Given he admits he'll struggle to grow facial hair as part of the Scunthorpe United squad's charity fundraiser, Garry Thompson is keen to grow his side's points tally during the next four weeks.

Around 25 of the Iron's players and staff have signed up for this year's Movember event, which sees men sport moustaches during November to raise both cash and awareness for men's health issues.

For Thompson, the instigator behind the idea at Glanford Park, it is a subject closer to home than most.

In June last year, while on holiday with his wife-to-be, the Iron winger was told his grandfather Kevin Langrish had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer.

He underwent surgery two months later and now, more than a year on, is, thankfully, waiting to get the all clear.

Understandably though it remains an emotional subject, which is why the 31-year-old is so keen to play a part in raising awareness of a disease which sees more than 35,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

"I'm not going to lie, I cried when I found out," Thompson told the Telegraph.

"My grandad is my world and has been my dad for the whole of my life. To find out something like that was devastating.

"If we as a squad can raise awareness of prostate cancer, and a little bit of money for charity, hopefully we can prevent other people from having to go through what my family has.

"It's not something to be sniffed at, it's a major killer which takes the lives of a lot of men each year.

"My grandad has to go back in a month to have everything checked out, but fortunately he's back on the mend.

"It wasn't nice to see him struggling, but touch wood he's over the worst and can carry on being my grandad.

"He said he would be proud to put his name to what we're doing."

After last weekend's 4-2 win over Tranmere Rovers – United's first league win in five attempts – those players taking part in Movember had a final shave before meeting up for training on Tuesday.

Given players' competitiveness, Thompson is sure there'll be some intense battles for the honour of becoming Glanford Park's top tache wearer.

Yet while he hopes the drive will breed togetherness as well as awareness, the former Morecambe man concedes he is unlikely to be among the front-runners.

"I'll put my hands up and say I can't actually grow a very good tache, but God loves a tryer, so I'll try my best to produce something," he laughed.

"A couple of the younger lads will probably struggle but I think most of the lads will be good, it'll be more a case I think of whose is the best.

"Chris Dagnall started growing one on Tuesday lunchtime and he only had a shave that morning. Reidy will be up there too and Mickey O'Connor has a couple of ginger hairs knocking around.

"I'm hoping it's going to bring the lads closer together as well – the banter has already been flying around."

While things may be getting hairy off the pitch, Thompson is happy quite the opposite applies to matters on it.

Although still stuck in the bottom half of the table, knowing they cannot move up a place no matter what the outcome of today's long trip to AFC Bournemouth, the versatile forward is confident his side are starting to gather momentum.

Unbeaten in four games, the Iron have come through a run of matches against sides in and around the top six relatively unscathed.

Thompson is keen for that to continue as United prepare for a 500-mile round trip.

"We feel we're starting to build something now," he continued.

"We were disappointed to draw the three games we did (against Brentford, MK Dons and Huddersfield Town), but we haven't let it get on top of us. Training has been good and sharp and the gaffer has had us at it.

"Getting the three points on Saturday has been a boost.

"We've played most of the big teams now and we're near enough unbeaten in them all.

"Hopefully we've turned the corner with the result last Saturday.

"I honestly can't see any side in this league being too much for us.

"Huddersfield played well against us. They're supposed to be the best team in the league but we were with them every step of the way.

"But there's no point playing well against the good teams and under-performing against the so-called lesser teams.

"At Bournemouth we need to do what we've done away from home recently – keep things solid and then hopefully, as the game opens up a bit more, we can play our football."

Saturday will be Thompson's first-ever visit to Dean Court, a venue where Bournemouth have won only once this season, against Sheffield Wednesday way back on August 13.

To find out a bit more about what to expect on the south coast, the Iron ace has been in contact with Owls skipper, and former Scunthorpe team-mate, Rob Jones.

Thompson is confident Scunthorpe have the quality to maintain their unbeaten run against the Cherries.

And having been restored to the starting line-up for last week's win, he hopes to be able to help them do that first hand.

"I wasn't involved as much as I'd liked to have been last week, but I felt I contributed – especially aerially," said Thompson.

"I like to think on a bigger pitch, especially away from home, I might get on the ball a bit more.

"That's up to the manager, he's paid to pick the side. But whether I play or not, I'll give 120 per cent."

The same will apply to the battle to sport the Iron's most wondrous whiskers.

That though appears to pose a much tougher challenge.