Speaking to Express.co.uk, Kian Tracey revealed he had signed up to MAN v FAT Football – a community of men who play football to lose weight – three times in the past before backing out.

"That nagging internal voice kept telling me I couldn’t play football," Kian revealed. "I was too heavy to be weighed, I was too old, and I didn’t have the right gear."

Kian, 43, acknowledged he would use "every excuse in the book" to convince himself that there was no point in him going. "This time, I was lucky," said Kian. "Paul, the coach, called me a few days before, giving me a point of reference."

Encouraged by coach Paul to check it out, Kian can now proudly say: "The rest is history." Remembering back to his first football match, Kian confessed: "The first game was a shock to my body; it was the first time I had exercised in five years."

What helped, however, was hearing how the other blokes felt the same way Kian did – "it’s normal to become best friends with a hot water bottle", Kian quipped.

Since becoming captain of one of the teams, Kian has heard other players confess that the first day – walking through the doors – is the biggest hurdle to get over.

"It turns out most players feel that way on day one, and even into weeks two and three. But over time, that fear fades," share Kian.

Since joining MAN V FAT Football, Kian has lost around 6.5stone in 20 weeks; his waist has shrunk from 58 inches to 41 inches; and he's gone from wearing 8XL shirts to 2XL.

But it's not only playing football that has lead to Kian's dramatic weight loss, it's also his change in eating habits. "Since I work away from home Tuesday to Friday [as a children's care home manager], I often ate junk food," Kian confessed.

Breakfast would have been a chocolate bar, his lunch a meal deal from the supermarket, and fast food for dinner. "You’d be amazed how many KFC, McDonalds and Burger Kings are next to hotels," said Kian.

"Now, I plan ahead and eat healthier meals. I have a proper breakfast, oats and a banana (that I take with me). While away from home, I’ve developed a good routine of having cold cut chicken and salad with some salsa in a wrap. For snacks, I enjoy lots of watermelon, berries, and pineapple."

Thanks to MAN V FAT Football, Kian has achieved his weight loss dreams, has made close friendships, eats better, and has more energy and feels happier in himself.

"It's been life-changing for me," said Kian. "My mental health is better than it has been in decades; I've reduced my medications and can put my shoes on with out a struggle."

Aimed at men with a BMI of higher than 27.5, MAN v FAT Football currently has 8,200 players taking part in more than 150 clubs across the UK.

At sessions, players are weighed, followed by a 30-minute game of six-a-side football, with extra goal bonuses awarded to teams based on their weight loss. A team’s total weight loss and match scores then contribute to their league position within a club.

In addition to football sessions, MAN v FAT players also receive off-the-pitch support including healthy meal recipe ideas and tips on general fitness. Players also get full access to MAN v FAT online gym, so they can train in their own time at home.

MAN v FAT Clacton takes place every Friday evening at Clacton Leisure Centre and the club’s organisers are currently looking for new players to join up and take part. The club has helped 40 local men lose over 380 pounds in excess weight in its first 14-week season.