Preston football club reaches final of Man V Fat National Championships

Preston Elevens took home the trophy last season. Pic: Lukas Bennett

The Man V Fat Preston Elevens team, often called the Purple Cobras, have reached the final of the National Championships for the second year in a row.

Man V Fat is a weight loss league, aimed at men who have struggled to lose weight in the past, mixing the journey with football.

The Preston Elevens team was formed after the group had ‘been going strength to strength on and off the pitch’.

Team shots of the recent season. Pic: Lukas Bennett

As this year’s season began, the team topped the group stage of the National Tournament with a 100% win rate, facing the likes of Warrington’s second team, Bolton and St Helens.

The group then went into the knockout rounds against North Tyneside, Warrington’s first team, one of their ‘biggest rivals,’ and Durham, who gave them a ‘very challenging time.’

The Purple Cobras came out on top and are now National Finalists, coming up against MvF Walsall and playing at Millwall FC this Sunday (12 May).

Lukas Bennett – known as Chewie, one of the Prestonian players said: “This is a truly amazing team, we support each other on and off the pitch, push each other to be the best versions of ourselves, guide each other in losing weight, and support each other with our mental health.

“We were all individuals that joined a weight loss programme to become healthier, a few years later we have grown into a team of brothers that will do anything for each other.”

The team were crowned National Champions at their first tournament last year, winning 3-2 against West Brom, during the early days of the group’s formation.

Chewie added: “As a team we know we have a major task ahead of us and to be in this position two years in a row is truly amazing.

“But, we will fight to the very end and we will be determined to win and bring the trophy back to Preston for a second time in a row and to be the only team in the UK to have done this.

“We are trying our best to represent Preston with pride and we will do everything we can to bring that trophy home, not just for ourselves, for Preston as a whole.”

He said the work ethic of the team has been ‘truly outstanding’ with a win rate of 93%, scoring a total of 219 goals across 29 games.

The team are also self-financed, costing the club £4,000 to travel to play in the tournaments.

Chewie said: “We would also like to thank Andy Holly from Holly Dental Practice (which operates within Moor Park, Preston) who has helped us every step of the way and been our main sponsor and helped us purchase our kits.

“Also, our managers Chris Ashcroft and Daz Eales, our Chairman John McNamara, our President Eamonn McNamara, and our founder Aaron Donaldson.

“This has been a real journey and without these men, we wouldn’t be where we are right now.”

To find out more, you can visit their website.

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