THE European Union is to spend £5m to improve the health and diet of football fans.

A Glasgow company called PAL Technologies is to get £500,000 of the cash to supply 1000 electronic devices which will sit in fans' pockets and record their physical activity, or lack of it.

The bit of kit is based on activPAL technology which has been used for a number of years by researchers looking at the relationship between a sedentary lifestyle and chronic disease including obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. As well as monitoring, the device will also dispense exercise and diet tips.

If there's only 1000 of these thingies to go round all football fans, it's unlikely you will getting a shot. But help is at hand through this column's listenPAL service. We don't have a £500,000 budget to monitor sloth and laziness but we can offer football fans some free advice on exercise:

l Follow the players' example and have a pre-match warm-up. Turn up early and walk briskly up and down the terracing steps for 10 minutes.

l Don't sit for the duration of the game. Leap to your feet at exciting moments such as throw-ins. Spectators behind will be grateful for the opportunity also to participate in physical activity.

l If at Ibrox stadium, join in vigorously with the Bouncy Bouncy routine. Try to get to a game against Stenhousemuir where there may be eight goals to celebrate.

l If at Celtic Park, copy the Green Brigade with a lot of jumping up and down, lateral movement, and aerobic shouting at the polis.

l The traditional post-match warm-down of a pitch invasion is no longer recommended. Despite the health benefits of chasing rival fans, indulging in hand-to-hand combat, and dodging mounted police, there is a risk of being banned from your football club of choice and having to go and watch Partick Thistle.

On the diet front:

l Avoid the temptation to have a second pie. In fact, don't have the first pie. Take your own snack. My preference is peppers stuffed with cottage cheese, a chance to eat the colours (although must be said the red rather than green variety are more digestible).

l On no account accept a hospitality package unless you want to damage your health with copious amount of alcohol and a four-course lunch before kick-off, pies and sandwiches at half-time, and then more pies, sandwiches and drink 45 minutes later.