A thoroughly entertaining and competitive season of a fat-fighting football league reached its conclusion on Monday, as Man v Fat Carlisle discovered its new league champions.
Once the on-pitch scores were added to weight loss and tracking goals, it was Borussia Muncheneverything Whites’ emphatic 14-5 victory over Fatburn Rovers Blues that sealed the coveted title.
The final league standings saw the Whites lead the way on 13 points, followed closely by Fatarselona Oranges on 11 points.
Just a stone’s throw away from the title were Saint Eat-Again Greens on 10 points, Fatburn Rovers Blues and Scran United Reds on 9 points, and Parmesan Belgrade Blacks on 8 points.
Coach Beverley Young said: “Man v Fat is a football league like no other. The game isn’t just about scoring on the pitch, it also includes goals scored off it, with consistent weight loss and weekly food tracking. The only league where losers win!”
Celebrating individual brilliance this week, the Man of the Match awards, sponsored by RAW Insurance Brokers, were awarded for some outstanding performances.
Karlos Williams, representing Fatburn Rovers, showcased some exceptional footwork and off-the-ball movement throughout. Brian Brooks, from Parmesan Belgrade, made a string of crucial saves to secure a narrow win for his side.
Scran United’s Paul Sewell not only scored twice but was instrumental in linking up play and simply “never stopped” according to the opposition captain.
Saint Eat-Again Green’s star, Ash Clarkson, netted a hattrick, driving his team forward and securing an 11-7 victory. Jack Cooper from Fatarselona was a continuous threat, scoring twice, and leading the press.
Finally, Rhys Ash, in his team’s title-deciding game, pressed relentlessly from the front: disrupting his opponents’ rhythm and securing the victory for his side.
Rhys, a 29-year-old manager in addiction services, shared his thoughts post-match.
“The match was way closer than the final result suggests. There were great battles in the centre of the pitch and the Blues made our title push very difficult. However, a couple of lovely strikes from our captain, Si, did the job on the pitch. And ultimately off the pitch the lads smashed it!
Reflecting on the season, Rhys said, “It’s an amazing feeling to win the title, especially as it could have been any team this season. The standard of the league is growing every week and it’s clear we all just love playing on a Monday night.
“On a personal level I’m edging closer to losing 10 per cent of my body weight, and I wouldn’t be able to do this without the encouragement of lads at Man v Fat. Bring on the cup!” he added.
Coach Young added: “What a fantastic final week with of the league, with a lot of effort focused on the off the pitch goals. Eleven weight-loss hattricks were scored across the club – achieved from three weeks of consistent losses – and whole teams ensuring they had tracked their food for the week.
“The close battle for first and second position played out across two games, and the final league winners shield was secured by Borussia Muncheneverything Whites – with nearly all of their players losing weight in the week.
“Despite the team-to-team competitiveness, I loved seeing how well the guys reached out to encourage each other, with a Carlisle club-first attitude!”
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 1400lbs 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.
