Reading XL FC Welcomes Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service for a High Energy "Fire Fighter Fitness" Session!

XLFC
May 27
4 min read

When Community Heroes Meet Community Health – A Fire-Fuelled Session with Reading XL FC & Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Reading XL FC had the honour of welcoming local fire-fighting legends from "Bluewatch Wokingham" - part of Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service down to The Wren recently, for a collaborative fitness training session that was all about teamwork.

The firefighters led our regular Wednesday night fitness session for the evening, bringing their own bespoke session to the Reading squad, replicating "real-life" scenarios with dummy carries, hose roll outs, rope pulls and much more!

And what a session it was - we were tired just watching it!

Reading XL FC players being put through their paces by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service — Reading XL FC Players John Newton and Stewart West being put through their paces by Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service

From Fire Station to Football Pitch:

Our XLFC players are no strangers to a tough workout—but this one was next level. Genuinely gruelling and pushing the players to the limit of their endurance, , known for their peak physical conditioning and incredible mental resilience, brought their own style of circuit-based training to our weight-loss football programme.

The aim? To motivate, inspire, and challenge the Reading XL FC squad in new ways—while building bonds between two groups united by teamwork, accountability, and a desire to stay strong for life.

Fitness with Purpose;

While weight loss is a key goal for many of our members, nights like these are about so much more than the scales. They’re about growing confidence, pushing past mental blocks, and remembering what your body can do with the right people around you.

Reading XL FC player Callum Jeffrey summed it up perfectly:

"At first I was nervous, the engine and kit was quite overwhelming (not knowing what to expect) however, knowing the Reading XL lads, I knew as a team we would all support and encourage each other which made it way easier to get through! The fire fighter challenge wasn’t just a physically challenging but mentally too, it pushed all of us to our limit, from the pain in your legs and body, struggling with lack of fitness or your mind telling you to stop! I personally found the course extremely difficult but refreshing because I didn't give up, not only did my team mates get me through it but the fire fighters themselves did too. The take away from the experience for me has been team work and resilience. Team work on the night help me complete the course while resilience and the fight to continue, is something that I know can be used not just at our club, but life in general!" - Callum Jeffery: Reading XL FC Player

Why This Matters:

At XLFC, we believe in the power of community partnerships, and this session was a brilliant example of how collaboration builds stronger, healthier communities. Firefighters are trained to lead, support, and protect, and during this tough session, they brought that same energy to help our lads push toward their fitness goals.

Wide angle view of Reading XL FC players with Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue Service Firefighters — A few of the Reading XL FC players put their paces on the evening, pictured with members of "Bluewatch" Wokingham - Part of **Royal Berkshire Fire & Rescue** Service

Another Reading XL FC player put through his paces was Lee Taylor, who said:

At 1st, I wasn't going to do it. Seeing all the kit and equipment laid out looked quite a lot to do, and I didn't want to aggravate the injury I just recovered from. But when I saw all the other XL lads giving it a go, supporting and encouraging each other, it made me think (maybe I should have given it ago). When the 1st session finished and they asked if anyone else wanted to have a go, I thought, why not?! At least I've tried to do it! We were given a demonstration on what to do with the equipment and the full course before we started, which calmed my nerves and made me less anxious about doing it. Once we got going, we were put together into pairs which made it better! We both motivated each other and smashed through the course in 2 minutes! I was absolutely knackered at the end of the course, but I felt so good, and I was so glad I got past the nerves and did it! - Lee Taylor: Reading XL FC Player

A HUGE Thank you from XLFC:

A big thank you to the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service for their outstanding efforts in conducting our recent training session. Your expertise and dedication made a significant impact on our team! We truly appreciate the time and resources you invested in our training and would be delighted to invite you back for another session in the future, as your knowledge and experience are invaluable to us.

Thank you once again for your time and your service to the local community!

Interested in joining the XLFC journey?

If you're aiming to shed pounds, improve your fitness, and join a dynamic community, XLFC is ready for you! Get in touch today to start journey to a healthier more active life through football!

The XLFC "Team Behind the Teams".