This week of Man v Fat Football Carlisle was one to remember for Parmesan Belgrade Blacks.
The season’s standout side will be celebrating a league title win come the end of the season, after amassing an unassailable 14 points with three games remaining.
Whilst every team has shown impressive performances, Parmesan Belgrade has stood head and shoulders above this season.
On the field, they have shown consistent skill, teamwork and determination. However, what really sets them apart is how they’ve embraced Man v Fat’s unique league format, where losing weight adds to the team’s scores.
The title-winning team is made up of eight players, each bringing their unique skillset and background: captain, Brendan Reilly; vice-captain, Tom Burkes; goalkeeper, Kev Brough; Marcus Beattie; Ash Mahoney; Brian Brooks; Gareth Ellis; and John Nicol.
Brian Brooks, a 50-year-old Senior Theatre/Sound Technician, was a founding player of the Carlisle league in 2021. He transitioned at the start of the season from his traditional goalkeeper position to become an outfielder, exemplifying his fitness progress.
Brian joined Man v Fat with a simple goal in mind: to lose weight. Traditional methods like gyms and weight loss groups hadn’t worked for him, but the set-up of the Carlisle league offered him a way to lose weight and play football with a supportive team.
The result has been nothing short of transformational: a loss of over 5 per cent of his body weight in under three months. “Weight-loss support combined with football was a winning combination for me… and our team! Team support aids motivation in weight loss, and I enjoy the football and getting more active,” he shared.
Brian’s weight loss is admirable, but what he values most is the team’s spirit. “Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of the team with victory and a great team performance, that’s the real highlight for me,” he reflects.
Joining Brian in the weight-loss charts is the Black’s Marcus Beattie, who has registered an incredible 6% loss from his season start weight.
Parmesan Belgrade is also home to two of this season’s stand-out performers on the pitch. Star goalkeeper, Kev Brough, is in the running for the league’s Golden Glove award for the third season in a row. At the other end of the pitch, Brendan Reilly is leading the race for the Golden Boot with an amazing 16 goals in seven games.
Brendan said, “I was never really a fan of the gym, but wanted to exercise. This way I’m able to get the best of both worlds, with losing weight and enjoying football. I would encourage anyone to come down and give it a try!”
Ash Mahoney, owner of Mahoney’s Barbers in Carlisle, claimed Man of the Match on Monday as his side clinched the league title. He was lauded for his eye for goal, as well as ability to control the game and consistently set up chances for his team-mates.
He said: “Man v Fat is a great way to get back into football. There is a great crowd of lads with loads of different abilities, all in a friendly environment to gain your confidence back in the beautiful game”.
With three games still to go, the side have notched a remarkable 102 goals and built up a stunning 51-goal difference, far outpacing their competitors.
Vice-captain Tom Burkes, another club founder, has been an integral part of Parmesan Belgrade’s successful season. Tom, a 30-year-old teacher from Workington, joined Man v Fat to get fit after spending a lot of time indoors because of COVID-19.
Speaking about why he joined, he said, “I’ve never been great at playing football, but I’ve always enjoyed it, so Man v Fat was a great way to get fitter after two years of sitting inside. It was a useful motivator for me to lose weight for my wedding in February, and I looked slimmer than I have been in years.”
Highlighting his unforgettable moment from this season, Tom light-heartedly shared, “Scoring my one goal was definitely the highlight of the season for me!”
Off the pitch, Tom recently received the wonderful news that he and his partner are expecting their first child. He reflects, “It was great to cap off our announcement this week with a goal, a season-winning result… and a terrible celebration.”
Overall, at the heart of Parmesan Belgrade Blacks victory is an incredible commitment to personal health. Their title win embodies the spirit of Man v Fat Football: enjoying the beautiful game while striving for better health and fitness.
Their performance has proven that this combination of passion and perseverance is a winning formula, both on and off the field.
Man v Fat Carlisle is a weight-loss football league for men with a BMI of 27.5 or above, and provides a supportive and friendly environment for men to lose weight and improve their overall health and wellbeing, with over 1000lbs lost so far.
The league – which combines football with a weight-loss program that includes diet and exercise advice, weekly weigh-ins and support from fellow players – takes place every Monday at the Harraby 3G pitches on Edgehill Road.
For more information or to join the programme, visit www.manvfatfootball.org/carlisle or search Man v Fat Football Carlisle on Facebook.
Readers of this article can receive a special discount when signing up, by using code CUMBRIA when prompted on the Man v Fat website.
