The Pre-Match Preamble – Gameweek 1

I sometimes wonder if this is a young man’s game.

If, at my stage in life, my wits and abilities are dulled to the extent that I’ll be found out. Scrambling around like a desperate Harry Redknapp, searching for his outdated little black book on Transfer deadline day.

I’ve only got myself to blame. I’ve turned Fantasy Football into something far more than a hobby or a mild distraction.

I eat, sleep and breathe Fantasy Football at times and yet, as I grow older and my responsibilities weigh down on me, I wonder if I can continue to carry the “burden” and hold my own.

A fiancé. Two children. A day job. A dog. Two cats and a Columbo habit.

It’s a lot to take on and, at times, I’m limited to tinkering in my head whilst emptying the dishwasher, contemplating the merits of Branislav Ivanovic whilst taking the bins out. Something has got to give.

I thought long and hard on this whilst watching Columbo and tweaking my FPL lineup at 1am.

As my family lay restless upstairs – my four-week-old daughter clamped to my sleep-starved partner for a ninth feed, I sat in my own discomfort in the lounge, wondering if I’d done the right thing overlooking Eden Hazard.

At some point I’ll have to reassess my priorities. Some Saturday mornings I may not be about to deliver on my pre-amble promise.

However, the fact is, Fantasy Football has become a big part of my life and my family and the crumpled detective have had to learn to live with it.

Two hundred thousand Fantasy managers visited these pages in the last 24 hours. Last night Simon March, the current FPL champion, gave advice to Alan Shearer on his Fantasy line-up live on the radio.

Something’s happening.

Fantasy Football isn’t going anywhere. In fact, with every passing season it seems destined to keep a new army of people up beyond 1am contemplating their budget midfielder.

After enjoying my best ever campaign, I doubt I’ll hit those heights again. I may make mistakes, I may even miss a trick whilst out gallivanting with my toddler. I will have to make sacrifices.

But I’m not going anywhere. As new blood get gripped by this Fantasy Football thing, I need to stick around and be part of it.

We’re all part of it. Whatever commitment we can afford to spend, let’s have a good time doing it.

Enjoy the season.