Fitness drive targets healthy Hearts (Hibbies welcome too)

Published on Friday 14 August 2009 10:03

SEASON ticket holders at Hearts and Hibs are to be put through their paces by club coaches as part of a health drive for middle-aged men.

The Wellman Project will contact males over the age of 40 through the football clubs to encourage them to lose weight and improve their diet and overall fitness.

The 12-week course would see fans given a shirt of their respective club and take part in a variety of exercises and health lectures.

Based on a successful programme recently run in Glasgow with fans of Rangers and Celtic, it is hoped those who go through it can aim to take part in a 10km run by the end of it.

Middle aged men are being targeted by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons because they are the least likely to visit the doctor for a check-up, and most likely to ignore a problem.

It is hoped by getting this group involved through their football club, it will give them an incentive to be more health conscious.

It is understood that the Royal College is currently in discussions with the Scottish Government about funding to roll the project out. Well-known former players and coaches of the two clubs would be involved.

The training sessions would be likely to take place at the training grounds of Hearts and Hibs, with tests such as blood pressure and cholesterol taken every week.

Scott Clark, a 41-year-old Rangers season ticket holder, took up the offer of the project, and in the three-month period has gone from never taking any exercise to playing 5-a-side football regularly and preparing for the 10km run.

He recently presented his case to Royal College and Holyrood officials about the benefits.

He said: "When we were told of the structure of the course, we all left keen. Just about everyone turned up before the allotted time because we enjoyed it so much.

"It quickly became the highlight of our week, and the lectures were good too – not too preachy."

A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Physicians in Glasgow said: "We are in the process of deciding how to run the project in the future."