Our Supporters
10 Aug 2018Who’s the Man? The story behind the badge that every football manager is wearing
A man-shaped pin-badge has graced the lapel of almost every football manager and Sky Sports pundit in recent years. But just who is the man and what's it all about? Former Sunderland, Preston North End and Bradford manager Simon Grayson explains all, including the very personal reasons he has for wearing the badge.
"I’m proud to wear my 'Man of Men' pin-badge to raise awareness," says Simon Grayson, one of many LMA members who wear our badge.
That man represents you, me and everyone affected by this disease
Wear a Prostate Cancer UK badge like your club's manager: buy one now from our online shop.
And the former Sunderland manager has been very personally affected by the most common cancer in men, having lost his best friend to it in 2014.
"Prostate Cancer UK is very close to my heart and I support it in honour of my late friend, Steve Garbett," explains Simon, who has so far raised over £100,000 for Prostate Cancer UK as part of Team Garby, a group of friends including Steve's son Dave who raising money to stop prostate cancer being a killer.
"His brave 10-year fight opened my eyes about the dangers of this disease. I was honoured to cycle London to Amsterdam with Steve’s son, Dave, in 2015 and we put out another strong team in Yorkshire this time round, take our fundraising beyond £130,000."
And they're both even more determined now they've seen for themselves how their money is being spent.
"It’s shocking that one man every 45 minutes will die of prostate cancer, but myself and Dave were lucky enough to visit a research centre in York to see first hand what the money raised can fund," says Simon. "There is still much to do, but there is hope."
It's not only Grayson sporting Prostate Cancer UK's 'Man of Men'. Nearly every Premier League manager has worn the badge too.
It's a badge which not only graces the touchline and the pitch but is worn proudly by presenters and pundits on the biggest football shows across all the competing channels.
Championed by Jeff Stelling and the boys on Soccer Saturday, the badge regularly features on the lapels of high-profile former players and managers across BT Sport, the BBC and Sky Sports.
Together, as players, managers and pundits, they're helping bring awareness of prostate cancer to millions of football fans every week.
Thank you to all the football family for your support. With your help, we will change the game for men with prostate cancer.
