What links a baby elephant, a car engine, a panda and a piano?
We’ll give you a moment…….Still no clue?
They all weigh about 150kg, which is the same as what the players of Carlisle’s Man v Fat football club have lost this season. A remarkable achievement!
Monday marked another exciting week for the weight loss football league. Players put in blistering performances under the scorching sun on what was not just the hottest day of the season, but also the beginning of International Men’s Health Week, which runs from June 12 to June 18.
This week’s matches were intense, with Fatburn Rovers Blues thrashing Borussia Muncheneverything Whites 16-4, Parmesan Belgrade Blacks outplaying Saint Eat-Again Greens 14-8, and Fatarselona Oranges getting the better of Scran United Reds with a 14-5 win.
Parmesan Belgrade Blacks have been the pick of the bunch this season, securing top spot by winning all eight of their games so far. With just two games of the league season left, the team are shooting for a perfect record and a place in the league’s history books.
The goals were flying in this week with some spectacular finishes. Fatarselona’s attack was spearheaded by Danny Etheridge with four goals, supported by Ben Snell, Dougie Penrice, Mitch Bridgewater and Steve Wright. Saint Eat-Again had Daniel Meeking finding the net.
The Blues’ goal charge was led by Karl Park and Lewis Whitaker, each with a brace. Scran United saw a hat-trick from Ryan Roberts. Parmesan Belgrade Blacks showcased an array of scorers, including a hat-trick from Brendan Reilly, a brace from Ash Mahoney, as well as contributions from Gareth Ellis, John Nicol and Tom Burkes.
This week’s Man of the Match honours were awarded for outstanding individual efforts. Kyle Marshall of the Reds won praise for his tireless running and uplifting leadership spirit. Ash Mahoney was instrumental in everything the side achieved and was relentless in the challenging conditions.
Rhys Ash from Borussia Muncheneverything displayed tenacity in attack and defence. Orange’s Danny Etheridge controlled the game’s tempo and was ruthless in front of goal, whilst Fatburn Rovers’ Dan McAulay dazzled with tricky footwork.
Lastly, Deepthika Chandrasekera of Saint Eat-Again impressed on his sturdy, commendable debut.
Reflecting on his first week with the club, Deepthika said: “I was definitely nervous joining in at first, but the response I got from the lads on the first day has definitely motivated me to work even harder to get more active and be a part of the group.
“I used to be quite an active person many years ago. Since moving to the UK four years ago, work and life situations have changed and I have been quite inactive. This has pulled me down mentally as well. Searching for a change I came across Man v Fat.
“The first week was even better than what I expected and the impact it’s had on me already, I can’t wait to be a part of this for a long while more!”
Man v Fat Carlisle is particularly relevant this Men’s Health Week as the league is about more than just football; it’s a movement for better health among men. Topping the charts on Monday was Daniel Meekings, who shed a fantastic 2.2kg.
Close behind him, Jonny Brown from Fatburn Rovers lost an impressive 2kg, and his teammate Karl Park followed with a 1.8 kg loss. From Fatarselona, Mitch Bridgewater and Shane Statter each recorded a commendable weight loss of 1.7 kg.
Among the highlights of this week were some inspiring milestone achievements. Jonny Brown and Chris Jack marked the laudable achievement of reaching their five per cent weight loss targets.
Alongside them, a special round of applause is in order for John Nicol of Parmesan Belgrade, who took it up a notch by achieving an astounding milestone: shedding an astonishing 15 per cent of his starting body weight. The milestones are not just numbers; they are testament to the commitment, hard work and dedication these players have put into improving their health and fitness.
Coach Beverley Young was elated with the performances. She said: “There were some amazing results across the club, especially with the heat. It was great to see that, despite being unable to play on the night, two of our players Hein (van der Westhuizen) and Jonny (Brown) still came down to support their teams with the weigh-in.
“It was also incredible to see 10 players scoring weight loss hat tricks, but definitely a special hats off to John Nicol for achieving a fantastic 15 per cent weight loss.
“For those looking to be part of something special, Man v Fat Carlisle is always welcoming new members. Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, lose weight or just be a part of a supportive community, this is the place for you!”
Man v Fat Carlisle is a weight-loss football league for overweight or obese 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 1,000lb lost so far.
The league – which combines football with a weight-loss programme that includes diet and exercise advice, weekly weigh-ins and support from fellow players – has been a resounding success, with dozens of players from across Cumbria experiencing significant improvements in their physical and mental health.
The matches take place on every Monday evening at the Harraby 3G pitches on Edgehill Road.
For more information, 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.
