Loan rule

When a WSFFL player moves outside of the Premier League on loan their manager can request not to have to pay the player’s wages throughout the loan period. To qualify for this the manager must:

 i) Keep the player in their squad throughout the period of the loan
 ii) Not name that player in their team's match day squad throughout the period of the loan

In addition, if the Transfermarkt website reports a loan fee that payment may be made to the WSFFL club.

If a WSFFL manager wishes to recall or dump an on loan player they will have to pay back any loan fee and the wages that have been saved during the loan period.

Remember the name!

After 16 years with the club Wayne Rooney's Claymore Athletic career has come to an end. Swordsmen boss Clive pays tribute to the striker...

The commentary which accompanied Wayne Rooney’s audacious winning goal against Real Muppets (Arsenal) in October 2002 will stand the test of time, a piece of audio inscribed into English footballing folklore.

But here’s the rub. Lovely soundbite though it was, Claymore Athletic fans did not need telling, they already knew all about the buccaneering Blue charging his way through the Club’s Academy, having signed from Everton some six months earlier for the sum of £500,000.  Which is arguably, the best signing in WSFFL history (cue interesting debate)?

Indeed, Clive Tyldesley, the man responsible for describing Rooney’s sensational strike, all the more aesthetically glorious for clipping the crossbar after defeating the Muppets number one goalkeeper on its way into the net, admitted as much last year.

Just a few months before Tyldesley implored the nation to lodge Rooney’s name in its collective consciousness as the 16-year-old gleefully sped off, leaping into the air in exultation, the ITV commentator had been ordered to do the exact same thing by a season-ticket holding Blue several months earlier.

It was an open secret that Claymore had something very special in Rooney, a footballer of preternatural majesty and incalculable potential. The sublime way Rooney cushioned Thomas Gravesen’s long forward pass, turned for goal and sent his precision strike beyond the Muppets' ‘keeper, merely let the cat out of the bag once and for all.

On that mid-October day, Ryan Moore (Arsene Wenger) stood in the tight confines of the player’s tunnel at ‘Chippenham Park’, taking refuge from an early-evening sun and speaking about the teenager who had just reduced Real Muppets' promising early season form to rubble.

The Frenchman Swindonian puffed out his cheeks and smiled ruefully.

“He’s supposed to be 16,” sighed Moore. A football man to the core, the Muppets manager could not suppress his admiration for what he had just witnessed. Nor was he inclined to.

"At that age, Rooney is already a complete footballer,” said Moore. “The guy can play. He's the best English under-20 I have seen since I came here (in 1994).

“He can play people in, he's clever and a natural, built like a Gascoigne with his low centre of gravity. And he can dribble – I like strikers who can dribble."

The strike also marked out Rooney as an individual with the inherent confidence – and footballing arrogance, perhaps – to strut his stuff on the biggest stage and against the strongest opposition, a trait which possibly further explains why Moore instinctively drew parallels between the Claymore player and Gascoigne.

Gascoigne, though, was 21 when he won his first England cap. Rooney was representing his country within four months of his first Claymore Athletic FC goal. Rooney was utterly fearless that day. He possessed strength of mind and of body beyond his years, effortlessly withstanding the physicality of top-flight football and craving responsibility, sufficiently comfortable in his own skin to repeatedly demand the ball from more seasoned teammates.

When Rooney impudently came to a standstill and placed his studs on top of the ball, then his hands on his hips, while West Bromwich Albion defender Darren Moore watched from a safe distance, it provided a picture which will forever exist in the mind’s eye of those who witnessed it.

More significantly, Moore’s reluctance to engage with Rooney spoke of how the teenager was inspiring respect and terror in his opponents in equal measure.

The Claymore youngster was already being granted a split-second extra on the ball, a yard of space more, simply because he was Wayne Rooney. Some wonderful footballers have taken years to earn such privileges. Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best of the lot in today’s game, was roughly three years at Manchester United before defenders chose standing off the Portuguese as their weapon of choice in a one-on-one duel, eschewing an earlier preference for trying to clump the wiry winger into anonymity.

Yet, not every doubter had been entirely won over. There was plenty questioning England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson’s decision to select Rooney for a critical European Championship qualifying match against Turkey in April 2003, when the player had only two caps, both from the bench.  For every quizzical eyebrow raised around the country, there was a chuckle of incredulity emanating from Chippenham. How could anybody still have any reservations about this boy?

