MAN v FAT Football Sandown, a club that helps overweight and obese men on the Isle of Wight lose weight through weekly football and healthy lifestyle sessions, is celebrating 2 big wins at a national awards ceremony. At the MAN v FAT Football Awards, hosted at Manchester’s National Football Museum last weekend, the club won the top award in the Regional Club of The Year in the South region, beating over 50 clubs to the title. In addition, the effectiveness of the club’s partnership with Isle of Wight Council saw the collaboration recognised with the Regional Partner of The Year category in the South region. The partnership between the Isle of Wight Council and MAN v FAT Football Sandown allows men with a BMI of above 27.5 from the Isle of Wight to benefit from a first 14-week season, free of charge. Sessions take place on Tuesday evenings from 20:00 at The Bay CE High School and are led by coach, Colin Jackson. Colin explains:
“We haveve struggled with your weight or confidence then joining us will honestly be the best decision you make, it really can turn your life around.”
The club currently has spaces for new players who may wish to join. At sessions, players are weighed, this is followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on their weight loss. A team’s total weight loss and match scores then contribute to their league position within a club. Dan Church, MAN v FAT’s regional manager for the Isle of Wight
“The MAN v FAT Football Awards are a massive celebration of community, of friendship and of achievement. “The story behind our players and the whole group at our Sandown club is incredibly motivating and humbling. “As we said on the night, it’s fantastic to be in a room where so many amazing losers are also the biggest winners and the players and coaching team at the Sandown club are a fine example of that. “We would like to say a huge thank you to Isle of Wight Council whose funding opens the programme up to men who might not otherwise have been able to take part and achieve their own health goals.”
MAN v FAT Football currently has 8,200 players taking part in more than 150 clubs across the UK, combining the beautiful game with achievable weight loss goals for men. Aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5. The total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at more than 650,000 pounds.
