Rival football supporters use Fans to 5k on runs to score points

A charity which encourages rival football fans to score points for their team through exercise and its own league has held its first fun run.

About 80 runners took part in the Fans to 5k event in Lockleaze, North Bristol, through an initiative which was set up by football fans to help the health and fitness of football supporters.

Founder Grant Rees said: "Everyone can use this, everyone can be a part of it and represent their club and, the more miles you carry out, the more points for your club. But we cap it at five miles so that it's inclusive."

There are 840 supporters now signed up representing football clubs, rugby clubs, cricket clubs and community organisations across the UK.

Rees said the idea was to "gamify" a 10-week Couch to 5k programme, "so you can either follow the training plan that we put together, or you can come in and do your daily mile, or your own training".

Then, over 10 weeks, the points people achieved meant their team could go either up or down in the league, he said.

"I'm a Bristol Rovers fan myself. My dad's a Bristol City fan," Rees said.

"Between us, we've seen that, depending on who you supported [changed], what health and fitness initiative you could have.

"So I decided to create something that everyone could use and everyone can be a part of it and represent their club."

Wendy Watson said, after having serious surgery last year, if she could take part "anyone can"

Wendy Watson, 82, said she was having surgery a year ago and now she was joining in with the 5k.

"My thing [advice] is, get out there, do it and it's better than sitting. Sitting is the new smoking. "

Ray Watson, 77, said it was his first event since he had a heart attack running the Bristol 10k five years ago, so "I'm chuffed just to finish".

He said: "Any form of movement is good. It doesn't have to be running, it could just be walking.

"I can't run anymore, I'm not allowed to run anymore. But I can still walk."

Rees said he had got a lot of messages asking "where's my points", so people "do not actually see it as being active and activity miles... so it's been really interesting and fun".

He added: "Our strapline is 'healthy rivalry'.

"We know that there's rivalry out there. We're going to use that and harness that for good."

The challenge is accessed through an app, which is free for clubs and fans to join and "we are trying to break all barriers so the more people want to take part, the merrier," he said.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.