It was perhaps when he advanced and threaded a beautifully disguised pass for Claymore team mate Michael Owen that the entire nation truly cottoned on. England won 2-0. When Rooney opted out of the international game he did so as his country’s record goalscorer and with more caps than any other Englishman bar goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

He is Claymore Athletic FC’s all-time top goal scorer with 147.  He notched a very creditable 26 goals in the 2011/12 season.  His trophy haul and individual records (five time WSFFL League winner and twice FA Cup victor, the pinnacle of his achievements being when he picked up the 2012 “£500k Player of the Season” award) stand as testament to his longevity and enduring excellence.
“A winning goal at ‘Chippenham Park’ is a special moment,” said Rooney. “To play for Claymore Athletic FC is a huge deal for me and to score a goal in the WSFFL – especially if it is a winning goal – it does not get much better.”

Last season he hit seven goals, including a 48-minute hat-trick – capped by a stunning strike from his own half – which lit up Chippenham Park and propelled Claymore to an uplifting and valuable 6-1 victory over Mega Buck Bandits.  Rooney’s penchant for the spectacular really is innate. Only a handful of players the world over would have tried to score in comparable circumstances.  That there was nothing on Rooney’s mind other than drilling the ball 58 yards into the back of the net after the goalkeeper’s clearance is enough in itself to set him apart from a mass of his contemporaries.
Wayne Rooney is still box office, no doubt about it. That counts for a lot in the US where he is going.

“Remember the name!” - how can Blues forget?

We wish him well.

Copyright evertonfc.com

2018/19 Fixture List

2018/19 WSFFL Fixture List*

League Week 1: W/C 11 August 2018

Aardvark Abacus v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Athletico Phoenix v Markian United

Cheese Makers v Real Muppets

Mega Buck Bandits v Wheel Madrid

San Dimas High School v Trusted By Millions

The Fabulous Artisans v Claymore Athletic FC
The Wateringhole Society v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
YTFIB v The Cow-Faced Juniors

League Week 2: W/C 18 August 2018
Claymore Athletic FC v The Cow-Faced Juniors
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v YTFIB

Markian United v Cheese Makers
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v The Wateringhole Society
Real Muppets v Mega Buck Bandits
The Fabulous Artisans v San Dimas High School
Trusted By Millions v Athletico Phoenix
Wheel Madrid v Aardvark Abacus

League Week 3: W/C 25 August 2018

Aardvark Abacus v Real Muppets

Athletico Phoenix v The Fabulous Artisans

Cheese Makers v Trusted By Millions

Mega Buck Bandits v Markian United

San Dimas High School v Claymore Athletic FC
The Cow-Faced Juniors v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
The Wateringhole Society v Wheel Madrid
YTFIB v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

League Week 4: W/C 1 September 2018

Claymore Athletic FC v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

Markian United v Aardvark Abacus
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v The Cow-Faced Juniors
Real Muppets v The Wateringhole Society
San Dimas High School v Athletico Phoenix

The Fabulous Artisans v Cheese Makers
Trusted By Millions v Mega Buck Bandits
Wheel Madrid v YTFIB

W/C 15 September: Paul Cartmell Memorial Cup First Round

League Week 5: W/C 22 September 2018

Aardvark Abacus v Trusted By Millions

Athletico Phoenix v Claymore Athletic FC
Cheese Makers v San Dimas High School
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Mega Buck Bandits v The Fabulous Artisans
The Cow-Faced Juniors v Wheel Madrid
The Wateringhole Society v Markian United
YTFIB v Real Muppets

League Week 6: W/C 29 September 2018

Athletico Phoenix v Cheese Makers

Claymore Athletic FC v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Markian United v YTFIB

Real Muppets v The Cow-Faced Juniors

San Dimas High School v Mega Buck Bandits

The Fabulous Artisans v Aardvark Abacus

Trusted By Millions v The Wateringhole Society
Wheel Madrid v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

League Week 7: W/C 6 October 2018

Aardvark Abacus v San Dimas High School

Cheese Makers v Claymore Athletic FC

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Real Muppets
Mega Buck Bandits v Athletico Phoenix
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Wheel Madrid

