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A game-changing partnership between Prostate Cancer UK and the League Manager’s Association (LMA) scooped a major accolade at the Football Business Awards last Thursday, 3rd  November.

 

Industry leaders and iconic names from the beautiful game converged for the prestigious event at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC, with the leading men’s health charity’s work with the LMA winning Sponsorship Deal/Partnership of the Year in the fifth annual event.

 

A national event at which all the achievements off the pitch are celebrated at the end of each year, the Football Business Awards recognise and reward the hard work that takes place to support the success of the game.

 

The charity’s presence at the event in North London, hosted by radio and television presenter Colin Murray, came during the third successful season of the forward-thinking partnership that has seen more than 100 LMA members – including Claudio Ranieri, Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson – show their support for a hugely important cause.

 

In March LMA members – including Ray Wilkins, Archie Gemmill and Peter Taylor – joined Sky Sports Jeff Stelling as he walked 10 marathons in 10 days from Hartlepool to Wembley. And Former England International Terry Butcher led 350 riders in the hugely popular Football to Amsterdam cycle ride from London, Barnsley and Ipswich to the Dutch capital.

 

Prostate Cancer UK raised over a million pounds through football activities in 2015/16. Thanks, in part, to this partnership, football fans everywhere now know that prostate cancer can’t be ignored.

 

Shortlisted alongside architects, lawyers, caterers and marketing agencies, to major sponsors, tech companies, recruitment consultants and banks, the charity also rubbed shoulders with the cream of English football; their partnership with the LMA beating Eleven Sports Media – Middlesbrough FC, Barclays – HSE Cake, NIVEA MEN – Liverpool FC, Acacia Mining – Sunderland FC and Vitality – Liverpool FC.

 

James Beeby, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re thrilled our partnership with the LMA has picked up such a prestigious award.

 

“The LMA and its members have been brilliant supporters of ours during the past three seasons, and seeing our Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ badge on managers in the Premier League and EFL gives us an immense sense of pride and proves once again the power of football in spreading this serious message.

 

“Ignoring prostate cancer will not beat it. We are proud to work with the LMA, and they and organisations from across the football family have consistently shown a brilliant demonstration of what we call Men United: people joining one team to fight a common opposition – prostate cancer.

 

“One man every hour dies from prostate cancer; it’s the most common cancer in men, but we want to make prostate cancer a disease that the next generation of men do not fear. We thank the LMA for joining the fight.”

 

LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan, said: “The LMA is proud to have built such a strong and productive partnership with Prostate Cancer UK over the past three seasons.

 

“From wearing the iconic ‘Man of Men’ Prostate Cancer UK pin badge on touchlines up and down the land, to attending insightful events ranging from visits to cancer research labs, raising funds on stock market trading room floors, competing in golf days and taking part in interviews to promote extensive awareness, our members have enthusiastically engaged with Prostate Cancer UK’s work.

 

“The Football to Amsterdam bike ride and Jeff Stelling’s Men United March have also been incredibly successful initiatives for Prostate Cancer UK and I’m delighted the LMA and its members were also able to support these fundraising activities.

 

“Football can play a massive part in raising awareness of this dreadful disease and this award is testament to our thriving relationship, and long may that continue.”