I couldn't agree more. I returned to SoccerStar in July after a break of more than 20 years.
A friend first got me in to the original in around 1994, he'd given me one of his turnsheets to take home and look through, and I thought I'd like a piece of that. The following 5 years revolved around Saturday mornings waiting to hear the letter box go and seeing that brown envelope on the doormat. It was ever so deflating sometimes when the postman arrived and there was no envelope, I'd feel like running down the road after them and asking if they're sure they'd delivered everything for number 46, as waiting till Monday instead felt like an eternity. Back then my friend and myself were both in the top division of the Royal Alliance League (RAL). I always looked up to his more established team and we'd have friendlies against each other every other week it seemed. I carried on for a couple of years after he'd left and my team soon became the team to beat. I won the SLFA Cup one year and the title the next, I still have the trophy I paid extra to receive. It seemed the game, or at least the RAL, from then began dying out, as I expect more and more people moved on to playing football management games on their Atari ST's or Amigas. Eventually the league only had half a dozen managers remaining and I reluctantly left and my life moved on.
After discovering the game was still going, I looked in to the rules and followed things for several weeks before deciding whether or not to get back in to it. It wasn't a case of whether I'd enjoy it or not, I knew I would, it was only a case of can I fit this in to my life, knowing how much time and thought I'd end up putting in to it. Sure enough I took the plunge and emailed Glynn who immediately made me feel welcome and promptly set up a team, which he sent out. The team I received was in Division 3 of the ELZ. They were called Dean Forest and I was more than happy with that as I live just north of Bristol and a lot of my family roots, and childhood visits, were in the Forest of Dean just across the Severn Bridge. The testimonials I'd read before rejoining were right, it's still the same buzz receiving your turnsheet by email as it was back in the day receiving it in the post.
Barely 6 months later, my first season back is drawing to a close and I literally feel like I've hauled Dean Forest over the line and, barring a couple of extremely outlandish results, we've secured promotion. The whole season has not only been about the task in front of you each week, but also laying the foundations for next season, my first full season for a very long time. I'd avoided joining the forum until recently as I've been wary of the temptation of buying and selling players left right and centre, and the potential damage that tinkering with my squad might bring to consistency and results. However, I found myself in a position where it would be preferable to sell a few players on here instead of the auction market. The transfer process appears the main difference between the game back in the day and the game now.
Now I am here, I'm looking forward to doing business with everyone and getting to know you all a little.
The beauty of SoccerStar is, in a world of ever increasing instant gratification, it rewards patience, as playing just one game per week you're unable to simply press a reset or restart button.
I echo Ghenty's praise and gratitude. Glynn is doing a wonderful job, Rich too, you've both made me feel welcomed and helped me settle in. Not only that, how else can you feel twenty years younger for under £2 a week..
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