Our Supporters
13 Sep 2017Football managers unite to deliver life-saving team talks for Prostate Cancer UK
The leagues' top bosses have turned their man-management skills against the deadliest opponent of all, with our latest awareness drive hoping to grab football fans' attention on matchdays through radio, social media and stadium posters.
A host of top football managers have joined forces to give the most vital team talks of their careers, in our latest high-profile awareness drive with the sport.
Highlighting how one man every 45 minutes now dies from prostate cancer in the UK, Premier League bosses Sean Dyche (Burnley), Mark Hughes (Stoke City) and Slaven Bilic (West Ham United) have teamed up with more than 25 of their counterparts from the League Manager’s Association (LMA) and English Football League (EFL) in a series of passionate messages that urge men to take action on the disease.
Their life-saving 'team talks' will be broadcast as part of a wave of matchday promotions targeting football fans, including adverts on talkSPORT and social media during the half-time break and at full-time, and posters around football grounds warning men of their risk.
Wearing their support for us and those affected by the disease
As well as speaking out about the issue, many football managers will continue to wear our iconic 'Man of Men' pin-badge on the touchline during the season – often for very personal reasons.
Sunderland manager Simon Grayson, who lost his best friend Steve Garbett to prostate cancer in September 2014 and has helped raise more than £100,000 for us, was one of the first to regularly feature the badge on his lapel.
"Garby’s brave 10-year fight opened my eyes about the dangers of this disease, and I’m proud to wear it on the touchline every game to raise awareness," he says. "That man represents you, me and everyone affected by this disease."
Burnley boss Sean Dyche also has a connection to the cause: his club's former chairman, Barry Kilby, continues to fight prostate cancer. As well as joining Jeff Stelling’s epic March for Men in June, walking 11 miles with the Sky Sports presenter, Sean recorded our first team talk, urging men to take stock of the dangers of the disease.
Standing side by side with our football family
Prostate Cancer UK is the long-term Charity Partner of the EFL and also a proud partner of the LMA. Since the 2014/15 season, our distinctive 'Man of Men' symbol has been included on every single player’s kit as part of his individual squad number.
"For many years now, Prostate Cancer UK has teamed up with the football family and seeing so many managers proudly wearing our pin-badge sends out a really passionate message about what we stand for," says Angela Culhane, our chief executive.
"These managers deliver crucial team talks every matchday, and we're proud to stand side by side with them against the deadliest opponent of all, prostate cancer."
Show your support and get our 'Man of Men' pin-badge to wear with pride: text BADGE to 70004 to donate £5*.