Much-travelled football manager Brian Horton is calling on Oxford United football fans to sign for a new club this October: Prostate United, the biggest grassroots football fundraiser in the UK.
The 75-year-old was diagnosed with prostate cancer in May 2023 and went public with his story almost a year ago.
The hugely respected Horton took charge of well over 1000 matches in a distinguished managerial career, led Hull City, Oxford United, Manchester City, Huddersfield Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, Port Vale and Macclesfield Town, as well as coaching many more clubs.
He also played for Vale, Brighton, Luton Town and Hull before transitioning into player-management when joining the Tigers.
Now he wants fans of his previous clubs, not to mention the wider football family, to sign up for the annual football fundraiser, Prostate United.
Since 2018, football club staff and fans have raised over £500,000 for Prostate Cancer UK by running, walking or cycling every day each October, with the magical £1m milestone the target for 2024.
Created by EFL performance staff Stephen Gilpin and Ross Burbeary whilst at Rotherham United, Prostate United has seen over 60 football clubs – both professional and Non-League – get involved, with hundreds of staff and fans hitting the road on foot or on a bike to save men’s lives.
Nobby Horton joined Oxford United as assistant manager to Mark Lawrenson in May 1988, replacing him as manager in October. He went on to manage the U’s for 243 over 5 years, giving a debut to Joey Beauchamp.
“It’s almost a year since I started my treatment, and I’m feeling good and keeping busy,”
“It’s been great to talk about my story in the past year too, and I was so humbled by the response from the football community, including so many of my former clubs as a coach and player. I’m so glad to hear its helped people as well. That was always my aim throughout this, and I’ll continue to spread the word the best I can.
“Until this happened, I didn’t know anything at all about prostate cancer; I never dreamed I’d be affected. I had no symptoms at all, and that’s what I say to people now; please don’t wait to feel something, take ownership of your health and understand the risks of this disease. That’s why working alongside Prostate Cancer UK has been so rewarding for me.
“It’s also great to see the charity’s continued work in football, including October’s Prostate United fundraiser, which is a brilliant way of galvanising club staff and fans to team up. It’s great to see so many of my former clubs getting involved for such an important cause.
“Money raised will help the charity fund better testing and treatments for this disease, to help men and their loved ones, like me.”
Brian Horton, former Oxford United Manager
Horton’s diagnosis came after he took part in an annual health check-up last April as part of his long-term affiliation with the LMA – and the results flagged up the disease a month later.
“I remain hugely grateful and thankful to the LMA for the work they do as they are saving lives,” said Brian, who reserved special praise for Doctor Sally Harris who oversaw the check-up and initially flagged the potential danger of prostate cancer.
“Probably in our era, you think you are okay, you think you are invincible. But I certainly wasn’t.”
Horton has completed a course of radiotherapy, and now has a hormone injection every eight weeks.
“There are a few aside effects. I do get tired and can get hot flushes, but that’s mainly when I have a drink. But I still feel as fit as I anyone.”
Cancer has affected Brian’s family with his brother currently affected by another version of the disease.
He added: “Cancer is such a big word, isn’t it? A word that everybody dreads. The biggest thing you think about straight away is your family and telling them. But I’m completely committed to talking about this, telling my story and making men more aware of the risk of prostate cancer. That will hopefully ensure others aren’t walking around unaware.
Former England international and Prostate Cancer UK supporter Viv Anderson is also backing the Prostate United challenge, with the defender helping to launch the new limited edition Prostate United shirt, which fundraisers can get their hands on if they raise £500 this October.
To take part in Prostate United and help save men’s lives this October, sign up for Prostate United 2024 at prostateunited.prostatecanceruk.org.
About Prostate United
- Prostate United is a yearly fundraising challenge that invites football club staff and fans to walk, run or cycle a distance every day during October.
- The challenge, founded by Stephen Gilpin, began in 2018 and has so far raised over £500,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. Stephen was inspired to begin fundraising after losing his grandad, Norman, to prostate cancer in 2012.
- To date, more 300 members of staff from over 60 clubs from across the UK have taken part, including Manchester United, Leeds United, Everton and Sheffield United. Clubs pledging to support in 2024 include Derby County, Wolves, Cambridge United and Manchester United.
- In 2023, Doncaster Rovers – led by manager Grant McCann – topped the fundraising league table having raised nearly £18,000.
- For more information, visit prostatecanceruk.org
About Prostate Cancer UK
- Prostate Cancer UK is the largest men’s health charity in the UK, striving for a world where no man dies of prostate cancer.
- The charity works to give every man the power to navigate the disease: by helping men understand their risk through our award-winning online risk checker; by providing them with trusted support and the information they need to make the right treatment choices for them; or by empowering them to make improvements for their path ahead, and for the paths of generations to come.
- Prostate Cancer UK is the driving force in prostate cancer research in the UK. Investing millions into the best researchers in the world to unravel the complexity of the disease, the charity has improved how men are diagnosed through funding cutting-edge technology like more accurate MRI scans. The charity works to give men precise and personalised care with the right treatments at the right time, for the best chance of living the full life they want and spending more time with those they love.
- Prostate Cancer UK also supports men living with and after prostate cancer, providing services like a Specialist Nurses helpline to give expert advice, and working with the NHS and its Clinical Champions to change the healthcare system so men are more involved in decisions and empowered to navigate prostate cancer.
About prostate cancer
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men.
- More than 52,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year on average – that’s 143 men every day.
- 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer.
- Around 475,000 men are living with and after prostate cancer.
- Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that’s more than 12,000 men every year.
- Prostate cancer is curable if caught early, but early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, so it is vital that men know their risk.
- Men are at higher risk if they are over 50, Black or have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer.
- To help men check their risk in 30 seconds, Prostate Cancer UK have an online risk checker available here: https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker
Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer can:
- Contact Prostate Cancer UK’s Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383, or via email, webchat or WhatsApp at org/nurses
- Access online and printed health information at org/information
- Speak to trained volunteers with experience of prostate cancer at org/one-to-one
