This week’s Man v Fat Football matches, held under the floodlights on the Harraby 3G pitches, saw the league’s resilient players enduring temperatures as low as -4°C.
Not to be deterred, over 40 players were in attendance across the teams, eager to make progress on and off the pitch.
In this week’s fixtures, the opening match saw Fatarsealona Oranges lead the way against Scran United Reds, with a final score of 14-6.
Borussia Muncheneverything Whites recorded a quality 14-6 victory over Fatburn Rovers Blues. Saint Eat-Again Greens put Parmesan Belgrade Blacks to the sword with some incisive finishing, ending 14-7.
The league table reflects the close competition at this stage of the season, with each team having played six of their 10 matches.
Fatarsealona Oranges currently top the tree, followed by Saint Eat-Again Greens and Borussia Muncheneverything Whites, each within a win of first place.
Individual performances were also in the spotlight, with Man of the Match awards showcasing each team’s standout players.
For the Blacks, Sam Philpott managed to get himself on the scoresheet, as well as linking the play well for the full match, getting stuck in throughout and showing some fantastic technique.
Mark Braithwaite was a real standout for Fatburn Rovers Blues, leading the way with composure and powerfully scoring his side’s two goals. For the Greens, goalkeeper Dennis Craik was in inspired form between the sticks, even managing to chalk up an assist to help his team score on the break.
Oranges’ Ben Snell scored an outstanding hat-trick and facilitated his side’s attack all game. For the Reds, Jon Nattrass showed top-tier work rate throughout and demonstrated outstanding off-the-ball defensive play.
Finally, Whites’ Andy Trickett rounded off a solid defensive display with a cracker of a goal into the top corner. In a double achievement, he managed to top the club’s weight loss chart this week, with a 2.7kg loss.
The league’s head coach, Beverley Young, said: “In the last couple of weeks, a focus on food tracking and on what not to eat, has really helped reverse the natural gains over Christmas. Well done to the players!
“It was great to see support and encouragement right across the club around eating well, getting guys down to the Monday games when they weren’t feeling it and to hear the buzz going on at the busy weigh-ins.
“And finally, a special well done to our new guys for playing in one of our coldest sessions!”
Outside of the pitch, one of the club’s popular players, Stevie Baty, is fundraising throughout February for Dementia UK. Following a close bereavement over the festive period, Stevie has decided to swap his football boots for walking boots in February, to walk a kilometre a day in aid of Dementia UK.
Stevie, 35 of Carlisle, said, “I’m doing this because I’m passionate about raising money for the Dementia UK Charity, and also to raise awareness. I’m doing the challenge in the memory of my grandmother, Cath, who sadly passed away in December.
“My Man v Fat journey has enabled me to feel physically fit enough to take on this challenge, and to keep on moving each day.”
You can find out more about Stevie’s story on Facebook.
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 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 in Carlisle.
For more action-packed photos and highlights, 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.
