Wakefield man loses six and a half stone in less than a year with help of weight-loss football club

Sam Sheppard, 25, had found himself struggling after moving to Wakefield when he came across an advert for MAN v FAT Football Wakefield on social media.

He said: “I’d gone from playing football multiple times a week to not at all. It really negatively impacted my weight and mental wellbeing.

"When I came across the adverts, I took the leap to join and never looked back!”

MAN v FAT Football is a weight loss programme for men with a BMI over 27.5.

Players attend weekly sessions where they weigh in and play 28-minute games of small-sided football.

Extra goals are awarded to teams with the greatest total weight-loss.

Both a team’s total weight lost, and goals scored contribute to a team’s standing in the club’s league table.

Sam said: “The most enjoyable part of my week is MAN v FAT. That’s down to the people at the club, the set up, and how simple everything is.

"I love that I get to play football with people who 12 months ago I didn’t know and I now consider good friends.

"Everyone is on the same journey. People’s goals and circumstances are different, but we all understand, no one judges, no one criticises.

"It’s all a family and everyone is there for everyone else.”

Sam said with that, there’s also an improvement with his mental health.

“I’ve struggled with mental health issues for a good decade of my life. I am not ashamed in sharing that I’ve had therapy,

"I’ve had prescribed tablets and have been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression, so doing MAN v FAT was a huge, huge step for me.

"But for me my situation has become so much easier. Giving myself something to look forward to each Friday has been massive.

“The support from all the lads and the help put in place if anyone is struggling goes a long way. Not only that, but seeing the scales decrease each week is also an incredible incentive to keep going, keep pushing, keep fighting.

“Because of the weight I have lost whilst playing, I have been given the opportunity to broaden my horizons on exercise. I now go for walks daily and get my step goals in.

"I will occasionally turn that walk into a run, whether rain or shine. I am now also able to go to the gym because I feel comfortable in myself. It goes in hand with MAN v FAT as it made me realise everyone is on their own journey and no one will judge”

The Wakefield MAN v FAT Club takes place every Friday from 7pm at Aspire At The Park, and has helped its 58 members to lose 542kg, or more than half a tonne in 2025.

In addition to football sessions, players receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness.

You can find out more about the group here.