HOW TO JOIN

There are two ways to join a game, either by setting up a new team in a new league or by taking over an existing team in a league that's already running. Most people take the second option. It's quicker, cheaper and more realistic.

QUICK STARTS

When you join by taking over a team in a league that's already running we call this a "standby position". Once the season has started you can always do this immediately (in some games you have to wait until someone drops out - and that's why they're called standby positions). The earliest you can get started in a standby position is when the game is restarting for a new season, but once the season is under way you can almost always start immediately. You get to rename the team and you get some extra dosh to spend on new players as you try to turn their fortunes around.

Note: You don't have to wait until the season starts to apply. Sign up whenever you like and we'll place you in the game as soon as we're able.

Taking over a team that's struggling is how real life coaches have to start, of course, and we think it's the best way for new players in any case. It's best to get to know the game before you try starting a team from scratch, because you need to have a clear idea how much to bid for which players you want. If you're playing online a standby place means you don't have to spend any money and if it turns out the game doesn't suit you then you won't be letting anyone down.

NEW LEAGUES

To join a new league that's setting up from scratch you need to join before the start of the season. We need to collect a full set of twelve players for each new league we start, so what happens first of all is that you go onto a waiting list. When we've got enough players, then we start setting up the league. You get three rounds in which you bid for players, and then you go into pre-season for a round or two of game that don't count for anything, but allow you to start sort out your team and fill in any gaps left after the auction rounds.

The best time to sign up for a new league startup is early in the year, before the start of the season. That's when there's most interest and the best chance of the waiting list being filled - and there's still time to jump to a standby place if we don't get enough new players.

GETTING STARTED

There's an option for online players to play for free. People playing online for free are called freemailers ("free emailers") even though you don't actually email your orders: you input them into our database using a form on the website provided. Follow the link to How to Play for Free for details if you're interested.

Otherwise, to join the game you'll need to pay for a startup. There's a version of the Startup Form that you can print out if you want to apply by post, but it's simplest to use our Online Form and sign up by credit card.

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