Watford's Former Players Association are hoping to arrange a benefit match to raise money for former Hornets winger Nigel Callaghan, who has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Callaghan, who played more than 250 games for Watford in the 1980s, was diagnosed with cancer in November and started chemotherapy this week.

The 47-year-old is now a successful DJ but has been unable to work since painful surgery in January.

The former Derby County winger was diagnosed with arthritis a year ago and it was during a routine blood test when the doctor discovered some abnormal blood cells and he went for further examinations.

Callaghan, pictured, told Radio Derby: "I went along thinking it was going to be a routine procedure but when I was lying down looking at the TV screen, the doctor found something, turned to me and said 'that doesn't look good'.

"He pointed at the screen and said 'do you know what that is?' When I said 'no', he told me 'that's a tumour'.

"There was an eerie silence. You don't know what to say or think. As soon as you hear the word 'cancer', you think 'is that it for me?"

Callaghan joined Derby in 1987 and was with the Rams for two years before joining Aston Villa in 1989.

His close friend Lee Poulter is in the process of arranging a benefit match in the Derby area and Watford FPA founder Neil Price, who played with Callaghan when the Hornets reached the FA Cup final in 1984, is talking to representatives from the Rams about arranging a charity match.

No details have been agreed yet but it is hoped something could be arranged for the summer.