THE excitement contained within the see-saw nature of some of Bolton Wanderers' recent Premiership escapades is enough to send your blood pressure sky high.

A football stadium would not to be high on your wish list of places to be should you experience a health problem such as the above.

Generally associated with a pint, a pie, a burger and supporters sending themselves apoplectic with fury or delight as the 90 minutes progresses, football, unless you are actually playing the game, is not particularly conducive to keeping you in good health.

All is not lost though, as the situation could be about to change - for what better solution than to put a health centre in a football ground?

The Premier League and the Department of Health are currently working together with the aim of providing football ground facilities for men to seek treatment for a range of problems, from obesity and heavy drinking, to bowel cancer and high blood pressure.

The first "wellness centre" is due to open next spring at Manchester City's stadium

Nutritionists will be on hand to dispense advice on how to improve diet and overcome heart problems.

Women will also be able to use the facility to receive breast cancer screenings.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren this week launched a Fit Through Football campaign, aimed at educating people about the links between health and diet.

The initiative offers 60 local unemployed men fitness sessions based on players' routines, with match tickets and free healthy lunches thrown in. It also aims to educate schoolchildren.

Bolton Wanderers, which a couple of seasons ago ran a campaign encouraging fans to look after their hearts, backed the ideas and said that if they were successful the club would be looking to do something along similar lines.

Spokesman Danny Reuben said the club was keen to monitor the situation, and added: "I think it is important and we would love to get involved. Whether we could build a health centre is another matter that would have to be discussed at a high level.

"It sounds like something that would appeal to people who maybe do not have the confidence or the time to go to the doctors and would prefer the surroundings of a football ground.

"If it is successful at the City of Manchester stadium it could work here."

Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson said: "Groups in society who are often less inclined to access health facilities are heavily represented among crowds at matches, especially men and young people.

"We are in talks with the Department of Health about how some of the health initiatives that a few of our clubs already undertake individually could be extended nationally.

"The power of football can be very effective in engaging people to take their health more seriously."

While the City of Manchester Stadium will be the first to open a health centre, other clubs, including Everton, who are teaming up with Barnardo's in a campaign warning of the dangers of heavy drinking, are keen to link up with fans.

Also, this week hundreds of fans had their blood pressure taken at testing stations at Newcastle United and Manchester City's stadiums, with some referred to their GP for treatment.

If it carries on like this, the announcement of a lad's day out at the football will soon be greeted with approval by the wife or girlfriend.