Guildford’s MAN v FAT Football Club was crowned Community Club of the Year 2025 at the nationwide MAN v FAT Football Awards, celebrating its outstanding impact on men’s health and wellbeing.
In the drive to reduce cardiovascular related disease and improve overall health, Surrey County Council commissions the Man v Fat weight loss programme through the free healthy lifestyle service One You Surrey. The FA-accredited programme, which also runs in Woking, combines football with weight-loss support, helping overweight and obese men with a BMI of 27.5 or above to shed pounds, boost confidence, and build friendships.
At sessions, players weigh-in, followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on their weight loss. A team’s total weight loss and match scores then contribute to its position within a club’s overall league table.
Mark Smithies from the Guildford club says: “Joining MAN v FAT Guildford has honestly made a huge difference for me, I’ve lost weight, I’ve got fitter and made great mates along the way. I look forward to it each week and it has helped me stay active outside of football too.
“Mentally, it’s been a real boost. Being part of such a positive and supportive group does a lot for your confidence and mindset. It’s more than just football and lifestyle, it’s a proper community, and I’m proud to represent MAN v FAT Football Guildford.”
In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players also receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas, tips on general fitness and free access to a bespoke mental health platform through MAN v FAT partners JAAQ.
The total amount of weight lost by MAN v FAT players in the UK currently stands at more than 800,000 pounds.
The Guildford club, which meets Friday evenings at Kings College – Community Sports Hub on Southway, currently has 68 club players smashing their weight loss targets on a weekly basis. In the last twelve months players at the club have lost more than 34 stone of excess weight between them and the weight loss keeps growing week on week.
The Woking club meets Monday evenings at the Woking Sportsbox and has supported 40 players to lose an amazing 365kg throughout 2025.
Find Out More & Sign Up
If you live in Surrey, we have funded spots available in our Guildford and Woking clubs, thanks to Surrey County Council and One You Surrey. To register, visit their club pages today!
Visit www.manvfat.com/football and search for Guildford or Woking to register. Spaces fill quickly, so act now to kickstart a healthier you in 2026!
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