Fun and games

In case you were unaware (like us until very recently), there's less than a week to go until the start of the new Premier League season. That also means you've got less than a week to get your team registered for the SPAOTP.com Fantasy League, so if you haven't done it already, you'd better get your skates on!

It's free, comes with a five-year warranty and comes in a choice of 3 eye-catching colours. And now you're through the unnecessary sales pitch, you might want to know how to take part? Well the simplest thing to do is to visit our previous post where you'll also find that crucial piece of information - the entry code number. Without it, you won't be able to join the thirty-five other teams that have already signed up to play with us!

But if you REALLY like your football games, the fun doesn't end there. There's the small matter of predicting what will happen in the season to come because, let's face it, we all want to say "I knew that'd happen" to our friends and colleagues when the time comes. If you can see yourself in that happy disposition nine months hence, here are two ventures you might like to take part in.

SPAOTP's Premier League Table Prediction Bonanza
Like Wayne Rooney, it's simple, but effective. All we ask you to do is predict how you think the Premier League will finish - from top to bottom, champions to those relegated and everything in between.

All you need is a writing implement of your choice, plus a sheet of paper (or office desk). Sit, think, ponder, stare out of the window for inspiration, then jot down the positions where you think the teams will finish in the table from 1 to 20. Once you have done that, email us your version of how you think the Premier League table finish come next May.

At the end of each month we will send you a copy of how you and the other entrants are fairing, and like last year we will also add the predictions of football magazine FourFourTwo to see how you're doing against people who 'should know better'. If you're a bit daunted by the sound of that, you needn't be - some of us faired better than the magazine did last season.

And that's all there is to it. Something simple for a work day lunchtime, sitting in the pub garden and nursing a pint. Or something to do whilst the wife is putting the kids to bed (he says, adopting his best 'male sexist' voice.)

Send your predictions to premierleagueprediction@spaotp.com before 12 p.m. BST on Saturday 11th August 2007 and we'll do the rest...

The Football Prediction League 2007/08
Way back in, oooh, 2006 when this site was just finding it's feet, we spread the word about Some People Are On The Pitch thanks to some cross-promotion with The Football Prediction League. Well, they're back again with a new competition for 2007/08, and once again we're more than happy to usher you in their direction.

It's dead easy to play and best of all its free - all you need to do is visit http://football-prediction-league.co.nr, register your username and password, then after that just predict the results for each match in whichever competition you want to take part in. You get three points for a correct score and one point for a correct result. The winner, unsurprisingly, is the one with the highest total score at the end of the competition, and if it's you, don't be surprised if they immortalise your name for all eternity in their Hall of Fame.

So that's the SPAOTP.com Fantasy League, the SPAOTP Premier League Table Prediction Bonanza and the Football Prediction League. Three great games to take your mind off all those nightmarish new Umbro kits these season.

Don't say we never look after you at Some People Are On The Pitch...