Fantasy Premier League is a game of skill and luck (mostly luck). All you need in order to play is to have a device with Internet access. Each week you pick your fantasy football team. Each week the boffins behind the game award points to your players based on their performance.
Each month we announce the manager of the month and the runner up. We also name and shame (in a fun way) the manager with the fewest points.
All we ask is that participants make a one-off or regular donation to the Development Fund.
If that interests you and you would like to join, please contact, Keith Bonney – keith.bonney@bpafc.com
Season 2022-23
Just like the real Premier League, the Bradford (Park Avenue) Development Fund Fantasy Premier League title was settled before the final weekend.
We extend our hearty congratulations to worthy winner Matt Ray and his team Sliced Bread FC. Matt scored 2,583 points across the full season and scooped the title for the second year in a row. Matt, are you Pep in disguise?
Congratulations also to our runner up, Steven Howley. Steven’s team, Wee Harp Athletic, scored 2,442 points. Finishing in seventh spot in the first half of the season, Steven hit fantastic form late on to secure second place overall.
Finally, we offer our commiserations to last placed Dan Burnett and his team Show me Da Mane. Dan scored 1,643 points. Better luck next season Dan.
Our FPL managers donated £120 to the Development fund over the course of the year. Thank you and let’s aim to beat that next season.
That’s it for 2022-23.
We look forward to welcoming oldies and newbies in 2023-24.
Second half
It’s the same tale for the second half of the season.
First Matt Ray. 1,426 points. So hot he’s got a climate activist stuck to him.
Second Steven Howley. 1,375 points. So hot he blows the candles on his birthday cake on.
Well done guys. We grudgingly admit there is more to this game than luck.
In last place it’s Barry Hutchinson with Bradford PA. 858 points. He’s so cold.
May
Some of us have it. Some of us don’t. In order to be a successful FPL manager you have to possess a vital magic ingredient.
Our winner for May is Steven Howley with his team Wee Harp Athletic. Steven scored 296 points. Gold dust.
Our runner up is Keith Bonney with Green llama. Keith scored 267 points. Stardust.
In last place, for the second month running, it’s Tom Jowett with waives the rules. Tom scored 162 points. Dust. Come on Tom. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
April
The end of the season is in sight. Some managers have everything to play for. Some are safe and going nowhere.
In first place this month it’s John Laban with UTA scoring 474 points. On the ball.
In second place it’s Daniel Ambler with Hotel? Thi a go, scoring 465 points. On the beach.
In last place it’s Tom Jowett with waives the rules, scoring 257 points. On the razz. Come on Tom. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
March
MOTD with no chat? Unthinkable. Er, actually really rather good. Some things we need and some we can happily live without.
In first place, yet again, it’s Matt Ray with Sliced Bread FC, scoring 195 points. Food.
In second, it’s Steven Howley with Wee Harp Athletic, scoring 188 points. Drink.
In last place it’s Barry Hutchinson with Bradford P A, scoring 97 points. Pundits. Come on Barry. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
February
The VAR system is infallible. Unfortunately, the humans who operate it are not. This month we saw instances of lines being drawn in the wrong places and vital incidents being missed. Not a good month for video assistant referees.
In first place this month it’s Matt Ray with Sliced Bread FC, scoring 343 points. Suddenly I see.
In second place it’s Lucy Denison with Tikka Mo Salah, scoring 325 points. I can see for miles.
In last place it’s Chris Parker with Harold Park FC, scoring 158 points. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for. Come on Chris. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
January
When the transfer window closed, Premiership clubs had spent a record breaking, eye-watering £815m on new talent. Only £25m of that was spent on players from the English Football League. The Premier League is a great product and we all know you can’t buck the market but wouldn’t it be wonderful if some of that money could be trickled down our English football pyramid?
We have a tie for first place this month. Each winning manager scored a fantastic 243 points.
Flashing the cash, it’s Keith Denison with I HATE MOSQUITOES. Hey big spender.
Blinded by the cheque, it’s Steven Howley with Wee Harp Athletic. Money, money, money.
In last place, scoring 109 points, it’s Dan Burnett with Show me Da Mane. Mane’s too tight to mention. Come on Dan. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
Half time
The first half of the season ended on 12 January.
