Gloucester weight loss football team has 'changed my life'

A man has said playing football has "changed his life" after losing five stone (31.7kg) in weight.

Ryan Barkle, 41, joined the MAN v FAT football team that trains once a week in Gloucester, and is now the coach.

The initiative awards extra goal bonuses to teams based on the amount of weight players have lost.

Mr Barkle told BBC Radio Gloucestershire he felt "much, much fitter" and more confident since joining the team.

He said that beforehand he would have been "reluctant" to exercise in public or join a football team, worried about people judging "the fat man".

He added: "It's very easy to put off losing weight when you're on a journey by yourself.

"[With MAN v FAT] there's a rivalry and we all want to do well.

"You're letting your teammates down, you're letting each other down, if you're not performing off the pitch."

Before he started the sessions at Brockworth Sports Centre on Mill Lane, Mr Barkle said it was mainly his portion sizes that were contributing to his weight.

"Sausages, unfortunately, it's two not four," he said.

Across the country, nearly 8,000 players are taking part in the football sessions which aim to help players lose weight.

Before the matches, players are weighed, followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side.

They also receive support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness. 

Mr Barkle said while a lot of people join to lose weight, playing football also helps players' mental health.

He said a recent team weigh-in showed they had collectively lost a metric tonne in weight.

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