Welcome to the Pre-season tournament edition of the Pink. In this hot edition we have profiled all the players taking part in the tournament, also, we have for your a great Interview with the man himself, our great Founder, no other than, Nidgey Morrison, so sit back, put up your feet and enjoy this great edition, with all the usual gossip and features you'd expect to find in the Pink Echo.
Nigel Morrison on the SFTLA - Interviewed by Scatty
Q – Can you tell me what your name is please and what you do for fun when not online ?
A – Well im Nigel Morrison - aka - Nidge and when im not online i like to go the gym and work out or play squash, but mainly sit off in the spa......i also play 11 a - side footy on a sat when im not injured. Then when i have the some money and got a drinking partner i like to go for a few beers...
Q – What do you do for a job, and how does it affect your ability to spend as much time as you would like online?
A – I work part time at Parcel Force - data Entry & sorting the parcels out that the drivers bring back that day and any other duties in the depot...Its only 20 hours per week so doesn’t really affect me at all being online...
Q – F.T.L. founded in April of 2003, what was your original plans for the FTL, and was there any assistance in setting it all up?
A – FTL - Was simply and idea that i always wanted to from the days i played in a fifa league set up back in 99, so at the time me and pimp decided we would start something up together and it was pimps idea to put it up on an msn user group...which gave the platform but he took a back seat and i carried it on with my brother Aubs and we set up a mini league of 12. The original plans were simply get a few lads together and have some fun with fifa 03 league format.
Q – We know you are a very busy man, tell me, if a player needs to make contact for help or advice and you aren’t online, what should they do, is there anyone else with whom they can speak to
A – Well if a player needs to contact me and im not online they can simply email me with their issue or we have a SFTLA - Forum and put it down on their, where i view the forum on a daily basis....but also they can contact the rest of the SFLTA - group leaders, which are me bro - aubs, witts - sweet patch webmaster or kotp who is always keen to assist ppl and has great knowledge... but also we have a decent fifa community so asking other players is always a good idea if they need help with anything unless its a tricky league situation...
Q – Since the F.T.L., now the SFTLA was founded, you’ve made a lot of friends, some of them you go to visit now and again, could you tell me about DAVE WITTS, how you met, his role within the SFTLA, and how he has helped the SFTLA to progress?
A – I met Dave witts through Gordon wint - winty one of the original FTL members who told wittzer that he was in a fifa league and well run by me good self at the time...so winty invited me down for a weeks break, which i needed at the time and there i met dave witts in Cornwall...who was always looking for a well established league to merge with his sweetpatch site. Dave is a sound fella and always listens and supports you all the way...its been a partnership which has a solid foundation and simply grows and grows and with his world wide site and has firmly put SFTLA on the fifa map...
Q – Now everyone knows exactly what a CASIE is, but for the benefit of the doubt, tell me, what is TOGGA ?
A – ahhh good question i like it....basically the same thing really..."Togga" is a footy or a game of footy, wot we always used to say when we were kids round our way on Merseyside....
"FIFA TOGGA LEAGUE"
Q – I’ve known you online a couple of years now, when I think of you, the names WIRRAL COUNTY and MIKE BASSETT spring to mind, so tell me, living down that neck of the woods, is there anyone within the footballing world you’d compare yourself to, and how do you see yourself in general ?
A – ermm that’s a tough question not really keen talking bout me self but u have forced me too ...let me think.... well as for me in general see me self as a sound & honest lad....with a good sense of humour.... (Others mite beg to differ) but im also very stubborn and don’t take any nonsense, so maybe a Paul jewel of Wigan......
Q – Tell me a bit about your family life, any sisters, brothers, do they help you at all ?
A – apart from aubs my brother who is such a cool person and we are very close, my family life is a very touchy subject and would rather not go into that, apart from its very difficult. But my bro helps a hell of a lot and i really couldn’t do any of this with out him and a lot of credit goes out to Aubs...nice1 bro
Q – As a participant in the SFTLA, ive seen an awful lot of lads come and go in my time, how do you feel about the seasonal player turnover rate, it is high, and how do you plan to combat this, especially the people that join up and lose interest within the first 4 weeks of the season ?
A – another good question im impressed with these...well in 03 we had 12-16..then in 04 - we had 40-44 players...but has decreased since then due to PES and fifa not being the only footy game out there these days...so its very hard to get keen & dedicated players when there is a lot of mistakes or bugs in the game and many lose interest. So all u can do is make it as interesting as you can and make it fair all round...by introducing players patch, which makes all teams equal and have cups and tourney’s to compete for and keep ppl interested, but that’s one thing ive learned over the years and u cant please every1...
Q – Take a step back, and look at everything you have achieved, how do you see it all now, any regrets, doubts, and how do you feel you’ve faired in 2 years ?
