THEY think it’s all over... well it isn’t just yet.

For the past 14 weeks, dozens of men have been taking to the football pitch at Bridgwater College as part of the Man V Fat weightloss initiative.

The scheme is aimed primarily at men who are overweight, and encourages them to shed the pounds in a fun, friendly football atmosphere.

It was launched by its founder Andrew Shanahan in January 2014, who created the scheme after experiencing his own weight problems.

The rules of the league are pretty simple. If a player loses weight in the week, he scores a goal which will then be added to the on-pitch result of his team at the end of the game.

Players are also awarded extra goals if they lose weight three times in a row, or if they hit their five, 10 or 15 per cent weight loss.

Following the success of the first league, the organisers are now holding a follow-on league, with registration now open.

There have been some pretty remarkable weightlosses already.

In total, the men have lost 600lb between them, an eye-watering 42.8 stone. On top of that, the players have also lost a combined two metres off their collective waistline.

The top loser, Daniel Morgan, lost 16.4 per cent of his body weight following the scheme, with Paul Marsh also losing 16.2 per cent. Paul Ingham and Roger Smith lost 20cm off their waist.

Roger Smith, manager of the Angel Place Shopping Centre, has moved from the pitch to the boardroom to take on the role of organiser for the next season, and is encouraging more men to get involved.

He said: “Taking part in the first Man v Fat football league in Bridgwater not only gave me the impetus to start losing weight but was great fun.

“The Monday night games were all played in great spirit with everyone supporting each other every week and we have all made loads of new friends.

“It also changed my whole attitude to my own weight and size and I managed to lose two and a half stone as well as reducing my waist measurement by 20cms and have not felt this fit in over 20 years.”

Lee Irving, from the Bridgwater Mercury, also took on the challenge.

He said: “I only lost three kilograms in total, which isn’t a great deal compared to the rest, but it has helped me make a few simple changes to my lifestyle.

“My weight has always gone up and down, but with the thought of letting my teammates down on a Monday night, I have managed to make small inroads, and started to eat healthier as well as do some more exercise in the week, including running and walking.

“The thought of attending this type of group can be quite daunting, it was for me, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it, made some great friends in the process and cannot wait for the second season to kick off.”

The league is held over 14 weeks, at Bridgwater College from 7pm. For more information, or to register, Visit manvfat.com.