Men in Kettering and across the surrounding area seeking to improve their health and wellbeing will have a great new option come September 2025.
As part of the national MAN v FAT community, Kettering has had a long standing weight loss football club delivered in conjunction with Northampton Town’s Community Trust, but the league will be switching to the impressive Kettering Sports Park from 22nd September.
The new facility, funded through a Football Foundation grant is due to open later in August and MAN v FAT’s players will get the chance to take to the new 3G pitch following the move across.
Since MAN v FAT Kettering got underway, men in the town have lost 520kg and made countless health improvements. Many have gone on to play regular football elsewhere as MAN v FAT continues to offer a pathway into physical activity.
James Geddes, Football Development Officer at Northants FA with responsibility for developing the male pathway in the county said: “MAN v FAT already has a successful track record in Kettering, helping players to lose weight, improve their health and find a way back into regular football, and we’re delighted to welcome them to Kettering Sports Park.
“This initiative underlines our commitment to improving playing choice and opportunities, and to delivering better places to play, where people can have a sense of local pride, feel safe and enjoy their football. We hope that the move to this fantastic new venue will encourage more men to join MAN v FAT, improve their health, and help them to ‘Create the Feeling’ that only football can.”
The league is one of two run in conjunction with the Northampton Town Community Trust and Akshay Mistry from the Trust is looking forward to getting started at the Sports Park.
He said: “We’re really excited for the change, to have access to new facilities which would be more suited to the programmes and being able to create the health and wellbeing environment as we’ve done over the years with the Kettering League. Since 2021, the league has engaged over 150 unique participants and seen a loss of over 500kg. The new playing pitch should make it a more attractive venue for the people of Kettering.”
It marks the latest piece of work from MAN v FAT as they seek out the best sporting and wellbeing opportunities for men up and down the country.
Speaking ahead of the switch in the Autumn, Regional Manager for MAN v FAT, Dan Church, said: “We’ve been proud to work alongside Northampton Town Community Trust for many years, supporting men in Kettering to take control of their health through the power of football.
“Now, with the support of the Northamptonshire FA and this move to the fantastic new Kettering Sports Park, we’re entering an exciting new chapter. This new facility represents more than just a change of venue, it’s a renewed commitment to creating opportunities for men to get active, stay connected, and build healthier futures.”
– Men interested in participating in MAN v FAT can find out more at www.manvfat.com/football
– More details about Northamptonshire FA’s support of male football can be found on their website: https://www.northamptonshirefa.com/players/male-pathway
– Northampton Town Community Trust’s extensive range of courses and programmes can be found on their website here: https://www.ntfccommunity.co.uk/
