FOREST Green are backing a brand-new initiative designed to raise awareness of testicular cancer amongst young men who play and watch sports.

With support from the Gloucestershire FA, they have kicked-off their Match Fit campaign by distributing 500 information packs to the association’s member clubs across the county.

The hand-outs contain awareness cards, posters, wallets, leaflets and pens, all in the name of urging men to check their ‘balls’ regularly.

It’s in the Bag spokesperson Siobhan Hallmark explained: “Testicular cancer is the most common cancer amongst young men. The treatment is very effective – with a 96 per cent cure rate - but early detection and diagnosis is crucial to achieve the most successful outcomes.

“The Match Fit campaign promotes the enormous importance of regular self-checking for all men aged between 15 and 35, the most common age group affected by testicular cancer.

“Match Fit has been launched primarily to football clubs, and with support from the wider sporting community it is hoped that more and more male sporting set-ups will adopt the Match Fit message, which is check yourself once a month and, if you feel anything unusual, see your doctor straight away.

“Men tend to respond well to images and tongue-in-cheek messages that do not involve a lot of reading and Match Fit has been designed to catch the eye, maybe raise a smile, while getting the message firmly across.

“Ultimately we’re all about relieving suffering and saving lives.”

Last year Gloucestershire FA (GFA) chose It’s in the Bag to be the recipient of its annual charitable donation, and the county body has continued to throw its weight behind the cause.

Chief executive David Neale said: “We are delighted to support It’s in the Bag and help raise awareness of testicular cancer.

“We have written to all our member clubs urging them to support the campaign by reading and distributing the awareness packs sent out by the charity.”

And GFA chairman Roger Burden stressed: “Testicular cancer is a particularly cruel disease in that it strikes young men, typically of an age when they will be playing football.

“The aims of It’s in the Bag’s awareness campaign align very well with the county association’s broader objective to promote the health and well-being of the men who play, watch and administer our game.”

More than 2,200 men are affected by testicular cancer in the United Kingdom every year, and it is the most common cancer to affect young men. John Hartson and Neil Harris are examples of well-known footballers who have successfully overcome the disease.

More recently Cheltenham Town’s former Bristol Rovers forward Eliot Richards, a former Wales Under-21 international, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. The 23-year-old has had surgery and is now taking steps that it is hoped will lead to a full recovery.

At the top level, Newcastle United’s Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez made a playing comeback only last month, against Manchester United, for the first time since being diagnosed with testicular cancer in the autumn of 2013.

He was said to have been “desperately ill” at the start of the season when chemotherapy treatment caused his hair to fall out.

Another sobering reminder of the devastating effect the disease can have on an individual and his close ones came when West Ham’s Australian-born striker Dylan Tombides died last year aged just 20.

The number 38 shirt he had worn with such pride was retired from use and the Dylan Tombides DT38 Charitable Foundation was set up to raise awareness about testicular cancer, in much the way It’s in the Bag operates across the South West.

A group of It’s in the Bag volunteers were also in attendance helping to spread the Match Fit message.

Anyone wishing to know more about testicular cancer, It’s in the Bag or the Match Fit project, can email matchfit@itsinthebag.org.uk More information can also be found at www.itsinthebag.org.uk,