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Markian United
The Wateringhole Society v The Fabulous Artisans
YTFIB v Trusted By Millions

League Week 8: W/C 20 October 2018
Athletico Phoenix v Aardvark Abacus
Cheese Makers v Mega Buck Bandits
Claymore Athletic FC v Wheel Madrid

Markian United v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Real Muppets v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
San Dimas High School v The Wateringhole Society

The Fabulous Artisans v YTFIB
Trusted By Millions v The Cow-Faced Juniors

W/C 27 October: Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy and Charity Shield Quarter Finals

League Week 9: W/C 3 November 2018

Aardvark Abacus v Cheese Makers

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Trusted By Millions

Mega Buck Bandits v Claymore Athletic FC
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Markian United

The Cow-Faced Juniors v The Fabulous Artisans
The Wateringhole Society v Athletico Phoenix

Wheel Madrid v Real Muppets
YTFIB v San Dimas High School

League Week 10: W/C 10 November 2018
Athletico Phoenix v YTFIB
Cheese Makers v The Wateringhole Society
Claymore Athletic FC v Real Muppets
Markian United v Wheel Madrid

Mega Buck Bandits v Aardvark Abacus

San Dimas High School v The Cow-Faced Juniors

The Fabulous Artisans v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
Trusted By Millions v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

League Week 11: W/C 24 November 2018
Aardvark Abacus v Claymore Athletic FC
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v San Dimas High School

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v The Fabulous Artisans

Real Muppets v Markian United

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Athletico Phoenix

The Wateringhole Society v Mega Buck Bandits
Wheel Madrid v Trusted By Millions

YTFIB v Cheese Makers

League Week 12: W/C 1 December 2018
Aardvark Abacus v The Wateringhole Society

Athletico Phoenix v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

Cheese Makers v The Cow-Faced Juniors

Claymore Athletic FC v Markian United

Mega Buck Bandits v YTFIB

San Dimas High School v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

The Fabulous Artisans v Wheel Madrid
Trusted By Millions v Real Muppets

Midweek 4/5 December: PCMT & Charity Shield SFs

League Week 13: W/C 8 December 2018
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Cheese Makers

Markian United v Trusted By Millions

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Athletico Phoenix

Real Muppets v The Fabulous Artisans

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Mega Buck Bandits

The Wateringhole Society v Claymore Athletic FC
Wheel Madrid v San Dimas High School

YTFIB v Aardvark Abacus

League Week 14: W/C 15 December 2017
Aardvark Abacus v The Cow-Faced Juniors

Athletico Phoenix v Wheel Madrid

Cheese Makers v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Claymore Athletic FC v Trusted By Millions

Mega Buck Bandits v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

San Dimas High School v Real Muppets
The Fabulous Artisans v Markian United
The Wateringhole Society v YTFIB

League Week 15: W/C 22 December 2017

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Aardvark Abacus

Markian United v San Dimas High School

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Mega Buck Bandits

Real Muppets v Athletico Phoenix

The Cow-Faced Juniors v The Wateringhole Society

Trusted By Millions v The Fabulous Artisans

Wheel Madrid v Cheese Makers

YTFIB v Claymore Athletic FC

Charity Shield Final: 26 December 2018

Paul Cartmell Memorial Trophy Final: 29 December 2018

League Week 16 (reverse week 12): 1 January 2019

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Athletico Phoenix

Markian United v Claymore Athletic FC

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v San Dimas High School
Real Muppets v Trusted By Millions

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Cheese Makers

The Wateringhole Society v Aardvark Abacus
Wheel Madrid v The Fabulous Artisans
YTFIB v Mega Buck Bandits

FA Cup 1at Round: 5 January 2019

League Week 17 (Reverse week 13): W/C 12 January 2019
Aardvark Abacus v YTFIB

Athletico Phoenix v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

Cheese Makers v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

Claymore Athletic FC v The Wateringhole Society
Mega Buck Bandits v The Cow-Faced Juniors
San Dimas High School v Wheel Madrid
The Fabulous Artisans v Real Muppets
Trusted By Millions v Markian United

