Welcome back!!

Dear All,

It's hard to believe but tomorrow afternoon kicks off a brand new DITB season.

Yes, it's 'squeaky bum' time as a grand total of 37 teams in two divisions prepare themselves pre-season for another long, hard battle.

The pre-season transfer deadline has passed so you're stuck with your current starting 11 until Wednesday August 22.

Now it's time to sit back, relax (if that's possible) and watch your team helplessly from the sidelines for a couple of weeks.

This season is a milestone in DITB history as, for the first time ever, the league has been divided into two separate divisions.

The creme de la creme of the Fantasy Football world have all converged in the DITB Premier League and one look at the teams involved should make managers proud to be amongst the elite, while at the same time aware that the competition will be more fierce than ever - whether you're fighting for the league title or to avoid relegation.

The rest are in the DITB Conference League.

I am pleased to report that after painstaking efforts by the chairman (I'll have to talk about that at a later date!!) we will have a full quota of 20 teams competing in the Premier League. The line-up is as follows...

DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

Harpic Amsterdam - Mark Molloy

The Grapes of Raff - Michael Rafferty

Flexys Fairies - Brendan Kelly

The Happy Monkeys - Brian Shields

Chelsea Daggers - Kurt Festraerts

Rafas' Goatee - John McDermott (apostrophe in the wrong place lad!)

Ylneverbeathefrankie - Declan Crudden (the less said about that team name the better, obviously in a rush Decie!)

Au Revoir Thierry14 - Conor Walls

Brendys Bruisers - Brendan Devlin

True Blue Strikers - Jules Eilledge

KFC Academical - Kevin McCauley

Sheer Kidology FAF!! - Patrick O'Sullivan

Cherry United - William Cherry

Minus Three Fc - Geoff Johnston

Minibabybellefc - Claire Baber

Real Goldfish - Conor McAvoy

The Dogs Ballacks - Paul Brogan

Maclacticos - Owen McNally

Prince of Darkness - Gavin Sheehy

Kirbs Crawlers - Andy Kirby



There will be 17 teams competing in the Conference League (possibly one more to come in the shape of The Busted Sofas who I believe are in Canada!). The line-up is as follows:

DITB CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Hoofers Utd - Gareth Bradley

Fernando Muppetorres - Paul Maynes

Steprightin - Brendan Henry

Bazking at the Top - Barry Corr

Boys of Summer - Austin McGinley

Yer Ma's Athletic - Francis Jones

Gazza's Piping Hots - Gary McDonald

Joeys Monsters - Andy McCabe

Black Socks Red Tops - David Nightingale

Muckamore Utd - Alan Stewart

You'llneverwalkalone - Mark Stevenson

Con Villa - Connell McGinley

Virgin Surfers - Eamon Eastwood

Cool Dude Zoo - Stephen O'Sullivan

Mersey Miracles - Joe O'Sullivan

The Well Hungarians - Conor Nugent

Gulladuff FF - Matthew Henry



Prize money this year will be as follows...

DITB PREMIER LEAGUE

First Place & Champions League Qualification £200 plus trophy
Second Place & Champions League Qualification £125
Third Place & Champions League Qualification £75
Fourth Place & UEFA Cup Qualification £25
Fifth Place & UEFA Cup Qualification £25

The bottom three teams in the Premier League will be relegated into The Conference League for the following season and also pay a forfeit.
Third from Bottom £10 forfeit
Second from bottom £15 forfeit
Last position £20 forfeit


DITB CONFERENCE LEAGUE

First place and promotion to Premier League £125
Second place and promotion to Premier League £100
Third place and promotion to Premier League £50

The bottom three managers in the Conference League will pay a cash forfeit at the end of the season.

Third from Bottom £10 forfeit
Second from bottom £15 forfeit
Last position £20 forfeit


FFA CUP WINNER £50 plus trophy (open to all teams in both divisions)


As far as I'm aware, scores will be updated online on a daily basis but I will try to continue my Wednesday updates.

So who will be sitting proud as punch at the top of each division after the weekend?

Who will suffer the ultimate humiliation of being bottom of the table after week one?

I'm sure I speak for all managers when I say that all we want at this stage is a decent start to the season... is that too much to ask?

At the end of the day, someone has to be top and someone has to be bottom... only time will tell.

Good luck tomorrow and keep your eye on the ball.

Michael R.

Diving in the Box FF League Chairman

Don't forget to check out http://divinginthebox.blogspot.com/ for all your FF needs.