Clarky puts his fitness to the test at Lilleshall

It's the gruelling fitness assessment that is designed for the stars - and now all givemefootball readers have the chance to undertake it. That's right; Lilleshall Hall has linked up with givemefootball to give you a special discounted rate to find out just how fit you are.

Over the years the likes of Alan Shearer, Darren Gough and Tim Henman have all been put through their paces at the National Sports Centre in Newport, Shropshire.

But now Fitmax work-outs are being thrown open to the public for the first time for those brave enough to see how fit they really are and we sent intrepid reporter Ian Clarkson along to see what it is all about.

This type of testing has been readily available to athletes for some time, but now anyone can try it, regardless of ability. "It's a bit like having a body MOT," said top physiotherapist, Phil Newton. "Anyone who ever finds themselves out of breath can benefit from Fitmax, but it is of particular benefit to runners, tri-athletes and field sports players.

"We can also identify any physiological problems those taking the test might have in the future."

The test is split into two assessments - sports science and physiotherapy - and takes about three hours in all. However, prior to this you will need to keep a food and drink diary over several days (don't worry they will provide you with the necessary information) so Lilleshall's Sports Science team can make a careful dietary analysis.

An individual written guide then details your food and nutrients intake and highlights what should be cut out - or eaten more - to improve your diet.

The assessment also includes a treadmill test to measure your blood lactate uptake, a body composition test to estimate body fat percentage, and an intensive assessment, which pushes you to the limit to discover your maximum oxygen uptake level.

The information is used by the Sports Science team to suggest what type of exercise suits you - and how much.  The team also helps set realistic training goals in a written report after the session.

Finally, a physiotherapist completes a physical profiling session, which take about 45 minutes.

This consists of a series of bending and stretching exercises that assess flexibility, strength muscle control and co-ordination. The physiotherapist then recommends an exercise programme to tackle any problem areas.

An active person should score more than 80 per cent in the tests so how did the slightly chunky and balding former full back get on?