FOOTY fans will be invited to have their own balls inspected prior to play when Movember is officially launched at a Darlington FC match this Saturday.

The launch of annual awareness raising initiative Movember will see a GP offer information and half-time testicular checks to supporters when the Quakers play Stockport this weekend.

The cancer community development worker from the NHS Darlington CCG will be giving advice as part of the men's health movement, which traditionally sees people across the country grow moustaches to highlight the impact of male cancers.

Testicular cancer is the most common in men under 40, with 2,400 cases diagnosed every year in the UK, while one in eight men in the country will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point.

Dr James Carlton said: "Talking about cancer on match day will raise awareness and hopefully help men feel more comfortable about asking for help."

John Tempest, Darlington Football Club Director said: "As a football club at the centre of our community, we would urge everybody to have a check-up for cancer. Detection now will prevent bigger problems later."