Reading XL FC

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Reading XL
Reading XL FC.webp
Full nameReading XL Football Club
Nickname(s)XL FC
Founded2022;2 years ago (2022)
OwnerChris Broadhurst
ManagerChris Broadhurst
LeagueN/A
Website Club website
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Reading XL FC, commonly known as Reading XL or simply XLFC, is a non-professional football club based in Reading, England. The club was established in 2022 to help overweight and obese men losing weight through playing football. [1] It is the first of many XLFC clubs in the United Kingdom.

Contents

History

The club was founded in 2022. The club plays matches against other weight-loss football clubs, some of which are posted onto the team's YouTube channel.

In 2024, the club was invited to play a friendly match against the Nauru national team, the team currently managed by former Reading player Dave Kitson, who played as a striker in the Premier League. [1] The club accepted the invited and is fundraising to travel to Nauru for Nauru's first ever international football match. [2] [3] Nauru is the most obese country in the world, with most of its population being obese and diabetes being a major problem on the island. [4]

Eligibility

Like other clubs, Reading XL players are required to have an initial body mass index (BMI) of at least 27 in order to register. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Fat-fighting Reading footballers XL FC aiming for Nauru match". BBC News. 17 June 2024.
  2. "Reading grassroots football team fundraising for 'bonkers' trip to Micronesian island". Reading Chronicle. 2 July 2024.
  3. "Reading weight loss football team invited for trip of a lifetime to face Dave Kitson's Nauru – Reading Today Online".
  4. "Dave Kitson: Former Reading forward set to manage Nauru in first international match". BBC Sport. 25 March 2024.
  5. "Reading XL FC | Weight Loss & Mental Health Support 11 aside Football Club". Reading XL FC.