Just giving a bump to the FPL thread, as there's a little under three weeks left now before the new season kicks off on Friday, 10 August.

Still plenty of places available in the league for anyone who would like to join. Entry is free, with any HOL members welcome!

Under a week now before the new season starts on Friday. Still seven places left in the fantasy league for anyone else who wants to enter!

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One place left. Who wants it?

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Same ending. Different story.

Around this time last year, Manchester City eased virtually unchallenged to the Premier League crown with a record haul of 100 points. This season however, while the multi-billionaire owned outfit topped the table once again, they were pushed the whole way by a resurgent Liverpool who remained in the hunt right to the death. Sadly for the Reds, the 97 points they amassed in their relentless pursuit of a first-ever Premier League title was not enough, as their neighbours from down the M62 reached a staggering 98 points with a resounding 4-1 win away at lowly Brighton on the final day of the campaign. City would have even eclipsed their record points total from the previous season had they found one more league victory somewhere among their four defeats, but somehow failed to do so. What a shame.

And it was a fairly similar scenario that played out in this year's Holmesdaleship Fantasy Premier League, though this time there were several teams vying for top spot throughout the season, separated by only a handful of points much of the way. CPFC2018, pk all stars, Pride of SouthLondon and Sash my bitch up were all among the contenders by the midway point, with Sash and Pride having particularly creditable seasons, finishing in second and third respectively.

In truth though, and unlike the non-fantasy Premier League, the lead very seldom if ever changed hands as Bring back the GPO maintained a small but healthy points advantage over the rest of the field that was not to be relinquished. GPO claimed this season's title with a fine record of 26 wins, 2 draws and 10 defeats for an excellent total of 80 points, 7 ahead of second place. Not the winning margin of 16 points we saw last year, but reasonably convincing in the end.

Not only that, but the magnificent gameweek points total of 2,384 scored by Bring back the GPO is a record for the league, an achievement of which they can be very proud!

But it seems a respectable gameweek points score does not necessarily tell the whole story. Spare a thought for pk all stars, who despite a strong start finished down in tenth place - with an outstanding score of 2,322 points, the second highest in the league! How desperately unfortunate to score so superbly well, yet somehow not quite well enough on a weekly basis to get the wins you would have expected. That's head-to-head fantasy football for you!

Along with pk all stars and the aforementioned title winner, Bring back the GPO, there were 12 others who made it into the 2,000 Club this term, twice as many as we had last season. Sash my bitch up (2,043), Pride of SouthLondon (2,260), Mr Cadbury's Eagles (2,218 ), GladAllOver (2,092), AC Radix (2,122), CPFC2018 (2,114), PVA Glue (2,100), Hairy Chinese Kids (2,067), Palace Reserves (2,198 ), AaronWan-BissakaNil (2,044), Crystal Paralysis* (2,014) and Iterum tibi defuit (2,058 ) all reached the 2,000 point landmark this year, so very well done to all of you for your insightful tactics and prescient selections!

One of the things we all love most about fantasy leagues is the array of team names that crop up each year, and as usual we had a number of amusing, intriguing and often Palace-related monikers. Among my personal favourites of those you all came up with were Clitoristal Palace, Fork Nose, Hairy Chinese Kids (again!), Iterum tibi defuit, Mr Cadbury's Eagles, ridingyOurbRainwaves, Sash my bitch up and Wile E Kouyate. The time and thought you put into them all does not go unnoticed!

My earnest thanks to each and every one of you who chose to take part in the league this season, some for the first time. I hope you all enjoyed being a part of it, and had your fair share of personal highlights along the way. I do hope you'll consider giving it another go next time, so please keep an eye out again for details ahead of the new season.

Well done once more to the winner of the Holmesdaleship 2018/19, Bring back the GPO! A truly superb performance!

Edited by Dan Theolmesdaleroad (15 May 2019 11.40pm)

Oh yes, I remember now, that was a great name too! I like the new name as well, although I had to Google it to find out what it meant. I might adopt it as my own personal motto!

Glad you are enjoying the head-to-head format. It can throw up some surprising results, and anyone can beat anyone on the day with a good value-for-money striker, a well-chosen captain or a defender who bundles in a corner while keeping a clean sheet. You've got something to play for every week and it can make your weekend if you get a good result.

Well done on the 2,000 point season, look forward to seeing you sign up again next time!

Edited by Dan Theolmesdaleroad (17 May 2019 1.34pm)

Dan, this was the first time I've ever taken part in the FPL and stunned that I managed to win the Holmesdale Head to Head League as well as the league of the friend who introduced me to it. He is my postman and was always going on about it so I thought I'd give it a try, his workmates are really stressed that he invited me! It's a steep learning curve, especially double and reduced gameweek strategy, which I cocked up. My wife was also not too happy that I was watching so much football, a particular incident comes to mind when I shouted out while watching a game, she ran in, saw I was watching football had a moan then asked have Palace let in a goal, I said no, Rashford's just been substituted, which was greeted with incomprehension!
Anyway thanks for organising it, I will take part next year, but the only way now is down!
Paul - Bring Back the GPO.