A FOOTBALL league that helped 30 York men lose 480 pounds of weight last year has restarted following changes in Covid restrictions.

The league which is organised by Man v Fat Football, is aimed at overweight and obese men with a BMI of higher than 25 and plays at Burnholme Sports Centre in Mossdale Avenue 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 fed-up with traditional weight loss classes primarily aimed at women, decided to develop a programme that combines the beautiful game with achievable weight loss goals for men.

Before matches, the players are weighed, which is followed by 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, the regional manager for the programme in York 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 York 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, York’s rate of overweight and obese adults is around 61.5%, slightly below the national average of 62.8%.

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

Man v Fat leagues are subject to the local restrictions and have a list of local authority coronavirus sites here: https://manvfat.com/coronavirus/