As we steer the direction of the MAN v FAT community at a national level, it has always been important to have skills and expertise in the HQ team that are beneficial to the incredible group of guys that we support.
Among its numbers, the HQ team is made up of former players, coaches and those with skills from other industries.
The latest addition to the HQ team is someone who will be familiar to many of our coaches in the north. Vicky Fisher has been a long standing coach at MAN v FAT Chester, bringing a wealth of health and wellbeing expertise to the lads there.
And she’s now a part of the HQ set-up, having joined recently as an Area Club Coordinator.
We chatted to Vicky to get the lowdown on her new role and what she hopes to bring to the team and the programme in general.
How excited are you to get started with MAN v FAT HQ?
I’m really excited to be starting with the team in HQ. The timing to join the team was perfect, I had just been made redundant from my NHS role when the opportunity arose, so I jumped at the chance to get involved with MAN v FAT HQ. It felt like an easy decision to make, to start something new and be part of something big that really makes a difference.
I’m really keen to see how the business runs from head office viewpoint and get stuck in. I’m looking forward to meeting all the other coaches and working with the other clubs and seeing how they tick. I’m excited to be part of a team that creates real change.
You’ve been a long standing coach within our community – what will you bring from your experiences into your new role?
I joined MAN v FAT as a coach in 2023 on a bit of a whim and I’m really grateful that I took that leap of faith. It was a bit of a curveball decision as I have very limited knowledge and experience when it comes to football. But I have a strong background in health, nutrition, group fitness so I decided I would try out and be a coach for MAN v FAT.
I figured it would be a bit different but fun, and I was right. I really enjoy helping the guys in the club and I try to create a really welcoming atmosphere where we all work together to support each other. As a coach I am empathetic and very positive. I focus on the individual and I ensure everyone feels listened to and included. Overall, I’m keen to use my experience to help build a supportive culture and contribute to a team that’s working towards meaningful change.
Talk to us about your previous professional experiences and how you think they might benefit in your work at MAN v FAT?
I have a really varied background within health and fitness. Most recently as a health coach for the NHS and I still work as a fitness instructor which I love. Both roles have really helped me develop strong people skills, from building rapport to empowering the players.
As a current MAN v FAT coach, I have a solid understanding of how the programme works and what MAN v FAT is all about. Working at the Chester club, I have managed to develop the club and build really strong, supportive atmosphere. I have developed fantastic relationships with the players by getting to know them, keeping them focused, building confidence and being there to encourage them every step of the way. This professional experience I think will help translate really well into a head office role at MAN v FAT.
We recently completed the migration to the new system at MAN v FAT – how impressed have you and your players been with it and what features would you like to see in the future?
We love the new system, its so easy to use and it gives the players instant access to their results. I like to see the progress graph and let the players know how they’ve contributed to the end score by tracking and losing weight etc.
It’s great to see a top 10 of who did well on the scales that week as its motivating but also maintains that edge of competition to the programme. As for the future, it would be great to be able to upload photos for progress, or for challenges, or even to be able to share achievements where the wider community could integrate with each other.
If you would give a MAN v FAT member who is just starting out one bit of advice, what would it be?
Firstly welcome and well done for taking that first step through the door. Remember to focus on you, your goals and what’s achievable for your lifestyle. Don’t do too much at once. By making small realistic changes, you can achieve success in the long term.
Remember, there is a huge community available to support you and we’re all focused on the same goal and rooting for you to succeed.
