The much-anticipated Man v Fat Carlisle cup saw its opening fixtures take place this week.
Monday marked the fiery beginning of a four-fixture showdown, following the end of a phenomenal league season.
The cup is now within reach for any of the league’s six teams, but the players’ performances, both on the pitch and off it, will have to be near-perfect to secure the coveted trophy.
With the unique Man v Fat football set-up, where weight loss goals add a fresh twist to the scores on the pitch, the matches were as entertaining and well-fought as ever. Once the dust settled, this week’s final scores were revealed as:
- Fatburn Rovers Blues 5-18 Borussia Muncheneverything Whites
- Fatarselona Oranges 7-19 Saint Eat-Again Greens
- Scran United Reds 5 -7 Parmesan Belgrade Blacks
Across all the games, individual brilliance sparkled on the pitch.
This week’s RAW Insurance Brokers’ Man of the Match winners showcased skill, tenacity and dedication throughout.
Jake Eplett from the Blacks had an impressive debut marked by rapid footwork and tireless running.
Harry Watson was described as a “total menace in attack and defence” by the opposition captain, making crucial tackles and scoring four spectacular goals.
On his return from a long-term injury, John Nichol from the Oranges consistently rallied his team with his non-stop energy, galvanising his team.
Blues’ Ian shone with a well-taken goal and his ceaseless attempts to drive his team forward. Greens’ Ash Clarkson was unstoppable, tearing through the opposition and scoring an incredible eight goals, while Dale McDougall from the Reds put in a shift with constant running and a neatly taken goal.
However, the essence of the Man v Fat Football league isn’t solely about the goals on the pitch. The week also celebrated substantial weight losses.
Tim Linford, of the Whites, led the charge with a loss of 2.8kg, closely followed by Brendan Reilly of the Blacks.
Coach Beverley Young said: “The club refocussed its efforts after last week’s fantastic league finale, as focus turns now to the next four weeks of cup games.
“Some great goals scored in the back of the net, but also in the kitchen at home, with five hat-tricks scored for continued weight-loss. There were some sterling individual losses too.
“Finally, a special coach shout out for one of our goalies, Shane Statter, who started this week as sub for the Blacks and were very grateful for his many saves!”
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 100 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.
