HE’S better known for his tough-tackling style and leadership on the pitch.

But Eastleigh FC star Chris Todd has switched his attention from the football pitch to the recording studio to create a Christmas charity single.

He hopes Save Me, written and recorded with his brother-in-law, will break into the top 100 and raise thousands of pounds for the charity that he says “saved his life”.

The 33-year-old, whose Conference Premier League side play at Woking in the FA Trophy today, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in 2007.

Charity Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research has helped him in his ongoing battle against the illness, and even developed the medication that allows him to continue playing football.

He says staff at the charity are “the people who saved my life”, and he has already raised money for the organisation from the proceeds of his book, More Than Football in the Blood, which he published in 2011.

Now he is now hoping to give something back through his single, Save Me.

Chris came up with some of the lyrics about his illness and his battle to survive in a poem, before putting them to his brother-in-law Tom Watson, a singer-songwriter.

He said: “He’s been a singer-songwriter for the past ten years and he was convinced that if we added a bit more to it, we could make a good song from it.

“I thought then that it would be an idea for the charity.”

The pair recorded it and yesterday it was officially released on iTunes.

Chris told the Daily Echo: “The aim of the single is to raise as much money as possible for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, but also to raise awareness.

“If they weren’t around there wouldn’t be the type of care that I’ve received.

“They are vital in keeping people alive.

“We’re hoping to sell 2,000 copies or downloads, and that we can break into the top 100.”

Proceeds from the single, which costs 79p to buy on iTunes, will go to Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

You can find out more by visiting facebook.com/savemesingle.