Stephen has had his own enjoyable weight loss experience at nearby MAN v FAT St Helens and, after the recent departure of the previous coach James Bretherton, Stephen has stepped across to the Aintree club to take over the reins.
We caught up with Stephen to find out his perspective on taking on his first coaching role and his aims for the months ahead.
Tell us about your MAN v FAT story so far and your progress with us
I joined MAN v FAT in February 2023 as a player. My first team was fantastic — although we weren’t the strongest on the pitch, they helped me understand the scoring system and how getting stuck in could help us win. We ended up winning the league, which felt amazing after over 10 years away from football.
I smashed through my initial weight loss goals and reached my 25%, with my next milestone being a BMI Boss. Along the way, I saw an opportunity to help grow the league and increase its visibility. Less than a year into my journey, I stepped up as Assistant Coach at St Helens.
Since then, I’ve run sessions, motivated lads to lose weight, and developed a real hunger to support even more people. The league has grown to 8 teams and become a thriving community.
I was recently offered the chance to become Coach — and given my journey so far, it was a no-brainer. I’m now in a position to grow a new league in its early stages and hopefully help many more men across the North West add years to their lives and rediscover a love for football.
Why has the programme worked for you?
or me, it’s the community and the commitment of the other players that made it work. I’d struggled with motivation before, but those first few weeks were key. Seeing how my weight loss directly contributed to the team’s success — winning medals and certificates — gave me a sense of achievement I’d never felt in football.
What really sets MAN v FAT apart is how open the environment is. It’s no longer taboo to talk about weight, food, and health. That lowering of barriers is one of the most important parts of anyone’s journey here.
It might sound cliché, but it really was about small steps. When I joined, there was already a budding off-pitch community — but it’s come a long way since then.
One key move was starting other football sessions outside of league nights. These gave players from different teams the chance to play with each other, not just against. That built friendships and made it easier to connect.
I took over the club’s social media presence and, with help from others, we worked hard to grow it. This allowed teams to showcase their achievements and support each other beyond match night.
The buzz led to even more engagement: match highlights, milestone celebrations, and events outside of football. Now, the community is absolutely thriving, and it’s been amazing to see so many lads step up and contribute to it.
Based on your learnings at St Helens, what are your plans for Aintree?
I’ve got plenty of ideas for helping Aintree develop — some drawn from what worked at St Helens, and some new.
Social media will definitely play a big part — helping lads celebrate milestones and share their journey publicly. I also want to develop the 11-a-side side of things, as it’s a great way for players to bond outside of weekly league games.
One of the biggest learnings from St Helens is just how important it is to make new players feel welcome from day one. That’s key to retaining members and growing a healthy, long-term league — and that’s exactly the kind of environment I’ll be encouraging here.
What have your early impressions of the club been?
It’s a league full of good lads who are clearly committed — both to weight loss and playing as much football as possible.
The welcome I’ve had has been brilliant, and that’s exactly what new players will experience too. That first impression really matters, and Aintree is already getting it right.
What can the lads or any new starters expect from you as a coach?
Players can expect guidance, commitment, and experience to support them on their journey. I’m not just a game-day coach — I’m hands-on and available to help every member of the league however I can.
That said, I’ll also push for more — more progress, more support, and a better league for everyone. Aintree has the potential to become a thriving, award-winning MAN v FAT club, and I’m here to help lead the way.
Want to join Stephen at Aintree?
If you’re ready to get on top of your weight loss and wellbeing journey, we’d love to welcome you to MAN v FAT Aintree. Use the code AINTREE for £1.00 registration!
