A different kind of football game

It has much skill and as little luck as possible, and a competitive format with all the "live" and active opponents we can find.

Unlike the usual "soccer League" type games, the results of matches in Soccer Stats are determined by real life events, not by rolling dice or generating random numbers. The players you sign for your team and select to play each week score goals in the game when they score real life.

Unlike other stats-based games Soccer Stats isn't just a league table and some rules for scoring points. You play a proper league format, head to head with a different opponent each week to win, draw or lose, with the championship, promotion or relegation at the end of the season.

Unlike other Play By Mail games, Soccer Stats does not go into limbo between the deadline when you submit your instructions and the arrival of the game report. From real life results reported on the radio and TV, you will know a lot about your Soccer Stats results before it arrives. Live games take on an extra edge when your own players are involved.

The most important skill of the game is your judgement of the ability of players to score (or save) goals in real life. Players always sign for the highest bidder and it's up to you to judge how much to bid and when to double someone else's bid to get your man.

The rules for transfers and signing players in Soccer Stats make it virtually impossible to form cartels, or to make private deals between teams. It's a game about football, not just a management game.

You have to make management decisions as well, to make the money you need to sign the players you want, but it's who you buy and sell and how they play that decide whether you win or lose.

Wage demands from your players escalate according to your success. The more you win, the more you have to pay your players to keep going. If you eventually have to disband a successful team to rebuild, then no matter : the same rules apply but they will be in your favour as you fight your way back.

The stats based "League Rules" are used during the season when there are real life games and stats (current games are based on the English Premiership and First Division). During the off-season, the "Cup Rules" are played instead. Under cup rules we use the same squads and players, but the results are decided by tactics and coaching. Even if you're having a bad season you can still try for a cup run.

In addition there is a tipping completition where you try to predict the results of real life games that weekend. The winning tipsters earn extra money in the bank for their clubs.