August 15th, 2006
A League of Their Own Fantasy Football
The Premiership kicks off this weekend and anyone with even a passing interest in the beautiful game has probably signed up for Fantasy Football. I’ve been doing it for years, and this year, I’ve signed up for Sluggerotoole’s league and a (male) friend invited me to join the League of Gentleman. Both are hosted via fantasy.premierleague.com and in both cases, I think I’m the solitary lass. After some minor market research, the handful of women I know who like football said that blokey competiveness and general ‘Statto’ like behaviour generally puts them off signing up. Prompted by this, I’ve set up a women-only league on the same site and wonder if any women out there would like to sign up? Just go here and create a username and password. Click on ‘Join a Private League’ where you’ll be asked to enter a code, which is 561433-90347. Then just pick a strip and name for your team and start spending your 100million budget on 15 players (11 first team, four subs).
There are prizes and by the magic of internet wizardry, someone else has the difficult job of totting up your weekly scores - you just log in to see how you’re doing.
Any problems with logging in etc, drop me a mail.
August 15th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
A women-only league eh? Not very fair that! It’s all wrong when men want a men-only golf course like Portmarnock but it’s all fine n dandy when women want gender segregation?
August 15th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
An so it begins…
It’s about being inclusive, not exclusive. There so many different niche groups within that site (country specific leagues, club specific leagues, etc,) so it’s not much different to that.
I honestly wouldn’t have a problem with guys joining up, I just thought a women-only space might encourage more women to get involved in something they usually don’t.
August 15th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
I used to go in for fantasy leagues before they became a means of extracting money from the competitors by ‘offering’ multiple transfer ‘opportunities’. Anyone know of a Premiership FF league where everyone picks a team at the beginning of the season and sticks with it, without any of the multiple transfer palaver?
August 15th, 2006 at 5:04 pm
Croc, as far as I can tell, this one is free but it appears that points are docked for transfers, which seems like a disincentive to grabbing and dropping players.
August 15th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
I’ve joined up. I’m in a few other leagues already, so hopefully I’ll manage to do okay in at least one.
Until the season starts you won’t get penalised for transfers. And after that I think you allowed one transfer per match week. Not totally sure about that though.
‘ve noticed that you’ve left out the . between fantasy and premier so clicking on your link sends you straight to Bet365.
August 15th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Great stuff, Fence, I’ve fixed that. If there are any women in the other leagues you’re in, drag them over too.
August 15th, 2006 at 7:52 pm
Y’know, you’d make a great radio contributor
R
August 15th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
Thanks for having me on to chat about this, even if it meant admitting I had three Liverpool players in my squad - oh the ignominy!
August 15th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
Sinead, I can’t believe you set up a women-only league! I should hope all the men here burn their Calvin Kleins and join your league
August 16th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Colm,
I’ll have to buy a pair first, but I’m with you, whatever it takes!
August 16th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
I don’t want to exclude anyone so I’d be happy to have you guys join up - regardless of underwear burning.
August 16th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Heard your piece with Rick last night. Great idea and rather freaky that it happened to be on yesterday coz I was just having the exact same conversation with my male colleagues about females in fantasy football. I’ll hopefully get around to submitting my team this evening. I already have one on premier.fantasy-manager.co.uk
August 16th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Great stuff Dervla, welcome aboard.
August 16th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
I have a listener! Whoo hoo!!
August 16th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
i’m just a tad confused…the soccer season started last spring…shels are out front and with 11 games left it’s shaping up to be one heck of a final run in…or is this some weird philip k dick scenario where we’re actually all living in the UK and i’m the only one not in on the joke…btw..why do all of those self proclaimed ’soccer nuts’ out there choose not to go and watch footie, in the flesh, on a weekly basis…wow…weird…
August 16th, 2006 at 8:39 pm
I don’t go any more but I used to go and see St. Pat’s all the time (away games and all!). I just don’t get the time these days and weekend evening kick-offs don’t really suit to be honest.
August 16th, 2006 at 11:55 pm
What time roughly were you on the show Sinead? I’ll stream it and have a listen. Looking good in Hot Press too Ms Gleeson.
August 17th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
This is getting out of control. About three hours wasted and seven times I have completely changed my team. The choices and possible permutations are innumerable of course and my brain hurts from thinking if Thierry is really worth the 14 mill I splashed out on him. God knows how many more times I will change it before the deadline.
August 17th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
I think Randolph should keep his opinions to the forums of foot.ie which are swarming with comments such as his regarding the tragedy of Irish people following the sporting produce of the auld enemy. Last time I checked its a free country, people can watch and follow any league they want to. And besides it is far from a ’soccer nut’ you need to be to have a fantasy football team.