MAN v FAT Football has helped over 800 Oxfordshire men lose 4 tonnes of excess weight in the last 8 years – and the pounds keep dropping off!
Clubs meet each week in Oxford, Banbury and Abingdon, where players start a session with weigh ins, before playing 28-minute games of small-sided football.
Both a team’s total weight loss, and goals scored in matches contribute to a team’s standing in the club’s league table, with the most successful sides and individual players celebrated at the end of 14-week seasons.
MAN v FAT Football is a nationwide programme specifically for men with a BMI over 27.5, which the NHS classifies as overweight or obese. If you’re an Oxfordshire resident, you work or are registered to a GP in the county, you can apply for a season of MAN v FAT Football free of charge, thanks to funding from Oxfordshire County Council.
Kaine Ellis, a member of the Abingdon club has lost over five stone with the help of MAN v FAT, and says the programme changed his life. The Abingdon local joined MAN v FAT in 2024 weighing 19 stone, which he has reduced to 14 stone at a healthy and sustainable pace.
He explains: “Back in 2024, I was given a birthday gift to go for a flight in a glider. However, once I arrived, I was told I was too heavy to fly and couldn’t go ahead with the flight. Hearing that news left me feeling incredibly ashamed of my weight and deeply embarrassed.
“On the drive home, feeling pretty low, I stopped at a traffic light and noticed a banner for something called MAN v FAT. I looked it up as soon as I got home and signed up for the programme that very evening.
“MAN v FAT has changed my life in so many ways. I have lost a massive amount of weight and am now close to hitting my 30 per cent total body weight loss milestone. I’ve even gone from a size 2XL down to a Medium or Large, depending on where I shop for clothes!
“The structure has helped me keep my weight loss consistent and has been a huge factor in keeping me motivated week after week. Because there is such a wide range of people all on the same journey, you pick up so many great tips and tricks to help you along the way.
“Beyond the physical changes, MAN v FAT has been a massive positive for my mental health; I feel so much happier and far more optimistic about life in general. Finally, it has completely transformed my social life. I have made so many new friends since joining, and I’ve even gotten three other people involved in the programme. I will always encourage people to join—it truly can be life-changing.”
Karl White, National Clubs Manager at MAN v FAT adds: “We are incredibly grateful for the long-standing support from Oxfordshire County Council, which helps us to change lives for the better across the region.
“If you’re enjoying watching football this summer and looking for a way to get back into the sport, we offer a non-judgmental, friendly environment to do so, where as well as playing, you’ll also receive coaching aimed at supporting your health and fitness goals.”
MAN v FAT Football Abingdon meets at Tilsley Park on Wednesdays at 7.30pm. The Banbury club takes place on Fridays from 6.30pm at North Oxfordshire Academy, while the Oxford club runs each Monday at Barton Park Pavilion from 6.30pm.
There are currently more than 7,500 players at 150 MAN v FAT Football and Rugby clubs across the UK. The programme was created to differ from traditional weight loss classes and combines sport 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 over 900,000lbs.
In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness. Players also get free access to a bespoke mental health platform through MAN v FAT partners JAAQ. You can find out more about MAN v FAT in Oxfordshire on MAN v FAT’s website.
