With our Amazing Losers game on the horizon, we’re spending the days leading up to kick off meeting the lads who’ll be pulling on the shirts in this year’s game at Walsall FC. We move across to Kent and to meet one of our Margate Seniors, Bradford Rogers!
Tell us more about your initial reasons for joining MAN v FAT
My initial reason for joining MAN v FAT Football was simple – I’d tried everything else. All the diets, all the clubs, all the weight-loss groups, Weight Watchers… everything. And none of it really worked for me. But when I saw MAN v FAT Football, something clicked. Football has always been my passion. I knew I was overweight, and I knew I wasn’t as healthy as I should be, but the idea of losing weight through football immediately sparked my interest. It gave me something I could genuinely connect with – a way to get healthier while doing something I love.
If you could go back in time and talk to the version of you at the start of your weight loss efforts, what would you tell them about the changes you’ve experienced?
If I could go back and tell my bigger self something, it would probably be this: this could work, so give it a go. Really give it a go. You’ve tried everything else. Every diet, every club, every plan. But this time, stick with it. Trust the process. Because it’s not just about losing weight. It’s about staying healthy, living longer, and being there for your family. It’s about being able to run around, kick a ball again, and feel proud of yourself. And before you know it, the small steps add up. One session, one week, one weigh-in at a time. And suddenly you realise… you’re doing it.
Who would you like to thank for their help in your progress?
I’d also like to say a big thank you to Adam, the coach. The guidance and encouragement he’s given have been incredible. He’s been there, he’s done it himself, and he understands the pitfalls along the way. Every single week he takes the time for a little chat – How’s it going? You’re doing well. Keep going. Don’t worry, it will come. That support makes a real difference.
But what’s been just as important – maybe even more important – are the teammates. The people I now call friends. Not just teammates on a pitch, but genuinely good friends. The laughter, the camaraderie, the banter every week… it’s been incredible. It turns something that could feel like a challenge into something you actually look forward to being part of.
What are your future hopes around your health and wellbeing?
Well, I feel like I’ve pretty much achieved where I wanted to be – not just with MAN v FAT Football, but in life and in business as well. I’ve lost nearly 50% of my weight, which still feels incredible to say. But now I’m starting to think about what comes next. Maybe it’s about helping and encouraging others. Helping people see that this can work for them too.
I’d love to support MAN v FAT in getting more people involved, especially older men who might feel like it’s too late or that nothing will work for them. The over-fifties are one of the groups suffering the most with weight and health issues, and yet we’re part of the only senior pilot league in the country at the moment. Imagine what could happen if more of these leagues existed.
Something like this could genuinely change lives. It could save the NHS and the country millions by helping people become healthier before serious problems develop. Honestly, I think programmes like this should be prescribed.
How much are you looking forward to the game in May?
I’m really looking forward to the game in May. It’s obviously on a much larger scale than what I’m used to, although I do still play 11-a-side football as well. Interestingly, I sometimes step in with the younger groups as a goalkeeper when they need someone — even helping out in the raffle to fill in when they’re short. So football is still very much a big part of my life.
What makes this one even more special is that I’ll probably be the only senior player involved, which is quite exciting. It’s a great opportunity to represent the senior group and show that age doesn’t have to hold you back if you stay active and keep pushing yourself.
