Emotional Stiliyan Petrov back on the field for charity match

"I do get emotional. I try to keep my emotions with me but what my family and I went through was really difficult," says an out-of-breath Stiliyan Petrov.

He's just completed an exhausting 90 minutes on the pitch – only the second time he has done so since his top-flight career was tragically cut short due to leukaemia in March 2012.

But the Villa favourite still managed to find the back of the net, rolling back the years to score from the penalty spot.

And, when the final whistle blew, it'll come as no surprise that the former claret and blues captain – regarded as one of the nicest guys in football – was mobbed by supporters. Around 1,500 had turned out to watch a Petrov XI, including Paul Merson, Julian Joachim and Alan Wright, take on Villa's Lions and Legends side.

But Stan was there for one reason and one reason only: to stand before the fans and thank them for their unwavering support of his charity.

"I have got the chance to stand in front of all these people and they are supporting the foundation. It's very overwhelming and I need to stand strong," says the 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2012 but is now in remission. As a result of his illness, he was forced to give up the game he loves and announced his retirement back in May 2013.

Played at Boldmere St Michael's pitch in Church Lane, Sutton Coldfield, yesterday's game was a tough one for Petrov, who saw his side lose 8-3 to the legends, including favourites from the 1980s European Cup winning side Gordon Cowans, Ken McNaught and Tony Morley.

"It was my first 90 minutes for a long time and I was blowing at one point," says Stan. "The boys gave me the penalty – the keeper didn't even try – but it was still a good penalty. I really enjoyed it."

Afterwards, he took to Twitter to share his feelings with his 87,000-plus followers.

"I just want to say a big thank you to everybody involved in today's match!" he posted. "Fans, players, staff! It was an amazing, emotional day!"

He followed the message up a few seconds later with: "And I wont lie.. My body's in bits.. Off to bed ta."

The match was in aid of the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation, which aims to help leukaemia suffers and their families. The website is due to be launched later this month.

"It's doing very well, myself and my wife are taking a lot of time to do it but it's helping a lot of families," explains the former Bulgarian international who lives in Four Oaks with wife Paulina and sons Kristiyan and Stiliyan Jr.

"We try to raise money for important trials because if you cure it once you don't need medication.

"It's been a busy couple of months. It's all set up. The website is coming out and we've worked really hard. I need to order a few things like wristbands and some pictures need to be sorted out.

"It's been hard work but once the website is out there people can get the right information and know what it's all about."

Following his retirement, Petrov had a brief spell coaching Villa's academy kids but now dedicates himself full-time to his foundation. His illness came to light in 2012 after he developed a fever following Villa's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal.

The charity match yesterday also featured Walsall boss Dean Smith, ex-Villa star Lee Hendrie and former Saddlers and claret and blues striker Darren Byfield. It came a few months after an emotional fundrasier at Stan's other former club, Celtic.

Again, it was an overwhelming day for the midfielder, who embraced both his sons and his wife on the pitch. After that match, he said: "I said I wouldn't cry but I couldn't hold it. It was an absolute privilege. I'm just happy to see my family every day.'

During yesterday's game, Joachim scored twice to add to Petrov's penalty but goals from Morley, Hendrie, Ryan Amoo, Ryan Nicholls, Dean Langston, an own goal and Byfield's double won it for the Lions and Legends. Stephen Rigby helped Petrov organise the game and said he hoped it would become a regular feature.