Back in the Game

Currently, thousands of men are living with incontinence in the UK and are too anxious to leave their homes due to a lack of disposal facilities and sanitary products in public spaces.

The BOG STANDARD Charter, a campaign established in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK and phs Group, is striving to change that by improving public access to incontinence support so that men can dispose of waste with dignity. 

In support of this campaign, United has supplied incontinence bins and sanitary products in the washrooms at Old Trafford. The club has also installed P-Wave screens with messages reminding men to conduct regular checks in support of their health and wellbeing.

“I've been in many pubs, bars, and they have sanitary products for women, but there's nothing for men,” notes United fan Mark Farrington, who was hesitant about returning to Old Trafford following a prostate operation and living with incontinence.

“Straight after treatment, you're at your lowest; you don't want to go out. You feel safe being at home or somewhere near your home where you are in walking distance.”

Farrington, who comes from Horwich, in Greater Manchester, believes that having the right products available, and somewhere to change, will give confidence to the many people living with similar issues.

“Manchester United have been at the forefront of many things, so for them to take the lead on this [means that] other Premier League teams will follow,” he stresses. 

“Then the lower league clubs will start following what the major league clubs do. 

“The BOG STANDARD campaign putting their bins and products into the stadium, it means that I can go and watch the football for the football. I can enjoy the day; I can enjoy being with my friends, being in the moment, instead of having to constantly worry… ‘What if I need to go? What am I going to do about it?' It 100 per cent made me want to go back to watching football again.”