The football league that helped 33 Sheffield men to lose 35 stone is back

The leagues, organised by MAN v FAT Football, are specifically aimed at overweight and obese men with a BMI of higher than 25 and are played at St George's Park in Westfield on Tuesday evenings.

The FA-affiliated scheme, which has 5,000 players in over 75 leagues across the UK, was created by Andrew Shanahan who was fed-up with traditional weight loss classes primarily aimed at women. He decided to develop a programme that combines the beautiful game with achievable weight loss goals for men.

Players are weighed before matches and then take part in a 30-minute game of six-a-side, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on the amount of weight players have lost. Players receive additional support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.

Tom Shirley, regional manager for the programme in Sheffield said: “Up until now we hadn’t been able to kick a football in 2021 so the restart of outdoor sport represents a hugely exciting moment for everyone involved with MAN v FAT.

“MAN v FAT isn’t just about losing weight, it’s about enjoying sport in a safe, friendly environment, learning about healthy lifestyle and diet - and making new friends. We have spaces for new players in our Sheffield league and we’ll be with you every step of the way.”

According to Public Health England data covering the year up to April 2020, Sheffield’s rate of overweight and obese adults is around 62 per cent, slightly below the national average of 62.8 per cent.

Players can join up at www.manvfat.com/football and they can get more information by calling 0345 163 1042 or emailing [email protected]