Fantasy Premier League - My Brief History
As another turbulent season gets under way, let me introduce my contribution to a hugely expanding fandom
The Fantasy Premier League community has become one of the fastest growing of its kind in recent years. For what is ostensibly a free game for all, it has also become a fiercely competitive one; mini-league wars, social media debates over goals and assists, and that all-important overall ranking. No wonder the official FPL Twitter account stopped reporting who was awarded what bonus points. Seriously people, just accept them. Spirit of the game and all that. And so with that all in mind, I’d like to bring my FPL antics to the table for this new season. But first, a quick background on my FPL history.
Although a frequent flyer on the FPL flight path the destination has rarely been glory on any grand scale. My highest achievement was the 2012/13 season, and is one that still brings the most nostalgic memories. A modest top 40k finish was complimented nicely by winning the 25-team mini league against work colleagues, and £200 winnings as a result. And I owe the final day to that unforgettable second half hat-trick from one Romelu Lukaku that brought down Manchester United in what became Sir Alex’s final match as manager.
But when there is joy, there is also heartbreak and frustration. 2020 was a very strange year. Everything and everyone was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Empty football stadiums, leagues cancelled, Liverpool winning the Premier League. Strange times indeed. Once the Premier League resumed, as did the fantasy counterpart. And the FPL season had yet another impending success on the cards.
With just a month left to go, I was in the driving seat. That is until the final weekend hit….
With an 8-point lead going into the final gameweek, I fell for the classic FPL - Overthinking and therefore, overspending. In a season that overran but was still over for many sides in terms of any consequence, I removed players who ended up scoring, and left players in who didn’t even appear. Other came off injured. The challenge simply fell apart. In the end, I fell sixteen points short. It wasn’t meant to be.
Last season was arguably the most competitive FPL season ever. Points records broken, and everyone had Erling Haaland as captain. Having the latter made little difference for me in what was my worst season ever.
But there is always the hope it will get better. And this season is the place to start. I hope you will join me as I recount each gameweek, as well as trying something different as an FPL experiment. TTFN!