Man v Fat Football Carlisle saw round two of its end of season cup take place this week.
The group stage is hotting up and competition is fierce – with four teams still in the running to make it to the final in a fortnight’s time.
The opening match this week was well-contested one between Saint Eat-Again Greens and Scran United Reds, ending in a final score of 15-9 to the Greens.
In the second game, Parmesan Belgrade Blacks overturned an on-pitch deficit against cup holders Borussia Muncheverything Whites to secure the points once weight loss and tracking goals were added to final scores: a unique aspect of the Man v Fat league.
The result ended 14-8 to the Blacks and puts them now within touching distance of the final.
In the concluding game, underdogs Fatburn Rovers ran league champions Fatarselona Oranges close, ending 13-7 to the Oranges once off-the-pitch goals were added to the scores.
With one game remaining in the group stage, the results this week mean that there are still four teams in contention.
Fatarsealona and Parmesan Belgrade currently lead the pack: both teams having secured maximum points with two wins from two.
Borussia Muncheneverything and Saint Eat Again are not far behind, both within a win of first and still in with an outside chance of reaching the final.
Fatburn Rovers and Scran United unfortunately now find themselves out of contention, and will turn their focus to preparing for next season.
The warm atmosphere and camaraderie between the players contrasted against the bitter temperatures under the Harraby floodlights, as individual performances were once again a highlight of the week.
For the Blacks, Matt Potts proved to be an exceptional presence in defence this week. He was commended for expertly marking whites’ forward line and advancing with the ball to make quality forward passes.
In an unfamiliar role for the Blues, Dan McGuirk stepped into the goalkeeper’s role. His performance was nothing short of remarkable, with numerous fantastic saves that showcased a hidden talent. His distribution throughout the game was also commendable.
Hein van der Westhuizen was the Greens’ Man of the Match, demonstrating versatility and skill across the pitch. His excellent play was capped off with a fine goal for his side.
For the Reds, Michael Edwards stood out with his skilful touches and composed build-up play, alongside strong attempts at goal.
Despite a slight injury, he showed remarkable resilience by continuing to contribute effectively for the rest of the match.
The Oranges were led by their captain, Steve Wright, who dominated the game with his exceptional performance. He posed a constant threat to the opposition, scoring twice, as well as showcasing leadership, skill and sportsmanship on the pitch.
For the second week in a row, goalkeeper Shawn Berry repeated his outstanding performances for the Whites, making some excellent saves and exhibiting great distribution.
This week also saw brilliant weight loss achievements across the teams, led by Mal Brown, marking a hard-earned 4.4kg loss. Ben Millington posted a remarkable milestone this week too: achieving a 15% body weight loss since signing up.
The league’s head coach, Beverley Young, reflected on this week’s matches. She said: “Week 12 saw some great football, as teams battle it out on the pitch for position in the group stage.
“The guys were still flying high this week off the pitch too, with nine hat-trick goals scored, and three more players reaching their 5% weight loss milestones. Well done Max, Matt and Jon!
“In the season so far, the guys have lost a huge 88.5kg together, can they make 100kg for the cup final? We hope so!”
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 1,500lb 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 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.
