FORMER Melbourne Knights and Wollongong Wolves defender David Cervinski was one a kind, a character rarely seen in the A-League these days.

A distinctive ponytail, one of few to win four domestic titles and probably the only player to wear moccasins on stage to accept his winners’ medal.

No striker intimidated the no-nonsense defender and Cervinski is adopting the same honest approach with his days potentially numbered.

Cervinski, 46, was given until November to live after he was suddenly diagnosed with a stage four melanoma.

“I had a melanoma cut out of my arm seven years ago. Since I’ve been tested twice a year for seven years and got the all-clear until last March,’’ Cervinski said.

“I thought no problem, get it cut out again, nothing major. When they said ‘it’s pretty serious, you’re stage four. Come November, your birthday, you probably won’t be here’, it hit home.

“I said what happened to stages one, two, three? The doctor said ‘you’re one in 500’. It just went from zero-to-100 because melanoma’s a very aggressive cancer.

media_camera David Cervinski (R) in action for the Knights in 1996. Picture: David Kapernick media_camera David Cervinski (L) wins ball from Paul Foster during Wollongong Wolves v Brisbane Strikers NSL game at WIN Stadium

“Every day’s a bonus now. You look at me and think ‘he’s lost a bit of weight but looks all right’. I’ve got my good and bad days.

“In our playing days it used to be the shirts versus no tops. Training in the sun, you’d use coconut oil for suntan lotion.’’

Cervinski tried Keytruda, the drug that saved Ron Walker and Jarryd Roughead’s lives, but it didn’t work.

“I’ve tried three different treatments that haven’t worked,’’ he said.

“The two main tumours are in my adrenal glands. They’re causing me grief because we can’t find anything to stop it growing.

“The last treatment was Keytruda, the stuff that Roughead was on. That fixed the three spots on my lungs, but the adrenal gland’s doubled in size.

“I started a new treatment seven weeks ago but we won’t know if it’s worked until we do the CAT scan in about six weeks.

“If it’s worked, fantastic. If the tumours have grown, then I’m in a pickle and start running out of options. I’ll have to start chemotherapy.’’

The football community has rallied behind the player affectionately known as “Shovel” for his style and tendency to make divots in the pitch, according to his former Knights captain Andrew Marth.

media_camera David Cervinski of the Wolves celebrates their victory in the NSL Final between the Wollongong Wolves and South Melbourne held at the Parramatta Stadium.

Over $30,000 has been raised at www.gofundme.com as Cervinski faces the prospect of expensive last-ditch treatment attempts, with former teammates and combatants chipping in.

“We used to play hard, drink hard, smoke cigarettes back then. You’d kill each other on the ground but go for a beer afterwards,’’ Cervinski said.

“You’re talking 25 years ago, you forget about your career then some of the names that have popped up and donated. It brings a tear to your eye.

“Even a South Melbourne supporter messaged saying he hated me as a player, but wished me well and said keep fighting. They were throwing peanuts at you back in the day, now they’re giving me money.’’

Cervinski was the backbone of some of the most talented domestic teams, but didn’t give Mark Viduka (Knights) or young Carlton duo Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella an inch at training.

“Yeah, Viduka knows my elbows and legs pretty well. Marking the strikers was part of training,’’ he said.

“Grella, Bresciano. All these players that have played for Australia you watch and it gives you a special buzz. You look at their success and think, maybe I contributed a bit to their achievements.’’

The moccasins were worn on stage in the Knights’ 1996 grand final win over Marconi at Olympic Park

“After the game the pitch got invaded and the fans took everything, my socks, shinpads,’’ Cervinski said.

“All I was left with my shorts and my moccos in my bag and I had to wear it out on stage to get my medal from Jeff Kennett. He just laughed and said ‘you’re a classic’.’’

* Go to www.gofundme.com/david-cervinski-soccer-player if you wish to donate