Walking football event 'will save someone's life'

2 hours ago

Allen Sinclair,South of Englandand

Curtis Lancaster,South of England

News image — Teams from across the UK came together for the event in Abingdon

BBC Men in red and white walking on an Astro turfed football pitch with a football at one man's feet. They are playing a match. — Teams from across the UK came together for the event in Abingdon

A walking football manager has said a tournament organised to raise awareness of prostate cancer "will save someone's life".

Teams from across the UK came together for the football event in Abingdon, Oxfordshire on Wednesday, and tests for prostate cancer were offered to players and supporters.

Steve Pope, manager for one of the England sides helped to organise the tournament and said four of his players have prostate cancer, "which brought it home" that something needed to be done.

Pope said they hoped to encourage older men who are at risk of developing prostate cancer to undertake the free blood test available on the NHS.

Steve Pope stood in a blue t-shirt and tracksuit top on the Astro turfed football pitch. He is smiling at the camera. — Steve Pope believes the tournament "will save someone's life"

All the players who took part in the tournament were over 50 years of age and one of them was Michael O'Byrne lives in Oxfordshire but was representing Ireland.

He said he had no symptoms when he found out he had an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

His routine test came back positive and he wants to encourage more men to press their GP for screening.

"They can be fortunate like me, catch the disease early and have little or no consequences from the operative procedures," he said.

"Had I not had the tests I probably wouldn't be here today."

Michael O'Byrne stood in a green orange and white ireland t-shirt on a astro turf pitch smiling at the camera. — Michael O'Byrne had no symptoms when he had prostate cancer

Men aged 50 and over in the UK can request a free Prostate Specific Antigen blood test from their GP if they are concerned about prostate cancer, even without symptoms.

Morris Weightman, a player for Abingdon Almost Athletic Walking Football Club was one of the men to take advantage of the on site testing.

He believes there is a reluctance among some men to speak to their doctor about health concerns.

He said: "I think the nice thing about being in a big group like this walking football club is we get to talk to each other and more and more of us share with each other the fact that getting tested at any opportunity is just hugely beneficial."