BOLTON Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce is warning men to be aware of testicular and prostate cancer.

Big Sam is one of the ambassadors of the Keep Your Eye On The Ball campaign, set up by the Professional Footballers Association, the Football Association and the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign.

It aims to make fans and players aware of testicular and prostate cancer and Big Sam teamed up with Manchester City goalkeeper, David James, and a lumpy football to urge men to check for irregular lumps, which are one of the first symptoms of testicular cancer.

The top-flight manager is also calling on football clubs around the country to make their players and fans aware of the signs and symptoms and to spread the message around the footballing community.

Allardyce said: "The statistics are shocking. The number of men that are diagnosed with male cancer each year would fill Boltons entire Reebok Stadium.

"Keep Your Eye On The Ball is working to educate men about the signs and symptoms of testicular and prostate cancer and to raise money to fund vital research."

Cases of testicular cancer have rocketed in the last 20 years, but it is not known what has caused the increase.

In the time it takes to play one 90 minute game of football at least one man will have died of prostate cancer, and the disease has now overtaken lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men.

But testicular cancer is 99 per cent curable if caught early enough.

Philip Black from the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign said: "We are delighted David and Sam have kindly decided to show their support to Keep Your Eye On The Ball.

"By engaging the football community we can really make a difference in raising awareness of male cancer to men and also their partners. "