League Week 18 (Reverse week 10): W/C 19 January 2019

Aardvark Abacus v Mega Buck Bandits

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v The Fabulous Artisans

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Trusted By Millions

Real Muppets v Claymore Athletic FC

The Cow-Faced Juniors v San Dimas High School

The Wateringhole Society v Cheese Makers
Wheel Madrid v Markian United
YTFIB v Athletico Phoenix

League Week 19 (Reverse week 3): Midweek 29/30 January 2019

Claymore Athletic FC v San Dimas High School

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v The Cow-Faced Juniors

Markian United v Mega Buck Bandits

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v YTFIB

Real Muppets v Aardvark Abacus
The Fabulous Artisans v Athletico Phoenix
Trusted By Millions v Cheese Makers
Wheel Madrid v The Wateringhole Society

W/C 2 February: FA Cup Quarter Finals

League Week 20 (Reverse week 15): W/C 9 February 2019
Aardvark Abacus v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

Athletico Phoenix v Real Muppets

Cheese Makers v Wheel Madrid

Claymore Athletic FC v YTFIB

Mega Buck Bandits v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

San Dimas High School v Markian United
The Fabulous Artisans v Trusted By Millions
The Wateringhole Society v The Cow-Faced Juniors

League Week 21 (Reverse week 8): W/C 23 February 2019

Aardvark Abacus v Athletico Phoenix

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Markian United

Mega Buck Bandits v Cheese Makers

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Real Muppets

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Trusted By Millions

The Wateringhole Society v San Dimas High School

Wheel Madrid v Claymore Athletic FC
YTFIB v The Fabulous Artisans

League Week 22 (Reverse week 9): Midweek 26/27 February 2019
Athletico Phoenix v The Wateringhole Society

Cheese Makers v Aardvark Abacus

Claymore Athletic FC v Mega Buck Bandits
Markian United v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Real Muppets v Wheel Madrid
San Dimas High School v YTFIB
The Fabulous Artisans v The Cow-Faced Juniors
Trusted By Millions v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

League Week 23 (Reverse week 4): W/C 2 March 2019
Aardvark Abacus v Markian United

Athletico Phoenix v San Dimas High School

Cheese Makers v The Fabulous Artisans

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Claymore Athletic FC
Mega Buck Bandits v Trusted By Millions

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

The Wateringhole Society v Real Muppets
YTFIB v Wheel Madrid

W/C 9 March: FA Cup Semi Finals

League Week 24 (Reverse week 5): W/C 16 March 2019
Claymore Athletic FC v Athletico Phoenix

Markian United v The Wateringhole Society

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

Real Muppets v YTFIB
San Dimas High School v Cheese Makers
The Fabulous Artisans v Mega Buck Bandits
Trusted By Millions v Aardvark Abacus
Wheel Madrid v The Cow-Faced Juniors

League Week 25 (Reverse week 6): W/C 30 March 2019
Aardvark Abacus v The Fabulous Artisans

Cheese Makers v Athletico Phoenix

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Wheel Madrid

Mega Buck Bandits v San Dimas High School

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Claymore Athletic FC
The Cow-Faced Juniors v Real Muppets
The Wateringhole Society v Trusted By Millions

YTFIB v Markian United

League Week 26 (Reverse week 7): W/C 6 April 2019
Athletico Phoenix v Mega Buck Bandits

Claymore Athletic FC v Cheese Makers
Markian United v The Cow-Faced Juniors
Real Muppets v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
San Dimas High School v Aardvark Abacus
The Fabulous Artisans v The Wateringhole Society
Trusted By Millions v YTFIB
Wheel Madrid v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum

League Week 27 (Reverse week 1): W/C 13 April 2019
Claymore Athletic FC v The Fabulous Artisans

Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v The Wateringhole Society

Markian United v Athletico Phoenix

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Aardvark Abacus

Real Muppets v Cheese Makers

The Cow-Faced Juniors v YTFIB
Trusted By Millions v San Dimas High School
Wheel Madrid v Mega Buck Bandits

W/C 20 April: FA Cup Final

League Week 28 (Reverse week 2): W/C 27 April 2018
Aardvark Abacus v Wheel Madrid

