Town legend Marcus Stewart has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The 49-year-old, one of the scorers in the 2000 play-off final as George Burley’s Blues reached the Premier League before netting 19 times in the top flight the following season as Town finished fifth to qualify for Europe, underwent 12 months of tests prior to receiving his diagnosis.

In a statement released via the PFA, Stewart said: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank those closest to me for their unwavering support since my recent diagnosis.

“As I take the time to adjust, my intention is to continue to enjoy my work in football and spend time with my family.

“In the future, I would like to use my platform within football to help raise awareness around MND, but in the short-term, I would like to ask for privacy on behalf of myself and my family.”

Stewart and his wife Louise have set up a JustGiving page with all proceeds going to the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which was started by Stephen Darby, the former Liverpool, Rochdale and Bradford full-back, who was diagnosed with MND in 2018.

Several fundraising events are already planned with Stewart's sons, Kian and Finley, who both play rugby union for Huddersfield RFU, set to run the Manchester Marathon and Louise, family and friends taking part in the London Winter Walk marathon.

Striker Stewart started his career with his hometown club Bristol Rovers, coincidentally making his debut and scoring against the Blues in a 3-3 draw at Twerton Park on the opening day of the 1991/92 season.

After five years with the Pirates, Stewart moved on to Huddersfield for a fee of £1.2 million before controversially being sold to Town for an initial £2.5 million in February 2000 at a time when the West Yorkshiremen were among the clubs vying with the Blues at the top of what was then League One, now the Championship.

Stewart scored on his debut, a 2-0 win at Barnsley, and then his home debut, a 2-1 victory over the Terriers less than two weeks after leaving them.

The frontman didn’t score again until the play-offs when he netted twice at Bolton the first leg of the semi-final to claw Town back into the tie having been two goals down, then headed the Blues’ third in the 4-2 victory over the Tykes at Wembley.

Stewart was the star of Town’s 2000/01 campaign as they finished fifth in the Premier League and reached the UEFA Cup, scoring 19 times in the league plus two more in cups, and was understood to have been close to an England call-up.

After an injury-hit 2001/02 season in which the Blues were relegated, Stewart moved on to Sunderland for a fee believed to be £650,000 at the start of the following season. In total, he scored 37 times for Town in 81 starts and 12 sub appearances.

Spells with Bristol City, Preston (loan), Yeovil and Exeter followed with Stewart moving into coaching while with the Grecians. Over his playing career, he made 783 senior appearances and scored 254 goals.

After stints on the staff back at Bristol Rovers and then Walsall, Stewart is currently working as head of player development at Yeovil, a role he started in June.

For more information on MND, visit the MND Association.

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Westy added 16:32 - Sep 8 Game against Bristol Rovers on Tuesday. I'm sure both sets of fans will unite in support for Marcus.
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brassy added 16:32 - Sep 8 All the best Marcus a true legend loved watching you play
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Vancouver_Blue added 16:40 - Sep 8 My thoughts are with Marcus and his family 👪
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leftie1972 added 16:42 - Sep 8 Shocking news. Another great sports personality struck down with this awful illness. Wishing him and his family all the best.
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DaGremloid added 16:46 - Sep 8 Gutted.
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BlueBoots added 16:46 - Sep 8 Recent discussion on the forum about the hardest you've ever celebrated a goal... Hardest you've ever celebrated a town goal? by BlueBoots 25 Aug 2022 7:50 Early Sunday Kick-Off, hangover kicking in, watching the game in the front room of the shared house I lived in at the time in South London - one of my housemates and his girlfriend having a civilised late Sunday morning breakfast and reading the papers (no interest in the football) 2-0 down, David Johnson's just gone off injured...after a few years of missing out in the Play-Offs, I'm already thinking, "Oh well, there's always next year..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzy3y_B1LJ0 Anyway, Marcus Stewart pulls one back with a thunderbastard out of nowhere - I'm out of my armchair jumping, screaming and shouting. I almost give my friend a heart attack, I frighten the sh1t out of my friend's girlfriend who spills her coffee all over her Sunday Times; she gives him a dirty look, and he passes that on to me [rofl] Didn't do too much damage to their relationship - think they've been married over 15 years now. Proper Town legend; can't think of many players for any club who did well in a second tier promotion season, and then go on to do even better in their first season in the top flight. Wishing Marcus and his family all the strength in the world at such a difficult time.

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SussexTractor added 16:50 - Sep 8 So sad, good luck for the future Marcus. One of the coolest strikers in front of goal that Town have ever had. He placed the ball like an artist, rather than powering it. He was the star performer in the away fixture at Bolton in the play offs and kept Town in the game with his goals.
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LowroadBlue added 16:53 - Sep 8 This is terrible news! Many great memories, My favourites being Wembley and Bolton Away in the play offs. Best wishes to Marcus and all your family.
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ArnieM added 16:55 - Sep 8 Words fail me. Marcus you'll always be for me … “ walking in a Stewie wonderland”
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therein61 added 17:04 - Sep 8 How cruel for him and his family heartfelt best wishes to you all, Many thanks Marcus for all your time at Town and the memories you gave us all.
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ITFC_Singapore added 17:10 - Sep 8 One of the best players i've ever seen wear the shirt. A genuine legend, i always wished he'd stayed longer. Huge love to him and his family........he is always in ITFC hearts.
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essexccc added 17:11 - Sep 8 Just hate this disease which seems to be affecting more and more ex rugby and soccer players (and also a dear friend of mine). Marcus will always be remembered as a hero by Town fans of his era. Without great height or strength he was just a sublime striker who could and did score goals from all sorts of areas. I wish him strength when facing his illness and bravery to his family who face a horrible ordeal. He is part of the fabric of Itfc history and we thank him for giving us so many good times.

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braveblue added 17:23 - Sep 8 So sad. One of the best I have seen.
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rfretwell added 17:31 - Sep 8 What rotten news - very best wishes to Marcus and his family in dealing with this condition.
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Lightningboy added 18:03 - Sep 8 The word "Legend" gets overused..not in his case. Best of luck Marcus. 💙
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ronnyd added 18:05 - Sep 8 There's only one Marcus Stewart. Remember singing that all through that magical season. All the best to him and his family.
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norfolkbluey added 18:09 - Sep 8 What dreadful news, and so, so sad for him and his family. What a star player of his time. Saw him score so many times, such great memories. He and his family will be in my prayers tonight.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:15 - Sep 8 MND is one of the very cruelest of illnesses. Ex sportsman seem particularly prone. Terribly sad, great player. Thought v much with him and his family
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TheBoyBlue added 18:29 - Sep 8 How sad. My Aunt suffered from it for a couple of years before she died and it's a truly horrible, horrible disease. My thoughts are with him and his family.
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budgieplucker added 18:47 - Sep 8 Shocked and praying for Marcus this evening. I have been fortunate in my 60+ years following The Town to witness the brilliance of Ray Crawford and Paul Mariner and I can attest that Stewie is up there with the best Town strikers and whilst he may be sitting just behind these two greats he will remain in my mind a similar legend and is hardly separated by these other great two strikers by the width of a cigarette paper.

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buckleshamblue60 added 18:58 - Sep 8 Really sad news. I always thought that one thing that separated Marcus from lesser strikers was his intelligence - if he was given time to think, he invariably did something telling. Clever movement and cool-as-ice finishing. And was able to do it when it really counted. Should have played for England too. I'm sure he'll make a strong contribution to MND awareness and fundraising. Very best wishes Marcus, if you're reading this, and many thanks for everything you did for ITFC.

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SpiritOfJohn added 19:16 - Sep 8 Are thoughts are with Marcus and his family. It is probably fair to say that Marcus had a greater impact on our club's fortunes than many players who were lucky enough to have played many more games for us. He played with skill and a swagger that gave confidence to the whole team.
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dusth added 19:44 - Sep 8 Wish you well Marcus, you transformed our prospects. Ultimate fox in the box. Great skill and positional awareness - unlucky not to get a cap or two. Keep fighting, man, and come and do some more analysis during the radio commentaries, they were great value.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 19:52 - Sep 8 Very best wishes to Marcus in the battle he now faces. If anyone can beat this, Marcus Stewart can.
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dusth added 19:56 - Sep 8 2000 Commentary " He had the speed, balance and grace of an ice skater" - Liverpool 0, Town 1 -
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