SC Wanderers FC have just completed their first official season, finishing a very respectable third place in their league.
But they aren’t just your usual 11-a-side Sunday League team. They are a club with a difference and one with a purpose that stretches far beyond what happens on the pitch.
Formed initially as Sheffield & Wakefield MANvFAT FC, off the back of the hugely successful MANvFAT programme, the club recently broke away from the Wakefield branch and the MANvFAT branding.
SC Wanderers was born at the beginning of the 22/23 season with its own unique values and a set of like-minded players. All determined to get fit and enjoy the beautiful game whilst doing so.
As an inclusive club, they welcome people of all shapes, sizes, abilities and backgrounds. Many of the team’s players are people who had previously fallen out of love with playing competitive football for a variety of reasons. And the Wanderers has served as a welcoming and unintimidating environment for those who perhaps thought they were too fat, too old, or not good enough, to get back involved in sport.
They try to ensure that everyone gets a fair amount of game time, regardless of ability. Working towards a healthier lifestyle and enjoying sport is the main focus for this club. If they win on the pitch, that’s a bonus, but far from the be all and end all.
Many of SC Wanderers’ players have been very successful in shedding the pounds. Others will admit that the weight loss has been a little slower. But everyone has their own reasons for being part of this club, whether it’s to boost their mental health, engage socially with other like minded people, or just to give them something constructive to do on a weekend.
The club currently competes in a league made up of other MANvFAT (or similar) 11-a-side teams from around Yorkshire. Plus, the Sheffield & Hallamshire Flourish League. An inclusive league set up by local mental health charity, Sheffield Flourish.
So they’ve got a fantastic ethos, a set of values, play in a couple of leagues and have a community of players that love football. The only thing they were lacking was a proper kit. Enter Kitunlocker… ⬇️