Welcome to the Group Stages

A new format for us this year. After 12 weeks Nobby & Ready have stuck you all into groups, seven of them as follows:

Group 1 - The Lamb
Group 2 - East India
Group 3 - New Moon
Group 4 - The Slip
Group 5 - Cheshire Cheese
Group 6 - The Elephant
Group 7 - The Kerryman

We have tried to bring together old and current work rivalries or families or sexual tensions, hopefully it should be fun and keep the interest peaked, which we know is difficult when we have 55 teams.

The Group Stages will be commented on each week on the blog as well as the highest scores, so the Manager of the Week will still be the manager with the highest score (coloured in bright pink).

It will work like world cup qualifying with the best teams qualifying for the finals later in the season and the also rans playing for some pride. The best prize monies will of course be reserved for the finals and the ultimate top teams but there will be prizes for the groups as well. All to be announced in due course.

The top 7 overall sides will be colour-coded as usual as will the 54th team (penultimate prize) but try to forget about the big league for the next few months and concentrate on qualifying from your group - good luck all.