A – well its deffo progressed from the msn user group and im very proud of that cause we’ve had over the 2 & half years - 6 successful season with 3 diff versions of fifa and can u honestly look around now and tell me who else has achieved this with out going under after a season or 2?...as for regrets/doubts well deffo could of handled certain players or issues much better but as kotp says its all a learning curve and u do learn from your mistakes and take it on board for future issues as well as u mature in your self to handle things better...but on the whole i reckon iv done dam good considering the grief we put up with all round...
Q – Which football team do you support, and whom is your favourite, all time legend ?
A – I support LIVERPOOL F.C. with a passion.... as for all time legend i have many but as a boy growing up and close to my heart would have to be Ian Rush.....
Q – As founder of the SFTLA, and Admin of the FORUMS, please can you explain how you plan to improve the use of the forums, there has been some changes, but it still doesn’t seem to get used half as much as it should ?
A – well on the forums am only a mod ive not reached GOD Status yet (Aubs,dave witts - admins).....but we have recently added more sections and just not fifa, so ppl would interact more...but for now i would have to admit its not worked as of yet...but these things do take time...but i think if its advertised in the right way or places and we get our new website up and running i think it will turn things around...but a main issue also which puts many ppl off forums is petty squabbles, which do put ppl off and to be fair SFTLA forums have had their fair share but we have more mods and slowly but surely getting a better community with more decent lads, which always helps..
Q – Finally, can you tell us all as a community, what plans do you have for the future, of the SFTLA and for yourself?
A - future community plans...well would like to do a meet up - get the lads to meet up for a weekend for a few beers and socialise in person to make it a stronger community and hopefully ppl will bond...Also to meet up for regular landline tourney’s with the SFTLA, but just not fifa all other games the lads take interest in and generally have some fun....As for my self well, I really need to sort a lot of personal issues out and get me self back on me feet again, so i can enjoy life again, which is my main aim....but i would like to thank all the lads who have taken part from back in 03 to now.... cheers lads (thumbs up)
Cheers Nidge
Ok, Now we move on to the exciting part, As you are all now aware, for the foreseeable future, the SFTLA will run tournaments, rather than a league, this is due to the obvious problems we are all incurring under Fifa 2006, and fingers crossed, there may soon be a solution, but for now lets talk about the Tourney, the first one has just finished, the Pink was hoping to monitor its progress and get all details of players who took part, but it has been difficult to keep track, as the tourney was over so quickly, and was won by no other than one of the nicest people i can talk about in the SFTLA, SHAF, a well deserved winner, of the first tourney, and using the USA, WELL DONE SHAF, And now we have a club tourney dawning, the Pink has decided, rather than trying to keep track of all this, we shall just talk about each player just a little bit, and show their picture, if they are willing that is, and its common knowledge that the SFTLA boasts 1 or 2 posers, so this shouldn't be an issue.
All profiles are players that are active and competing, so may alter from time to time.
SFTLA 2005 - 2006 PLAYER PROFILES.
----------------------------------------------
GROUP A
Marc is an unknown player to me and we have never met in any form so i cant speak of his ability, he comes from Norwich, is 31 years old and is well keen and new to the Pc Fifa scene, usually plays the game on his PS2 console, so this could be the moment for Marc to shine through and make his mark, Marc is Inter for this tourney. No photo on file.
Another relatively unknown player, completed the last Tourney, did not get to play Ricky in the end, but he seems a very confident player and supports Tottenham. Ricky is Ac Milan in this tourney. Ricky did not wish his photo to be shown.
Well what can i say about this man, he has seen it all, competed in them all and won them all, well, nearly. Shaf has been here since the beginning like myself, we joined the SFTLA at near enough similar times, and is without a doubt, a Gent, Shaf is always a great help to anyone in the SFTLA whom may be finding their feet and need help, this is your man, and its always a pleasure to compete alongside him, he is undoubtedly, an enormous talent, and can without a doubt win any game and any opponent, he is this Tournaments favourite and i would be very surprised if he didn't succeed. Shaf is Villareal in this Tourney.
SHAF POSING BY THE BEACH............
GROUP B
ME of course, i been around since the beginning, Graeme, although much prefer to be called Scatt or Scatty, based in Cumbria in the North West where its freezing cold, i support Newcastle United, originally from the Toon, i work in Pc World in my town, 35 years old and have been around since the start and have played 98% of the lads in the SFTLA, and probably lost 95% of them games. I don't rate my own prospects and don't expect to do great, but, i am Stuttgart in this Tourney. No recent picture on file.
Waliu, otherwise known as NOEL, is based in the North East in my home town of Newcastle Upon Tyne, i believe Noel is or was a student as of recent times and does not have a picture or supported football team on file, i have personally competed against Noel on a few occasions this last year, he is a very good talent capable of winning any game on the day, and should do well in this tourney, And is no other than Real for this tourney.
stonecold_jpm316@blueyonder.co.uk
Jpm, John or Stoney as i just like to call him is another member whom has been with the SFTLA since the start, Based in St.Helens, John is a well respected lad, who is an enormous talent and a very dangerous opponent, this man can tear your defence apart without batting an eyelid, his style is unique, with a very attacking approach, so be warned, a dark horse that has yet to emerge and show his true form consistently. John is a great lad, has been a great asset to the SFTLA, is very useful to know, he has a lot of knowledge, and has in past seasons been a great help to the SFTLA with patches and other issues, and its always a pleasure to play John, though i have to say, ive never beaten him. lol. In this Tourney John is my old Team, ROMA.
