As the mercury soared in the hottest evening of the season, week four of the Man v Fat Carlisle football league sizzled with unexpected outcomes and individual brilliance.
In a league renowned for its competitiveness and camaraderie, the matches at Harraby 3G pitches were a testament to the unpredictability and closely-matched skill sets of all six teams.
From Parmesan Belgrade Blacks’ stunning first loss in 14 matches to Scran United Reds’ last-second goal, this week was full of action that proved anyone could triumph come the end of the season.
Overcast skies were no match for the fiery spirit of competition at the Harraby 3G pitches this Monday, where Week 2 of Man v Fat Carlisle’s new season unfolded with palpable tension and excitement.
As the whistle blew, it was clear that every point would be fiercely contested in a league where anyone could emerge victorious.
The matches concluded with nail-biting scores, proving once again how closely matched these teams are. Incredibly, there are just four points covering the spread of the teams.
A remarkable 5-goal performance from the Greens’ Ash Clarkson was not quite enough as Fatarselona Oranges narrowly squeezed past Saint Eat-Again Greens in a thrilling 10-9 victory.
In another intense clash, Borussia Muncheneverything Whites delivered a narrow 11-9 win against Parmesan Belgrade Blacks.
It was the first time the side have suffered defeat in over 14 games, marking an end to their record-breaking unbeaten run.
Mark Bray, Marcus Beattie, and Brendan Reilly were among the scorers for the Blacks, while Harry Watson and Imre Medve got on the scoresheet for the Whites.
In this week’s featured match, Scran United Reds’ last-second goal sealed an 8-7 comeback win against Fatburn Rovers Blues.
Paul Sewell and Mike Vevers shone for the Reds, while Lewis Whitaker, Rob Ullyart, and Johnny Brown contributed with goals for the Blues.
The RAW Insurance Brokers Man of the Match accolades recognised the true difference makers on this extraordinary week, in which all of matches were decided by the narrowest of margins.
Marcus Beattie of the Blacks orchestrated his team’s play brilliantly, making things tick throughout the match. At the other end of the pitch, Shawn Berry’s incredible shot-stopping abilities were a lifeline for the Whites in their milestone win over the Blacks.
Ash Clarkson was a force to be reckoned with, leading his team in Greens with remarkable goal scoring. Jon Gupwell’s crucial saves for the Oranges and Shane Statter’s consistency in the Blues’ net rounded off the spectacular individual performances.
Success off the pitch was just as significant, with top weight loss losers such as Imre Medve and Harry Watson of the Whites losing an impressive 3.5kg each. These weight loss milestones turned into extra goals on the pitch, thanks to Man v Fat’s unique format.
Mike Vevers, a 31-year-old HGV driver from Carlisle, and a trialist for the Reds this week, made a stellar debut culminating in a last-second winning goal.
Post-game, he said: “The thing that interested me with Man v Fat is you get to play the beautiful game with like-minded guys who want the same end result, to lose a little weight.”
Reflecting on his first game, Mike added: “I had a few nerves before my first match as didn’t really know what to expect, but the standard was a lot better than I thought it would be.
“The match was played with high spirits and well organised, including Teddy as ref and all players wanting to win and put 100 per cent into it. Coach Bev helped to make my decision to join easier too. I’ll be back next week as a new signing and hopefully kick on from there!”
And would he recommend it to others?
“If you enjoy football and a bit of banter with likeminded people, I would say to give this a go, 110%. I have battled with low confidence and self-esteem and have been affected by poor mental health in the past. But I can already tell how much I’m going to enjoy this experience with a great bunch of lads and that it will help.
“You don’t have to be great at football, but just have the eagerness to try your best and enjoy it as much as possible – plus hopefully become healthier in the process,” he said.
Coach Beverley Young said: “An absolutely fabulous evening with all six teams showing exemplary football skills. The tremendous effort by Borussia Muncheneverything Whites was the cherry on top.
“They lost a total of 9.5kg as a team, earning them bonus goals and making them the weight-loss heroes of the week. A special mention goes to Jack Cooper from Fatarselona Oranges for achieving a 10 per cent body weight loss from his starting weight… amazing!”
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 1,400lb 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 over one hundred players from across Cumbria experiencing improvements in their physical and mental health.
The matches take place on every Monday evening at the Harraby 3G pitches on Edgehill Road in Carlisle.
The initiative is for all abilities, and there’s no age limit. Players can go completely at their own pace, regardless of their fitness levels.
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.
