A new pilot scheme targeted at football supporters has been launched by the Department of Health (DoH) in a bid to raise awareness of symptoms relating to 'male' cancers.

Health secretary Andy Burnham unveiled the one-year 'Ahead of the Game - Organise Your Defence' initiative at Portsmouth Football Club, which will be co-ordinated by the Football Foundation to help tackle cases of lung, bowel and prostate cancer in men. Five football clubs - Scunthorpe United, Portsmouth, Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and Brighton and Hove Albion - are taking part in the scheme, which will include nurses giving out information and free health tests at matchdays and community roadshows.

Burnham said: "Currently more than 60,000 men get these cancers every year - that's enough to fill the average football stadium twice. By raising awareness of the symptoms and making earlier diagnoses, we can improve the chances of survival. "Ahead of the Game is a fantastic initiative which will use the massive appeal of our national game to raise awareness of cancer and help save lives."