Football fan backs calls for sanitary bins for men

A football fan who has stage four prostate cancer is backing a campaign for sanitary bins to be put in men's toilets at stadiums across Wales.

Mark Lewis, 57, from Merthyr Tydfil, said one of the side effects of having prostate cancer could be urinary incontinence and the lack of such facilities was putting men off from attending games.

The Cardiff City supporter told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that football fans who used incontinence pads "might be walking around with the product in your hand looking for a bin outside of the cubicle, which is very very embarrassing".

"There are thousands of men basically living in silence and putting up with these problems, afraid to leave the house," he added.

Mr Lewis is backing the Prostate Cancer UK charity's Back in the Game initiative to get clubs in Wales to sign up to their "Bog Standard" and to install sanitary bins for men.

"What we've realised is thousands of men are living with prostate cancer and they are basically very shy at coming forward and saying we need help," said Mr Lewis.

Mr Lewis, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, has a stoma after his bladder was removed and currently has to dispose of his stoma bags in the food bins at Cardiff City's Stadium.

He said that, while there are sanitary bins in disabled toilets at the ground, he does not class himself as disabled and so never uses these toilets.

Research carried out by Prostate Cancer UK in partnership with Caerphilly-based PHS Group showed the lack of facilities was deterring some men from attending matches and this was impacting on their mental health.

There are three different tiers to the Bog Standard initiative which clubs can sign up to, with Manchester United signing up to be the Premier League's first gold Bog Standard club.

Bethan Davies from campaign organisers, Disposal of Dignity campaign, said: "It is really an easy solve and football clubs can make a massive difference."

Mr Lewis features in an eight-minute film aired on BBC Morning Live on Monday and presented by Kym Marsh, whose father died of prostate cancer in early 2024.

A Cardiff City spokesperson said: "We currently have sanitary bins in all disabled toilets in the concourses which those needing the privacy are able to access via the radar key system."

They said if anyone did not have their own radar key then all stewards were briefed and able to help.

A Swansea City spokesperson said: "We most definitely support the campaign and will have all our bins installed by the end of January."

They said some were already installed but they wanted to install more to ensure every supporter felt supported by their football club. Free incontinence products will also be offered in certain cubicles, the club added.

The BBC has also approached Newport County, Wrexham and the Football Association of Wales for a comment.