Leon Scott is Britain’s most ripped footballer

Muscle man Leon Scott, 34, currently plays for West Auckland Town F.C., competing in the ninth tier of the English Football League system.

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But English fans may recognise the handsome ex-Darlington FC midfielder from one of his many fashion campaigns.

A MODEL PRO

Scott got into modelling when he was asked to wear Sik Silk’s first ever clothing range in 2012.

From there, he has appeared on billboards in the US and starred in campaigns for JD Sports and Footasylum — working as both a fashion and fitness model.

“I always wanted to feature in a magazine or in a fashion shoot, but I knew with my size I was too small,” he told SunSport.

“As a kid I always had to eat a lot of carbs, because otherwise I’d lose a lot of weight.

“I educated myself and learned what I needed to do to bring my weight and muscle mass up.

“I needed to be very careful with that because I was still playing football at a decent standard, and once you become a certain size there’s a borderline between being a fashion model and a fitness model, and I wanted to be both.

“Whatever I do I go all in. I knew I was playing at a good level but it was about where I was going to progress my career more.

“I was honest with myself, I probably wasn’t the best of footballers, but I was always the first one in and last one out.”

PUSHED HIS BODY

For super-fit Leon, training didn’t end after a two-hour session with his club.

While many players would head home and rest, the County Durham boy from a council estate would push his body further.

“I would lift weights for an hour and half, then potentially finish on a high-intensity circuit.

“My output of energy was very high, which is why I always ate lots of carbs.

“If I wanted to put more size on, I would eat 200, 300 and potentially 500 more calories than required.

“For me, it was about slowly building myself up with my strength. And that’s how I found myself getting bigger over time.

“My day-to-day diet would start with oats with some blueberries, that would be my go-to breakfast each morning.

“Mid-morning I would have two eggs, a protein bar. Then lunchtime I would eat chicken, rice and vegetable or jacket potato and tuna.

“Just before I train, I always have something high in sugar like a chocolate bar, bowl of Rice Krispies or two or three bananas.

“After that, I would have my protein shake. I eat sometimes up till 10 or 11 o’clock.

“I would say I eat around 2,800 to around 3,500 calories per-day.”

SIK SILK LUCKY BREAK

Leon’s start to his modelling career came from an unlikely place.

Starring for Whitby Town FC, he was scouted by Sik Silk – a brand now worn by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – to pose in their clobber.

“I was playing for Whitby Town and a young guy approached me after the game and said he had a clothing brand and…