Ossett United honour super fan Danny as they raise awareness of prostate cancer on Non-League Day

Introducing Ossett United’s new assistant manager, Danny Burkey! 

As part of their Non-League Day fixture against Grimsby Borough on March 28, Ossett United gave lifelong football fan and Prostate Cancer UK supporter Danny Burkey a day to remember – appointing him as honorary assistant manager. 

Having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, the 60-year-old has spent the last five years raising awareness for the disease and urging men at risk to talk to their GPs and get checked so they can catch it early, when it’s most treatable.

He had planned to continue that work at the weekend’s game – speaking to supporters and collecting funds for potentially life-saving prostate cancer research. But this time, the day unfolded a little differently. 

From supporter to assistant manager

A long-standing Ossett United supporter, Danny’s been a familiar face at Ingfield for many years. And, after hearing about his diagnosis and support for Prostate Cancer UK, the team invited him to take up the assistant manager role for the Grimsby Borough game.  

So, instead of taking his usual place among the fans, Danny found himself in the dressing room and the dugout, helping to guide the team from the touchline. 

The experience began earlier in the week at training, where Danny met Ossett’s officials and players. To his surprise and delight he was told of his unique new role and presented with an Ossett match shirt reading “Burkey 45” - the 45 to highlight how one man dies every 45 minutes from prostate cancer – plus an initialled club bench coat for his time in the dugout. He also addressed the players in the changing room before the game. 

Danny described being “gobsmacked” by the action. “It’s a wonderful gesture from the club, and has made my day” he said, adding that the club has always supported him attending matches with a collection bucket – but that this meant so much more, both to him and to others affected by the disease. 

Sadly for Danny, the Sheepicorns suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat, but that would be the only blemish on a day – and week – to remember. 

Speaking after the game, he said: “I had an absolutely fantastic time and it exceeded all my expectations, I absolutely loved it.  

“The club made me so welcome. It was an honour to speak to the players before the game. I knew I had to keep it brief so I told them it was a big day for me, a big day for Prostate Cancer Uk and also a big day for the club. 

“Whatever the score was, the profile of the club has been raised, just like the awareness of the charity. It was a win-win, except for on the pitch.”   

Living with prostate cancer and raising awareness of risk

Danny was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer in July 2021. Unfortunately, the cancer has since spread to his bones, and his treatment is now palliative – focused on managing the disease rather than curing it. 

Despite this, he remains determined to speak openly about his experience and encourage other men to understand their risk. 

“As a person with quite high hereditary risk I just didn’t know enough about prostate cancer until I was diagnosed, and by then it had already spread to my bones. Being diagnosed at that stage was an awful experience” he said. 

“That’s why I’d urge anyone who’s not sure about their own risk to take Prostate Cancer UK’s risk checker to find out more. It’s so quick and it could save your life.” 

One in eight men will be affected by prostate cancer. The disease is curable if caught early, but early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, so it’s vital that men know their risk. 

Danny also reflected on how his diagnosis has changed his perspective on life and the value of time, saying “I’ve never been under the illusion that I would live on Earth forever, but now time seems more precious than ever. As I treat life as a more precious thing, it seems to be more rewarding than I’ve ever known it to be.” 

This shift in perspective now shapes how he approaches each day. He’s optimistic about the time ahead and is dedicated to helping other men live healthy and fulfilling lives. 

Check my risk

Raising awareness of prostate cancer through football

The match formed part of a long-standing partnership between Prostate Cancer UK and Non-League Day, which has seen clubs across the country support awareness activity since 2014.  

From wig-wearing, branded armbands and a unique match ball inscribed by men affected by prostate cancer, to multiple match day collections, ‘Man of Men’ badge-wearing, branded clubhouses, crossbar challenges and epic walks to games, Non-League Day has always caught the imagination among the grassroots game for those wishing to support Prostate Cancer UK. Across the weekend we were present in more than 60 games across the country. 

Ossett United chairman Phil Smith said: “Every year we’ve got behind Non-League Day and this great cause and supported it in any way we can. This year when we discussed with the Prostate Cancer UK team, we thought we could go a little bit further. 

“Danny has been a fan of the club for a while and we thought what more appropriate than to get him involved on this day alongside us, alongside the team and in the dugout.” 

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, underlining the importance of continued awareness activity and earlier diagnosis across communities. 

This fixture brought that message to a local matchday audience, with Danny’s presence in the Ossett United dugout offering supporters a more personal connection with the issue and helping reach men who may not otherwise know much about their health risk. 

Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive Laura Kerby said Danny’s story reflects the importance of that connection, and the special role grassroots football can play in bringing it to life. 

“For many years Danny has been a selfless supporter of the work of Prostate Cancer UK and so often shrugs off his own issues to help others. 

“This is the perfect example of the grassroots football community coming together to do something great. Our continued collaboration with them, and others, will not only put us at the heart of the action, but will be a gamechanger for those men and their loved ones affected by prostate cancer.”