GROUP C
Maclaren based in Southampton, related to the notorious Kev, they both hail from the land of 2nd rate Hampshire teams, has been with SFTLA a year and a half now, has competed in all sorts of leagues and tourneys and is another player who on the day, true to form can win any opponent, he is a quiet lad but friendly to get on with and hopefully will have a good tourney and is Man utd. No Picture on file.
prem_and_nationwide@hotmail.com
SNAKEY, snake, Tony, and a few other names ive called him in the past, ha ha ha, Tony is ok, a sound lad, good fun, always up for a laugh, eager, is a very good player, Based in Nottingham, Snakey is another of the senior members who has been here since the start, with a whole lot of experience and of course once ran his own set up, which a lot of the SFTLA lads competed in, Snakey is a very talented played, sometimes blows hot and cold, but on form, can beat anyone, so watch out, i expect to see this man in the Semi finals, and Tony is of course our beloved Pink Echo Editor. Tony is Everton for this tournament. No recent picture on file.
Another of the unknowns, ive never played this lad before, Also based in Nottingham and has only recently joined, hopefully new talent to help the SFTLA strengthen its claim as the best. Soomoo is Juve for this tourney and has no picture on file.
GROUP D
The pimp, big Johnny, Mr Horton, hails from West Brom and is a solid Liverpool supporter, another senior member, been here from the start, and a nice guy, not played him much over the years but i think we share the spoils in honours. John is also very well liked and is a great fella to know, friendly and always up for a laugh, Should do well this tourney and is Deportivo.
The Pimp Practicing the Nidge Pose...............................
Another SFTLA member, who has been here since the opening season, although he has been around such a long time i can not recall ever playing him, although we have spoke once or twice in the past, he is quite reserved but friendly and should do ok in this tourney with Bayern. No picture on file.
Tavish or Tav, a claret supporter through and through, Comes from Burnley and has been with us a season or 2 now, is a great competitor and should prove to be a handful for anyone, Tav in this tourney will be competing as Barcelona.
GROUP E
Dave is unknown to me and has only recently joined, could be a dark horse, originates from Scotland. Dave is Villa in this tourney. No pic on file.
Ricky here is Arsenal in the tourney and is a very good player, yet to reach his level. A Postie for a living from Herts, He should prove to be stiff competition.
Mrcoolirish, from N.Ireland, the land of BEST, a Liverpool supporter who i have played previously and lost to, very quick and skilled player and certainly one to keep an eye on this tourney, should go far and would be no surprise if he went on to win it outright, With Dortmund in this tourney. No pic on file.
GROUP F
This lad comes from Crawley, is a Charlton supporter and has no pic on file, have no idea how good he is as ive never met or played this lad, so be warned, he is Chelsea.
Colin, an old pro, seems like he has been around a lifetime, Colin is a genius with fifa, very good at the game, and is also a great lad to chat with, he plays very attacking and dangerous and is a tough nut. Col is Schalke in this Tourney, but im sure that wont affect his game in any way.
Hammy, well, where do we start, another Reidy in the making, played this lad a few times 2 seasons back and get battered on each occassion, so be warned, this is a group that has some big guns in it, glad i aint, Hammy is Valencia in this tourney. No pic on file
GROUP G
Singlejack is based in Scotland, been around a little while now, very average player, but capable of an upset on the day, be interesting to see how he progresses. He is Lyon in this tourney, No pic on file.
SFTLAs very own Mr Nice Guy, a true gent and friend, always got time to help or listen, Nidge is the Brainchild behind everything we know as the SFTLA, and puts a lot of hard work into it, He hails from the Wirral and is a mad Reds supporter, very talented and doesn't often lose a game, one of my faves for this tourney. Nidgey is Liverpool in this tourney.
Another Scot, Ty is often found lurking under bridges for some odd reason, i think Mrcoolirish told him that the fish take shelter under there when it rains, ;0)..... Ty has been around a while now, a very keen player and should also do quite well in this tourney. Ty is Atletico and has no pic on file.
GROUP H
Bolly and Chris, Share the same email addy, and are Newcastle and Middlesboro respectively, both should do ok in this tournament, and no pics are on file.
Jon, Mr Harrison, a mad Boro supporter, whom is playing with no other than Bolton wanderers in this Tourney, Jon is a great lad, a great help and is a very difficult opponent, and has been from day 1, it would be odd if he didn't at least make the quarters.
That's all there is time for this issue, hopefully though we now have some ideas and plans under way for the next issue of the pink, Till then.........
Scatty