Simon’s FFL, as it has become known, largely due to an amazing lack of inspiration and imagination on my part, came into being at the beginning of the 2003/04 season. I had spent the previous year in a information void as the wheels came off another FFL competition that I participated in. After complaining to my good lady about this on a number of occasions, I decided to do something about it (ok she told me to shut up and do something about it!) and with the help of Iain we are now into our third year.
We are not-for-profit and proud of it, all money in is money out. No expenses, nothing.
Who are we?
For those who don’t know me, I am in my mid-twenties, 6′2″, dashingly handsome and incredibly intelligent. For those who do know they me, they’ll know that’s a lot of nonsense. My name is Simon Martin and I’m an alcoh…….I’m not really but I enjoy a beer, and I love my football. I am 31, married to Denise. I pride myself on knowledge of football info, I am an accountant, well auditor if I am being pedantic (which I always am). I am a born cynic and make no apologies for it. While I have a dislike for many Premiership teams/managers/players, I like to see all FFL teams do well - something that, as has been pointed to me, cannot happen in a league basis. I’ll give you tips along the way and please feel free to ignore all of them. Most of all I provide the stats, and the weekly updates and chat that I hope you will find entertaining and informative.
As for Iain, he is Iain Mullan and not even into his mid-twenties - boo! A website and computing genius he is also my brother-in-law and all round top geezer. You will see me praising him all year round, and he deserves all the praise he gets and more. Without him this would be a real tin-can, two-bit operation. All his efforts, like mine are free gratis and primarily aimed at helping this competition be a success.
2003/04 - A New Hope
We kicked off in 2003/04 with a total of 54 entrants, consisting of family members, friends, colleagues and ex-colleagues alike. Charging £5 a skull we raised £270 with £250 paid out in cash and around £20 on trophies to the league winner and cup winner. A lot of time was spent in the early stages on the science of FFL, setting up master spreadsheets and deciding on formats.
As a thank you to all of those who entered in 2003/04, I ran a downsized Euro 2004 tourney with free entry but a trophy to the winner. We attracted around 34 entries for this - proving that people prefer the chance to win the cash…..
2004/05 - Part Two
Moving on into 2004/05 we decided to set up the website proper and put as much information on it as possible, the content and style improved during the year although it was still fairly spreadsheet based. Branching out, I approached a friend of mine (not a mafioso) to run a tipping column which took on the moniker of Tom’s Tips and was designed to allow us all to suckle profitably at the bookie’s teet. Thinking I would receive only a list of tips, we were then treated to a weekly soap opera rollercoaster of Tom’s trial and tribulations before his eventual resignation and descent into madness. Another would-be tipster Mark took over and roared into immediate success before declaring himself to be sick of winning. He was quickly cured. As your debts spiralled to the extent that Bono was contacted to see if he could help out with cancelling them, Tom made a full recovery and launched an entertaining punters league, open to all managers. This was proof if proof was needed that we were all as bad each other - although some were most certainly worse (see Mr D McLellan….)
With 72 entrants in 2004/05 (total entry fund of £360) we sought some new ways to increase the cash coming into and therefore out of the site and hooked up with Amazon and Ebay as affiliate partners. We installed links on the old site (coming soon on the new site) direct into these websites which meant that any purchases from Amazon, bids on Ebay and new users on Ebay provided revenue for the prize fund. In total we generated over £100 during the 9 months of the season which paid for all trophies and some extra prizes. I should say that we are not privy to what people are buying.
Last year we also ran 2 cup competitions, Cup and Plate with entry into either decided on a knock-out game, we also introduced half-season prizes to address any waning interest out there, one of our primary objectives.
2005/06 - Here and Now
This year, well thanks to the hard work and skills of Iain we are interactive and on a new site and I would say a more professional outfit. we are also hoping to increase in size, yet retain the personal feel. Join up as soon as you can and certainly before 13 august at 12pm, its only a fiver.
Our next step is mini-leagues and encouraging groups of people - family/friends/colleagues. As long as there are a five and a league name/theme, we’ll do it. Might take a couple of weeks into the season to set up but they will be there. Happy gloating.
What should you expect from joining? Expect some teething problems here and there, expect some expansion and improvement to the content and features of the site. Don’t expect to win but equally don’t expect to lose either. Expect to be asked to help out to raise funds through our affiliates. Expect to see your (team) name in lights at some point in the weekly emails or on the site. Look forward to a Thursday morning and berate us when you have to wait until Friday. Most of all expect, nay demand, some entertainment, cynicism, and realism from us and (we hope) the enhancement of your overall Premiership experience.
You’ll find yourself supporting players you never would have before and hating those you quite liked, all because he missed that glorious chance or let in a howler. Great players are not necessarily great point scorers, bad players sometimes are. If your favourites are not performing, drop them like a hot stone, you owe them nothing. You’ll find yourself watching West Brom v Wigan, Portsmouth v Charlton and not just Arsenal v Chelsea. Keep an eye on your rivals teams, you can see them all. Find yourself memorising contents of all teams (or is that just me?) You can take as much or as little as you like out of it.
And next year - i expect you to tell all your pals.
Cheers
Simon
Feedback from managers
Having a lot of free time on my hands now, I find being involved in FFL, an ideal way to spend it.
M O’Neill, Bucks
It’s a better competition that I first thought.
G Souness, Newcastle
I have always indulged in my fantasies
W Rooney, Manchester