Athletico Phoenix v Trusted By Millions

Cheese Makers v Markian United

Mega Buck Bandits v Real Muppets
San Dimas High School v The Fabulous Artisans

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Claymore Athletic FC

The Wateringhole Society v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
YTFIB v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI

League Week 29 (Reverse week 11): W/C 4 May 2019
Athletico Phoenix v The Cow-Faced Juniors

Cheese Makers v YTFIB

Claymore Athletic FC v Aardvark Abacus

Markian United v Real Muppets
Mega Buck Bandits v The Wateringhole Society
San Dimas High School v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
The Fabulous Artisans v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Trusted By Millions v Wheel Madrid

League Week 30 (Reverse week 14): W/C 12 May 2019
Fred West Landscape Gardening XI v Mega Buck Bandits

Markian United v The Fabulous Artisans

Nil Satis Nisi Optimum v Cheese Makers

Real Muppets v San Dimas High School

The Cow-Faced Juniors v Aardvark Abacus

Trusted By Millions v Claymore Athletic FC
Wheel Madrid v Athletico Phoenix
YTFIB v The Wateringhole Society

*Yep, it’s subject to change but then you knew that.

2018/19 Opening day fixtures announced

We're six weeks from the start of the new WSFFL season. The opening round of fixtures looks like this...

Aardvark Abacus v Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Athletico Phoenix v Markian United
Cheese Makers v Real Muppets
Mega Buck Bandits v Wheel Madrid
San Dimas High School v Trusted By Millions
The Fabulous Artisans v Claymore Athletic FC
The Wateringhole Society v Fred West Landscape Gardening XI
YTFIB v The Cow-Faced Juniors   

Last season’s top two start with away games at two of last year’s bottom three. Full fixtures will be published in due course.

WSFFL at the 2018 World Cup

Our four yearly look at which of our teams are sending players to the Greatest Show on Earth.

Aardvark Abacus (8) - Kompany, Batshuayi (BEL), Pickford, Rose, Trippier (ENG), Son (KOR), Matic (SER), Monreal (SPA)

Athletico Phoenix (5) - Vertonghen (BEL), Maguire, Loftus-Cheek (ENG), Soares (POR), Lindelof (SWE)

Cheese Makers (3) - Lanzini (ARG), Fellaini (BEL), Ki (KOR)

Claymore Athletic (7) - Aguero (ARG), Schmeichel (DEN), Stones (ENG), Giroud (FRA), Mario (POR), Gudmundsson (ICE), Tadic (SER)

Fred West LG XI (8) - Rojo (ARG), Courtois, Hazard (BEL), Hegazi, Salah (EGY), Alli (ENG), Lloris (FRA), Azpilicueta (SPA)

Markian Utd (6) - Fernandinho (BRA), Sanchez (COL), Kane (ENG), Sigurdsson (ICE), Krychowiak (POL), Kouyate (SEN)

Mega Bucks (2) - Zanka (DEN), Elneny (EGY)

Nil Satis (7) - Danilo (BRA), Lossl (DEN), Dier (ENG), Pogba, Mendy (FRA), Gueye (SEN), Shaqiri (SWI)

Real Muppets (12) - Caballero (ARG), Aldeweireld, De Bruyne, Dembele (BEL), Ederson (BRA), Ospina (COL), Christensen (DEN), Sterling (ENG), Okazaki (JPN), Iheanacho (NGR), Mane (SEN), Milivojevic (SER)

San Dimas (7) - Lukaku, Mignolet (BEL), Lovren (DEN), Welbeck (ENG), Kante (FRA), Rudiger (GER), Silva (SPA)

The Cow-Faced Juniors (6) - Chadli (BEL), Willian (BRA), Butland (ENG), Ozil (GER), Silva (POR), Ndiaye (SEN)

The Fabulous Artisans (6) - Firmino (BRA), Eriksen (DEN), Walker, Lingard (ENG), Hernandez (MEX), Fabianski (POL)

The Wateringhole Society (4) - Mooy (AUS), Rashford (ENG), Ndidi, Iwobi (NGR)

Trusted By Millions (12) - Otamendi (ARG), Jesus (BRA), Izquierdo (COL), Henderson, Cahill, Jones, Alexander-Arnold (ENG), Moses (NGR), Silva (POR), Mitrovic (SER), De Gea (SPA), Xhaka (SWI)

Wheel Madrid (2) - Vardy, Young (ENG)

YTFIB (7) - Ryan (AUS), Delph, Pope (ENG), Gundogan (GER), Diouf (SEN), Olsson (SWE), Benalouane (TUN)

The Pool (2) - Bednarek (POL), Carrillo (PER)

Ryan and Beef lead the way this time with 12. Perhaps their teams will be most exhausted when our new season kicks off!