The winner of the first half is Matt Ray. Matt’s team, Sliced Bread FC, amassed 1,157 points. Matt is Mr Consistent having won the first half last year with a score of 1,152 points. Congratulations Matt. Yellow jersey.
In the runner up spot it’s Carl Marsden with Bring Back Boris FC. Carl clocked up 1,125 points. Well done Carl. Green Jersey.
Off the back of the peloton it’s Dan Burnett with Show me Da Mane. Dan scored 774 points. Commiserations Dan. Green mankini.
No time to draw breath, the second half of the season got underway on 13 January. We have re-set the game and all managers start again on nul points.
So far this season our managers have raised £100 for the Development Fund. Thank you to those who have contributed. Every £ benefits the football club so if you enjoy the game, please consider making a donation.
Sort 05 06 81
Account 33569976
Reference FPL
Good luck for the second half of the season!
December 2022
As FPL managers we look for strength, stamina, speed and agility in our players. FPL players treat their bodies like temples. Everything they eat and drink is scrutinised, analysed and risk-assessed. Consequently, Kyle Walker is almost as fast as Usain Bolt and Michail Antonio has muscles like Anthony Joshua.
Our manager of the month for December, by some distance, is John Laban with his team UTA. 179 points. My body is a temple.
In runner’s up spot it’s Lewis Sale with Bus Stoppers. 165 points. 5 a day.
In last place it’s Barry Hutchinson with Bradford PA. 69 points. Did somebody say just eat? Come on Barry. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
November 2022
The Premier League shuts down for much November and December. Some of our best assets are off to Qatar. Come on England! World Cup songs tend to be a bit rubbish. Thankfully the associations of the home nations have come to understand you leave music to the musicians.
In first place, singing when he’s winning, it’s Matt Bonney with hit and hope scoring 120 points. World in Motion.
In second place, more sharp than flat, it’s Matt Ray with Sliced Bread FC scoring 114 points. Vindaloo.
In last place, playing all the right notes in the wrong order, it’s Chris Parker with Harold Park FC scoring 50 points. Ally’s Tartan Army. Come on Chris. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
October 2022
Erling Haaland has notched up 117 FPL points. That’s 34 more than his nearest rival Harry Kane. What a start! Erling Haaland is Top Gun.
In first place this month scoring a brilliant 399 points it’s Lewis Sale with Bus Stoppers. Iceman.
On his tail it’s Richard Higginbottom with his team Higgy’s Hotshots, scoring a commendable 383 points. Maverick.
Misfiring at the back of the formation it’s Dan Burnett with Show me Da Mane, scoring 248 points. Pike. Come on Dan. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
September 2022
We love a 30-yard screamer. We marvel at an audaciously executed Panenka. We gasp when we see a scorpion. Watching the stars demonstrate their skills reminds us why we love the beautiful game.
In a brilliant turnaround in form, this month’s winner is zero to hero David Nettleton with Bantams FC, scoring 134 points. Rabona.
We have joint runners up this month. Stepping out from the shadow of brother Woody, it’s Willy Eckerslike with Lokomotiv Buttershaw. Alongside him we have Lewis Sale with Bus Stoppers. Each scored 131 points. Nutmeg.
In last place it’s newcomer Brian Sutcliffe with Motley Collection, scoring 68 points. Hospital pass. Come on Brian. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.
August 2022
The BPA Development Fund kicked off its third Fantasy Premier League season this month. Good luck to the 28 oldie and newbie wannabee Premier League managers who signed up for the fun.
The Premier League celebrates its thirtieth birthday this season. In 1992 a pint of lager cost £1.49 and you could leave the lights on without having to worry about the bill.
This is going to be a strange World Cup sandwich of a season. The Premier League will stop in November at which time some of our top assets will fly out to Qatar to take part in the FIFA World Cup. It will resume on Boxing Day, meaning we can all enjoy our traditional festive football fix.
In first place this month, picking up where he left off last season, it’s Matt Ray with Sliced Bread FC, scoring 351 points. World Cup sandwich.
Just one point behind, it’s newbie James Johnson with Johnson’s Johnson’s. Club sandwich.
In last place, also picking up where he left off last season, it’s David Nettleton with Bantams FC, scoring 209 points. Unused Sub. Come on David. You’re better than that!
Nobody won the Eckerslike prize this month.