Football Managers Unite For Prostate Cancer UK
A host of top football managers have joined forces to deliver team talks for Prostate Cancer UK.
As part of the campaign, Premier League bosses Sean Dyche (Burnley), Mark Hughes (Stoke City), Slaven Bilic (West Ham United), Chris Hughton (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Craig Shakespeare (Leicester City) have teamed up with their counterparts from the English Football League (EFL), League Manager’s Association (LMA) and Prostate Cancer UK.
Together they are delivering messages as part of a campaign to tackle the most common cancer in men. According to the charity, figures show that two men will die during the length of a football match.
As well as speaking out about the issue, football managers, many of whom have been directly affected by the disease, will be wearing Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘man of men’ pin badge on the touchline during the 2017/18 campaign.
Prostate Cancer UK is the long-term charity partner of the EFL and is also a partner of the LMA allowing the charity access to football clubs, managers, players and supporters.
Their Football to Amsterdam bike ride, supported by the EFL, has raised more than £1.7m in the past five years, while Millwall and Scunthorpe United have both sported the Prostate Cancer UK logo on their kits. Since 2014/15 campaign, Prostate Cancer UK’s symbol has been included on every single player’s kit as part of his individual squad number – the first time ever that a charity’s logo has been included by a domestic league on every player’s strip.
Sunderland manager Simon Grayson, who lost his best friend Steve Garbett to prostate cancer in September 2014 has helped raise more than £100,000 for the charity.
Grayson said: “Garby’s brave ten-year fight opened my eyes about the dangers of this disease, and I’m proud to wear my Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ pin badge on the touchline every game to raise awareness. That man represents you, me and everyone affected by this disease.”
Former Clarets chairman Barry Kilby continues to fight back against the disease and Dyche was the first manager to record an exclusive team talk, urging men to take stock of the situation and be aware of the dangers of the disease.
Angela Culhane, chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “For many years now Prostate Cancer UK has teamed up with the football family and seeing so many managers proudly wearing our Man of Men pin badge sends out a really passionate message about what we stand for
“These managers deliver crucial team talks every matchday, and we are proud to stand side by side with them against the deadliest opponent of all, prostate cancer.
“One man dies from prostate cancer every 45 minutes; it’s the most common cancer in men – but we can turn it around.
“From the Premier League and our ground-breaking partnership with the EFL to the grass roots game and some legendary names, football has proved to be an incredibly effective way of driving home our messages in a variety of ways to fans, players and club officials, many of whom previously had no idea about the dangers of the disease.
“We thank all the managers, clubs and supporters for their continued support; for marching for men, for cycling to Amsterdam, for collecting on match days and for sporting our iconic badge. United against prostate cancer, we can make this disease something the next generation of men need not fear.”
To show your support and get a Prostate Cancer UK ‘man of men’ pin badge, text BADGE to 70004 to donate £5. For information about the badge and the charity’s work in football visit prostatecanceruk.org/whostheman.
