If you’ve been thinking about joining MAN v FAT Aintree but keep putting it off because you don’t know what actually happens on the night, this is for you. Here’s an honest walk through your first Thursday, from signing up to the final whistle.
The short version: you turn up at Goals Liverpool North in Netherton, step on the scales in private, play some 5-a-side with your new team, and go home. Nobody is there to judge you. Every bloke on that pitch had a first night too.
Before you arrive: signing up
MAN v FAT Football is for men with a BMI of 27.5 or above. If you’re not sure where you sit, the NHS BMI calculator takes a minute.
To join, register on the MAN v FAT website and choose Aintree as your club. You don’t need to bring mates or form a team: new players are put into a team for you. The league rolls on all year, so you can join at any point rather than waiting for a new season. If the league is full, you go on a waiting list.
Prices, payment and the small print are all on the official MAN v FAT FAQs, so check there for the current costs.
Where and when
- Where: Goals Liverpool North, 151 Park Lane, Netherton, Liverpool L30 1QQ
- When: every Thursday
- Weigh-ins: from 7:30pm
- Kick-offs: 8pm and 8:30pm (your team plays in one of the two games)
Aim to arrive a little early on your first night so there’s time to say hello and find your team.
7:30pm: the weigh-in
This is the bit most new players worry about, so let’s get it out of the way. The weigh-in is private. You step on the scales with the coach, and only you and the coach see the number. Nobody shouts it out, and it isn’t pinned up on a wall.
Your first weigh-in sets your starting weight. From then on, each week’s weigh-in is compared with the week before, and that’s where the “weight loss football” part comes in: the weight you lose turns into goals for your team. You do need to weigh in to play, so don’t skip it.
8pm: kick-off
Games are 5-a-side on a 4G pitch and each one lasts 28 minutes, so you’re not running for an hour. There are four teams in the Aintree league, so there are two games a night, at 8pm and 8:30pm, and your team plays in one of them. You’ll be lining up with the same lads every week. That’s the point: they get to know you, and you get to know them.
You don’t need to be any good. Some of the lads played every weekend in their twenties; some hadn’t kicked a ball since school. Fitness comes with time. If you’ve been out of the game a while, take it steady on your first night, play within yourself and build up week by week.
How your weight counts on the scoresheet
Every MAN v FAT match has two halves to the score:
- Pitch goals: the goals scored in the game, like any other league.
- Scales goals: earned by players on your team who’ve lost weight that week. Putting weight on can cost your team.
- Tracking: log your food in any food tracking app during the week and your team picks up tracking points.
Add them together and you get the final score. That’s why a team can lose on the pitch and still win the night. You can see how it plays out every week on the Season 9 table and the results page.
What to bring
You don’t need anything fancy:
- Football boots for a 4G pitch. Most of the lads play in boots: moulded studs or 4G/astro boots are ideal. If you haven’t got any yet, trainers with good grip will get you through your first week. No metal studs.
- Shin pads. These are a must: you won’t be allowed to play without them.
- Comfortable sports kit you can move in.
- A water bottle.
- Something dry to change into for the drive home.
After the final whistle
Results go up on the website, and the social pages cover the week’s scores, milestones and tables. When players hit a milestone (every 5% of starting weight lost), it gets celebrated. Have a look at the gallery and the roll of honour to see who’s been there before you.
Between Thursdays, the team chat keeps you going. That’s often where it clicks: the lads checking in, sharing what they’re eating and pushing each other to turn up next week.
“But what if…?” Common first-night worries
“I haven’t played football in 20 years.” You won’t be the only one. Plenty of the lads came back after a long break. Take it steady and you’ll be surprised how quickly it comes back.
“I’ll be the biggest bloke there.” Everyone there is on the same journey, and nobody’s there to judge. The scales are private and the banter is about the football.
“I’m not fit enough.” That’s what the league is for. You’ll get fitter by playing, not before you start.
“Can I just come and watch first?” MAN v FAT says you’re welcome to a trial session where you can watch or play. Ask when you register.
“What if I gain weight one week?” It happens to everyone. You turn up the next week and go again. One bad week doesn’t undo a good month.
Ready for your first Thursday?
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably closer than you think. Have a read of our guide to creating a calorie deficit without feeling hungry, find out more about the club, then sign up and choose Aintree. We’ll see you on Thursday.
