A SECOND league designed to help footballers lose weight while playing the beautiful game is being launched in Colchester.

MAN v FAT Football will next month launch another FA-endorsed 14-week football league in the town, designed exclusively for the 68 per cent of UK men who are overweight or obese.

The league, based at Shurb End Sports Centre, starts next Thursday (February 6) on the back of the fantastic success of their first weight loss league in Colchester.

It is exclusively for overweight men and unique in that players can score points for their team both on and off the pitch.

Players are rewarded for their weight loss performance as well as their footballing performance, something that has been key to the programme's phenomenal success so far, which has seen Colchester men lose 7,451lbs – the equivalent of 39 Harry Pells!

MAN v FAT’s Head of Football Richard Crick said: "We've seen that MAN v FAT Football can have an incredible impact on the health of our players with 90 per cent of players losing weight and 93 per cent reporting improvements from a range of conditions such as curing sleep apnoea to reversing diabetes.

“Our players have now lost more than 240,000lbs and these numbers are continuing to grow week on week.”

With 90 per cent of players losing weight in MAN v FAT leagues across the country and some players losing up to 70lbs during a 14-week league, it’s no wonder that the leagues have been so popular and won several awards including the ukactive Healthy Community Award.

Set up by Andrew Shanahan, who himself lost five stone and was fed-up with weight loss classes aimed just at women, MAN v FAT Football combines the beautiful game with easy to follow diet and lifestyle advice as well as 24/7 support.

There’s the traditional weigh-ins before each game but this is then followed-up by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football.

Extra goal bonuses are awarded depending on the pounds lost by the players, so it becomes a real team effort.

With players choosing team names such as 17 Stone Roses, Borussia Munching Flapjack and OB City – it’s clear that the men enjoy the opportunity to get back on the pitch.

The new MAN v FAT League will be situated at Shrub End Sports Centre, Boadicea Way, Colchester, CO2 9BU and will take place on Thursday nights between 8-10pm.

The existing Colchester League currently takes place on Wednesdays between 8-10pm at the JobServe Community Stadium, United Way, Colchester, CO4 5UP.

Players can join up at www.manvfat.com/football

For more information, call 0345 163 1042 or email football@manvfat.com