Kickabout is a football management game from spellbinder games. This is a game unlike any other football game. Its vastly abdicative very playable and with huge depth. Kickabout also has several extras to the game. First off is their discussion group where you can take part in lively discussions about all parts of the game whether you are looking for hints tips or clarification on some of the rules or trying to arrange a friendly fixture against another club. The GM Chris Dempsey also takes a keen and active part answering questions and keeping every body up to date in changes and news about the game. Team pick is a program written by one of kickabouts active players and is a computer program written just for Kickabout It is a program that helps you fill out your turnsheet and minimises any errors due to the complexity of the game it's a must for all players. Show match is another program written to make the enjoyment even more awesome If you have email you can get sent files to you and the program will show a minute by minute report of the game showing all the important incidents shots goals red cards and more. You receive the report for every game in your league played that session and can also if you wish receive reports from every league. Which means you could have match reports for over 500 matches per turn. Lastly Mark info is another program that takes all the information from showmatch and turn reports and places all the players mentioned into a database. You can then use the information to help decide on how to mark opponents.

You take control of a small club in the low divisions with the aim of making the big time. Each team plays 22 league matches plus several cup ties and friendly matches. Each turn you will play on average 2-3 games per session over a 16-session season.
The main difference between this and many other football games is that all the leagues are played at the same time, which leads to cross league ties where you can play champions league, and uefa cup type matches. With currently 16 leagues and with 48 teams in each of which over 90% are player managed and less than 10% are GM run teams. This makes the games ultra competetitive. Kickabout is not about selecting 11 players on a turnsheet every week and seeing what happens but as your role as manager its to juggle club finances, send scouts to games to spy on up coming opponents, coaching your players to play at the best of their abilities bring through your young players and looking after your ground.

I joined the game coming towards the end of the tenth season and given the task of taking 4 th division Southway Athletic to promotion. Although the side itself was good on paper poor tactics had let the side down. My first Job was to get to the end of the season so that we could rebuild this was good as it gave me chance to sit down and understand most of the rules.

So to the start of season eleven. Due to the ageing of all players most of my players have lost some of their skill this is a standard way of making sure that teams don't end up with all their players on maximum skill levels making the game unplayable. Each turn known as a session comes in two parts first is the newsletter, which comes in the format of a small booklet. Inside you will find results of all the previous sessions games along with the current tables. Game reports also feature with several of the sessions top games having a small write up, Plus the manager of the month award which is given out every session to the top manager in each division. The Auction is the main area where players are bought and sold also giving managers with little spare cash the opportunity to pick up some real bargain players. Private deals between clubs are also allowed and are probably the best way to pick up a specific player that you are looking for.
The second part is your clubs details, your squad sheet with your players their skill levels stats and wages etc. Along with it comes details of coaching your clubs financial position scouting details and not forgetting match results.
The first object for me as manager was to strengthen my squad I managed to buy through the auction an experienced captain that would slot into my squad very nicely. This was very important due to my previous captain losing ¾ of his skill levels due to ageing. The coaching of the team was based around the defence with the thinking that if I could stop the goals going in then I may have a small chance of winning some games. My first 2 league games saw a 0-0 draw and a 1-0 defeat not a good start to the season and just to top it all off I lost the first leg of the league cup 1-0 against fellow division 4 hopefuls.

Session 2 found that one of my midfield player had attained the ranking of a star player. Star players are the top rating in Kickabout these players have the talent to turn a game in an instance they are international type players the Beckhams Giggs and Owens of this world. This is a great boost for my side. Another signing was made as well another midfielder although starting to get on a bit It now means I don't have to worry about injuries so much. I also signed up a new apprentice goalkeeper, as I currently have no reserve and if my goalie is to miss any game with no one to replace him could be a catastophy. Victory a 1-0 win away okay its probably the worst club in the league but hay it's a win. The home fixture of the league cup ended in a 0-0 draw, which means I'm out, at least there's still another cup competiton.

Session 3 with my defence now up to standard I can concentrate on other areas of coaching a Schoolboy arrived at the club and training has now started. He is quick to learn and should become a good player in no time. With finances low and expenditure outweighing income its time to off load the rubbish. There are several players that have been placed up for sale the only trouble being that if I don't want them then probably no one else will either only time will tell. Another win 3-1 after deciding to change tactics slightly this turn I managed to score 3 goals a great win that now lifts me to 4th position in the division. The Palmeston (FA) cup first round took place this week drawn at home to a team 2nd in division 3. Didn't have much of a chance even more so when a striker got sent off after 63 minutes I ended up losing the game 3-0.

Session 4 Three players have agreed new contracts with the club all at a lower wage than before reducing my costs further. As thought no offers for my players which means that I will be only left with one option waiting until their contract runs out and them sell them to the non league. My star midfield player has made the representative squad he's in the 22 to face other teams from other leagues this means I should get a nice income from the league. Derby time away to PSV Barking this session and a 20 defeat means that I drop to 6th place in a dirty match 6 bookings were given out 4 for my side. Which leaves one of my defenders suspended from the next game.

Session 5 Spent 200k on my youth policy this turn this should help towards finding some young talent to train up to become a star of the future. I decided not to renew one of my player's contracts this turn and sell him to the non-league this should bring in a few pennies that I could put towards a good player at the action. A 1-0 win this time it's a welcome break from recent games and hopefully something that can be built on with all the top sides being faced over the next 3 sessions its not going to get any easier.

When I first started PBM nearly 20 years ago the first game I played was a game called soccer supremos it was a very basic game which just evolved putting some numbers on a turn sheet and sending it in. "how things have come on" this game has really captured my imagination I never thought I would play another footy game but here I am and enjoying it immensely this games got everything. The interaction with other players brings the game alive. It takes time and thought each turn you feel that you have got so much to do each session and not enough cash or training allowance to do it all and deciding what to do this session and what to leave till next time is a real pain. Showmatch Teampick and Mark info are 3 great programs that make the game what it is. The only down side I can see about the game is maybe being allowed to find 8 apprentices each season is a bit much. (But then what do I know I've only been playing it for half a dozen turns) and the turn around can be slow at times especially at the start of a new season this is mainly due to the hand moderated input of all new players and set up turns for all the leagues at the same time. If you want a challenge and think football games are boring try this one and I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.