Brentford head coach Dean Smith has joined forces with a host of top football managers to give the most vital team talks of their careers, in the fight against prostate cancer.
Chilling statistics have shown prostate cancer kills one man every 45 minutes and is the most common cancer in men.
The Bees chief and 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 contemporaries from the English Football League (EFL), League Manager’s Association (LMA) and Prostate Cancer UK in teaming up to fight the disease.
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 iconic ‘man of Men’ pin badge on the touchline during the 2017/18 campaign as the leading men’s charity cranks up the serious message.
Smith has also praised the work of the charity as the club’s popular pitch announcer Peter ‘Mr Brentford’ Gilham battles the disease. Smith’s close friend Errol McKellar has successfully beaten prostate cancer.
He said: “I know several people affected by prostate cancer so it’s hugely important that we all get involved to help beat this disease.
“Seeing statistics like one man dies every 45 minutes from prostate cancer sets off the alarm bells, but this isn’t a new story.
“My friend Errol McKellar has successfully beaten this disease while, Peter Gilham, part of the Brentford family, is battling it as we speak.
“When you see how the club has united to support him, it makes you feel very humble, but it also shows how dangerous prostate cancer is, and how suddenly it can strike.
“When you know someone that just makes you ever more determined to make a stand for him and his loved ones.
“I’m proud to wear my Man of Men pin badge just as I was to walk alongside Jeff Stelling and some inspirational men affected by this disease.
“I’m also proud of the passion my supporters have shown, and know the football family are following suit.
“Let’s make a stand against this dreadful disease and make prostate cancer a disease not feared in the future.”
Prostate Cancer UK is the long-term Charity Partner of the EFL and is also a proud partner of the LMA allowing the charity access to football clubs, managers, players and supporters.
Their ground-breaking 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.
What’s more, since 2014/15 campaign, Prostate Cancer UK’s distinctive ‘Man of Men’ 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.
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.”
The substantial sums raised by fundraising such as Football to Amsterdam and Jeff Stelling’s March for Men will help ‘shift the science’ and crack the three core issues of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, which have been left unsolved for too long.
It will also help provide support and information to those affected by the disease.
To show your support and get a Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ pin badge to wear with pride, text BADGE to 70004 to donate £5* and help stop prostate cancer being a killer.
For information about the badge and the charity’s work in football visit prostatecanceruk.org/whostheman .
* Text costs £5 plus network charge. Prostate Cancer UK receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 0800 082 1616. Charity No 1005541.
