registry Office in Todmorden Road, Burnley.

The couple, from Barrow-ford, said they were really looking forward to the big day .

“We weren’t even contemplating getting married to be honest,” Ian said.

Eileen added: “We were down in Hampshire in the summertime. We went to see one of Ian’s old Chelsea friends, David Stride, and just decided to get married there and then.”

The couple will follow the ceremony with a champagne reception at Turner’s, in Barrowford, and will then head to the Cross Gaits, in Blacko.

Eileen said: “We’re having three-days of celebrations.

“Everyone has to meet at the Cross Gaits then go on the bus to the registry office, then Turner’s are bringing some champagne for us at the bus stop.

“Then we’re going back up to the Cross Gaits. There will be a few speeches and another glass of champagne and food and then a three-day party.”

The couple, who met three years ago, will then head off to Jersey for their honeymoon.

For Eileen it will continue her links with former Clarets.

She is a cousin of Willie Irvine’s wife, Rita, and a step-sister of Andy Lochhead’s wife, Carole.

Speaking about his battle with prostate cancer, Ian said: “I’m as well as can be expected.

“I get an injection every three months, which I’ll need for life, and a slow releasing morphine tablet at 10 o’clock in the morning and 10 o’clock at night.”

Ian is also backing the prostate scanner appeal to get a new scanner at Burnley General Hospital.

He said: “It will be a fantastic piece of equipment. It’s been good to get behind the appeal and hopefully it helps.”