Here at Appin Sports, we take great pride in providing custom teamwear to football clubs all over the country, each with their own unique stories, goals and missions. We want to share some of the amazing work the Appin Sports family is up to and make sure we celebrate their phenomenal efforts and contributions to their communities. So, where better to start than with Reading XL FC?
Grassroots Football with a difference.
Founded in 2022, Reading XL FC started as a community football club with a clear mission: to encourage weight loss and healthier living among overweight men, using football as a way to get active. From the very beginning, it welcomed players with a BMI of 27 or higher – showing a focused approach to supporting men on their health journeys. The club has seen incredible growth since its inception, expanding from 19 to over 50 players, and with exciting plans for a second night of weekly training to help get even more people involved soon.
April 2024 marked the launch of the XLFC business, with Reading XL FC leading the way as the original club within the group. The business was founded not only with the intention of achieving success on the pitch but with the motive of encouraging football for weight loss and offering mental health support for their players. The teams represent more than just football clubs; they are a judgment-free zone that allows their players to tackle everything from cardio to confidence building.
An Exciting Opportunity.
Reading XL FC’s impressive early success opened up an incredibly exciting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In July 2024, Reading XL FC were offered the chance to play a match against the Nauru National Team, managed by former Reading striker Dave Kitson! The match holds incredible significance both for men’s health and football: Nauru is statistically one of the world’s most obese nations, while Reading XL FC is a team devoted to weight-loss through football. The club continues to work towards making this match happen, and we’re excited to watch on as they endeavor to turn their dream into a reality.
Milestones Reached!
The club’s growth continued quickly, with features on the BBC, ITV and several appearances on BBC Radio Berkshire. In January 2025, the club hit another milestone: players had lost almost 125kg (around 20 stone) in just six months, tracked through the XLFC weight-loss app. This incredible number stands as a testament to the club’s hard work and dedication to weight loss, providing substantial evidence that there was more to their mission than simply playing football. The club has continued to lose a sensational amount following this, having lost a phenomenal 53 stone collectively as of August 2025.
Success Recognised!
The success of the club is one that has been recognised both within their community and in wider circles over the last 12 months. December 2024 saw a nomination for ‘Club of the Year’ at the Reading Sports Awards, highlighting their achievements in their maiden year. Next came XLFC’s appearance as a finalist in the UK Startup Awards in April 2025, with the Reading club proving pivotal in the business’s success in the first year of trading. Finally and most recently in June 2025, the club received a nomination at the Pride of Reading awards, indicating the incredible contribution they have made to their community by encouraging a healthier lifestyle through participation in sport.
Appin Sports is incredibly proud to have worked with Reading XL FC for the past number of years and to have seen the club grow while delivering such a positive and inspiring message. We’re excited to see what lies ahead for them, and look forward to continuing to work with them to create unique and creative custom football kit to help them ‘Make it Appin’ both on and off the pitch.
Have you got a story to share? Drop us a message and tell us all about it. We’d love to feature you!
Shop the custom Reading XL FC kits
Special thanks to Chris at XLFC for his assistance in creating this blog.
Thank you to Peter Slack for the images used in this blog.
Visit: Peter Slack website | Follow Peter Slack on Instagram
