YORK City supporter Beverley East-Watson has won a personal battle of her own after recovering from thyroid cancer.

Beverley, 19, underwent four sessions of Iodine radiotherapy at the Cookridge Hospital in Leeds but has now received results that confirmed she no longer requires the treatment.

The news has coincided with the Minstermen's encouraging start to the Nationwide Conference campaign and both Beverley and medical staff believe the football club has played a crucial role in her recovery and provided a welcome refuge during her illness.

Former Millthorpe School pupil Beverley, who worked as a magician's assistant for the travelling Bulgarian State Circus before being diagnosed with cancer, said: "I started going to City with my elder brother Gavin last August and going to KitKat Crescent has given me something to look forward to and lift my spirits.

"The doctors have said the club has played a big part in my recovery and it has been a real boost to see the team start the season so well. I'm really pleased that I won't have to miss any more matches because of hospital visits and, even though I can't go to away games for a while yet, I can't wait to cheer the team on at home."

City's communications and community director Sophie McGill recently arranged for Beverley to meet some of City's players before the pre-season friendly against Hartlepool and that gesture also raised her morale.

Beverley, who lives in Clifton, said: "I met Chris Porter, Dave Merris and Andy Bishop and, when I went down to the club a few days later, I was presented with a card that had been signed by all the players which Chris Porter had arranged so that was really nice of him."

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, August 31, 2005