A GOALKEEPER who saved the life of his seriously ill son is back playing just three months after a kidney transplant operation.

Gary Osborne made his comeback for Atherton Town in the Manchester Premier League last week -- with his fully recovered son, Joe, watching from the stands.

Twelve months ago, Joe, aged 12, faced years of dialysis after an infection attacked his kidneys and he went into renal failure.

Gary, 38, and Joe's mum, Jayne, were tested as possible donors, and results showed Gary was a better match -- so the doting dad donated his left kidney to Joe.

The kidney transplant at the Manchester Royal Infirmary was a success, and now Joe has made a complete recovery and is back at school with his pals.

Gary, of Broadway, Atherton, said: "I never expected to be playing again so soon after the operation, but it's great to be back. It was a big decision to donate my kidney, but it wasn't a problem in the end. It's a small price to pay for the health of my children.

"It's been a nightmare twelve months for the family. We cancelled last Christmas. But we had a great Christmas this time around, and a big party at New Year to celebrate Joe's recovery."

The Osborne family has suffered during the past 12 months -- Joe's older sister Rachel, 15, had an operation at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for a curved spine.

Now Gary, who also has a son, Sam, 10, hopes his family will have better luck in 2003.

He said: "It's been a tough year for everyone, but I'm hoping we've turned the corner. I just want us to return to some kind of normal life."