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21st May 2024
In partnership with NHS Fife and NHS Tayside, Dundee United will this weekend host a youth football tournament aimed at raising sun awareness amongst young people. This will be the second year that the Club has hosted such an event, highlighting an issue which has had particular relevance to Scottish football in recent years.
Skin cancer is a major public health issue as the most common cancer in the UK. The number of cases has doubled in just 20 years, with 7000 new cases each year in Scotland. NHS Fife and NHS Tayside are working together with the aim of bringing about a reduction in this number and young people have been identified as the target group for raising sun awareness, with the aim of reducing the incidence of sunburn and in the long term, skin cancer.
The Under 14 youth tournament - the first under the auspices of the new Dundee United Academy - will feature teams from Dundee United, Dundee, Aberdeen, plus select teams from the academy, AM Soccer Schools and Hutchison Vale BC and will take place at Gussie Park, from 11am on Saturday, 15 August. Admission is free.
The tournament is being held in memory of Alan Clarke, a young and devoted Dundee United supporter who died last year from skin cancer and who left a legacy to the Club. Following discussions with the family it was felt appropriate to expand the event to help promote sun awareness amongst the young, using the public profile of professional football to reach a wider audience.
The tournament is therefore being supported by NHS Fife and NHS Tayside to highlight skin cancer prevention and detection measures at an early stage and to promote sun awareness safety measures. Dundee United is the first football club to participate in this campaign, but it is hoped that other senior Scottish clubs will follow suit.
Dave Bowman, Schools Development Manager at Dundee United said, "Dundee United is pleased to be taking a leading role in this campaign, which has had a particular relevance to Scottish football this year. It is important that young people are made more aware of these issues and it is a very fitting way to remember Alan Clarke."
Celtic FC has also lent its support to the initiative, with a club spokesman saying, "Celtic FC strongly support the Sun Awareness campaign and its aim to reduce the incidence of skin cancer. This issue was brought to the attention of many following the tragic death of Tommy Burns last year and it is important that football continues to make young people in particular aware of the dangers of exposure to the sun."
Gordon Smith, SFA Chief Executive, also added his support to the initiative, "Best of luck to everyone competing in the tournament on Saturday. This issue is a hugely important one and anything that is done to raise awareness of it deserves everyone's support."
Sheila Robertson, Dermatology Liaison Nurse, NHS Fife, added, "This initiative is an extension of the "Keep Yer Shirt On" project targeting schools and out of school clubs in Tayside and Fife. Football has a high public profile, with an ability to attract the attention of young people in particular and we are therefore delighted to receive the support of football clubs. We'd like to thank Dundee United for helping to organise this football led promotion for our Sun Awareness campaign."
Paul Ballard, NHS Tayside's Deputy Director of Public Health, said, "The number of people getting skin cancer is rising each year at an alarming rate so it's extremely important to be safe in the sun - both on holiday and here in the UK. Adults and children should always cover up, slap on the sunscreen often, and try to stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun's rays are at their strongest."
Skin cancer is a major public health issue as the most common cancer in the UK. The number of cases has doubled in just 20 years, with 7000 new cases each year in Scotland. NHS Fife and NHS Tayside are working together with the aim of bringing about a reduction in this number and young people have been identified as the target group for raising sun awareness, with the aim of reducing the incidence of sunburn and in the long term, skin cancer.
The Under 14 youth tournament - the first under the auspices of the new Dundee United Academy - will feature teams from Dundee United, Dundee, Aberdeen, plus select teams from the academy, AM Soccer Schools and Hutchison Vale BC and will take place at Gussie Park, from 11am on Saturday, 15 August. Admission is free.
The tournament is being held in memory of Alan Clarke, a young and devoted Dundee United supporter who died last year from skin cancer and who left a legacy to the Club. Following discussions with the family it was felt appropriate to expand the event to help promote sun awareness amongst the young, using the public profile of professional football to reach a wider audience.
The tournament is therefore being supported by NHS Fife and NHS Tayside to highlight skin cancer prevention and detection measures at an early stage and to promote sun awareness safety measures. Dundee United is the first football club to participate in this campaign, but it is hoped that other senior Scottish clubs will follow suit.
Dave Bowman, Schools Development Manager at Dundee United said, "Dundee United is pleased to be taking a leading role in this campaign, which has had a particular relevance to Scottish football this year. It is important that young people are made more aware of these issues and it is a very fitting way to remember Alan Clarke."
Celtic FC has also lent its support to the initiative, with a club spokesman saying, "Celtic FC strongly support the Sun Awareness campaign and its aim to reduce the incidence of skin cancer. This issue was brought to the attention of many following the tragic death of Tommy Burns last year and it is important that football continues to make young people in particular aware of the dangers of exposure to the sun."
Gordon Smith, SFA Chief Executive, also added his support to the initiative, "Best of luck to everyone competing in the tournament on Saturday. This issue is a hugely important one and anything that is done to raise awareness of it deserves everyone's support."
Sheila Robertson, Dermatology Liaison Nurse, NHS Fife, added, "This initiative is an extension of the "Keep Yer Shirt On" project targeting schools and out of school clubs in Tayside and Fife. Football has a high public profile, with an ability to attract the attention of young people in particular and we are therefore delighted to receive the support of football clubs. We'd like to thank Dundee United for helping to organise this football led promotion for our Sun Awareness campaign."
Paul Ballard, NHS Tayside's Deputy Director of Public Health, said, "The number of people getting skin cancer is rising each year at an alarming rate so it's extremely important to be safe in the sun - both on holiday and here in the UK. Adults and children should always cover up, slap on the sunscreen often, and try to stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun's rays are at their strongest."
