Phillip Pattinson

I mainly joined Tubbies because I love football, but didn’t feel I could play competitively due to my availability, fitness and injuries.

Tubbies is the type of project I needed 20 years ago. I was 2.5 stone bigger than I am now, loads unfitter and basically struggling every match. I couldn’t last longer then 15-20 minutes and every team I played for I was the fattest and unfittest player even though I was one of the youngest… I needed a Tubbies then.

I lost weight in my thirties and became a better player because of it and three years ago I was asked to start playing over 35’s, but then I got an injury that took me 18 months just to get full movement back and still I have issues with it. During that time I started coaching and because of the injury and coaching I didn’t have chance to play for three years, so when I realised I wanted to get back into playing football I checked out Tubby FC and I love it.

I guess in regard to having a goal I would love to get in a condition that I feel that I could do a job at over 35’s and then hopefully have a shot at that.

If being honest it’s not just about the weight and the knee even though I often pretend it is. That’s why this is at the end of this bio and not at the beginning because I wasn’t going to mention this, but here we are.

I needed something for myself and something that I could hopefully make friends from. Not after best friends to do everything with just nice to have a pint and a craic to forget things.

I’ve had lots of issues over the last 5 years where I had to watch my kids suffer and no one would help or listen to me and I’ve lost all confidence. I was never a social butterfly and I do have friends, but I struggle with small talk and although I’m not shy I often keep quiet and just listen rather than taking part. Playing football I feel confident. I feel I can do something again. Even if I’m not the best player I feel I can run and do the hard work that allows others to get the goals. I feel I can make a difference on a pitch and that I’m needed/wanted and that’s a feeling I didn’t always have in my personal life. Now my partner is and was always there for me, but I wouldn’t always let her help and closed myself down, I came off social media and closed myself off from the world. Coaching got me back out there involved in something I love and Tubbies gives me something else to look forward to. I love Friday and playing football and then having a pint or two afterwards. I forget everything for them few hours and I go home bouncing like an excited kid. Honestly it’s geeky and sad how happy I am afterwards haha.

I’m at Tubbies not just for the fitness, friends and football, but because it’s helping me become me again and stopping me from hiding from the world.

Patty is sponsored by: