A footballer lost a staggering seven stone during lockdown and then scored the last-minute winner in an FA Cup tie in a real “Roy of the Rovers” story.
Kieran Amos, 24, weighed in at 21st 6lbs on the first day of the coronavirus pandemic and was so shocked he immediately embarked on a new diet and fitness regime.
He lost so much weight he was able to re-start his football career – eight years after his last senior game - and was picked for non league Sawbridgeworth Town’s FA cup tie earlier this week and celebrated by scoring the winner in the 91st minute.
It was an astonishing achievement for Kieran who had gradually put on weight since a nasty ankle injury when he was a teenager.
Just to get onto the the pitch was incredible but to net the injury time winner against Romford, owned by Glenn Tamplin, was a dream come true.
He said: “I’m so pleased – I was embarrassed to look at myself in the mirror six months ago and now I’m playing in the FA Cup.
“I knew I had to change my mindset and lose weight.”
Kieran, from Bishop’s Stortford, Herts explained how he did it.
He said: “I completely changed my diet – no more kebabs, take-outs and fry-ups and in came including yoghurt, fish and rice.
“I started going out running with my brother Cameron but my first 1km run in March saw me stop four times before I finished it.
“My first 5km took me 47 minutes but then last month it was down to 21m 58 seconds.
“Since scoring the winner I’ve not slept for two nights.” Kieran paid tribute to the support he received from his partner Faye Gallaway, Sawbridgeworth’s manager Lee Mackman and his parents Trevor and Paula.
“Without them I just couldn’t have achieved this,” he said.