Fred and Beef were joint top in 2014 and the pool had most in 2010.

2017/18 Co-Ord Round-up Part Eight - 1st-4th

1st: The Cow-Faced Juniors (up three places on last season)
Last season the CFJs probably couldn't believe they finished as low as fourth. This season they might be scratching their heads as to how they won it. There were no real superstars in the team but most of them did a job. Simply put, they had the right players on the fantasy pitch at the right time. They stuttered towards the end of the season but the challengers fell away too.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Alexis Sanchez went off the boil.

Star Player: Shkodran Mustafi (four goals, ten clean sheets)

2nd: Fred West Landscape Gardening XI (down one)
A patchy start to the season saw last year's champs bump along outside the top three for much of the campaign before a late charge threatened a repeat. They seemed to be more unlucky than most with running into opponents having an inspired day. The brilliant midfield and the bargain £11m signing of Mo Salah are likely to keep Fred at the sharp end next season too.
What happened to last year's Star Players? Eden Hazard and Dele Alli were ok without hitting last year's heights.

Star Player: Mo Salah (23 goals)

3rd: Aardvark Abacus (up seven)
After a last season's worst ever league placing Ady's team returned to form. And a bit more besides. The Aardvarks work from a base of a great defence and hope they can nick a few goals. Lacazette, Son and Tosun obliged at times and Ady claimed the FA Cup. The boss will probably be looking for an upgrade on Sandro and Batshuayi if this isn't to be a one-off.
What happened to last year's Star Players? Danny Rose was injured a lot, Son Heung-Min had a decent season.

Star Player: Nacho Monreal (four goals, 14 cleans)

4th: Real Muppets (down one)
For the second season running Ryan's team spent more than 25 weeks in the top three. And for the second season running he couldn't convert, a run of six draws in wight games between January and April doing the damage. The Muppets do have the PCMT in their cabinet though plus a fantastic keeper in Ederson and an improved Raheem Sterling. Much to look forward to.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Toby Aldeweireld missed a big chunk of the campaign through injury.

Star Player: Ederson (14 cleans, one saved penalty)

2017/18 Co-Ord Round-up Part Seven - 5th-8th

5th: The Fabulous Artisans (down three places on last season)
Yet another season where Ben's team made a slow start and did all their best work in the second part of the campaign. Disappointment in the FA Cup Final will be countered by positive thoughts about next season. Another striker is needed though as Benteke looked very much on the downgrade.
What happened to last year's Star Players? Benteke was a huge disappointment, Patrick van Aanholt didn't get as many opportunities as previously.

Star Player: Kyle Walker (16 clean sheets)

6th: Claymore Athletic FC (same place)
A second straight season for Clive without silverware but it was a misfiring end to the season that stopped Claymore finishing higher. There just three wins in the last 11 games. Sergio Aguero led from the front but more would have been expected from big money signing Serge Aurier.
What happened to last year's Star Player? Aguero made it four years in a row.

Star Player: Sergio Aguero (23 goals)

7th: San Dimas High School (up one)
My team finished in their traditional 'between fifth and ninth' position. Four straight defeats in April and May put paid to a higher finish. Antonio Rudiger was a decent replacement for Kyle Walker but there wasn't enough improvement in the squad to make a challenge. Next year?
What happened to last year's Star Player? Romelu Lukaku wasn't as effective but still the main man.

Star Player: Romelu Lukaku (14 goals)

8th: Trusted By Millions (down three)
Any hopes of a high finish this year were seen off in November and December with a run of six straight defeats. The defence is a solid as any but while Gabriel Jesus made an impression in his first full season there wasn't enough goalscoring backup from the likes of Gray and Izquierdo.
What happened to last year's Star Player? A decent return from Gary Cahill despite not always being first choice.

Star Player: Nicolas Otamendi (three goals, 16 cleans)