As MAN v FAT Football enters its tenth year of supporting men to improve their health and wellbeing, some of our longest standing clubs continue to achieve great things.
In Essex, MAN v FAT Chelmsford has been running for 21 seasons and the guys there have lost 2,351kg since things first got underway.
Tom Mean has been involved with the club, played at Sandon School, since August 2024 and recently hit his 25% weight loss.
Turning 30 was a big line in the sand for Tom, who told us: “Heading into my 30s I wanted to make real changes to myself for the better. I headed to the gym often but saw this more as a chore, and needed something to align with my competitive nature. I’d seen MAN v FAT a few times before but never taken the dive, but decided it seemed ideal for my needs.”
Chelmsford currently has nearly 60 guys participating week to week and have already hit 57kgs lost in their current MAN v FAT campaign.
Weight loss remains an important focus despite the club’s age and Tom was quick to praise the community spirit in the Essex group.
“There is a strong but friendly sense of accountability, you are surrounded by people in a similar situation who understand what goes through your mind throughout the week,” he added.
“You also want to make changes, not just for yourself, but to support others in the group, particularly in the team.”
The power of MAN v FAT remains in that team and club community – tackling weight loss efforts as part of a collective and not as an individual.
“MAN v FAT has increased my social circles, and it was the kick starter for getting my weight loss journey heading in the right direction. It also facilitated me regaining a level of fitness sufficient enough to train for a half marathon, that I completed in October 2025.”
If you want to join Tom in the Chelmsford club, you can sign up today! Take a look at our club page for more details on how to get started.
