Football Fantasy Thames United 4 4 2

Review also includes:

Football Fantasy Tyne Athletic 4 3 3, 978-1840465969

Football Fantasy Medway United 4 5 1, 978-1840465990

Football Fantasy Mersey City 4 4 2, 978-1840465976

Four in a series of six Football Fantasy books (the other titles being Bridgewater 5 3 2 and Trent Albion 4 3 3). These clever interactive football books can be played solo or with a partner. The first 40 pages introduce, with great clarity, the rules of the game and introduce the fictional footballers in the team. The last 20 pages explain all the moves that are possible. Different footballers have different options available. The remaining 240 pages are large monochrome illustrations of what you, the player, see on different parts of the football pitch. Each page sees you in possession/attacking or seeking possession/defending. You have six options A, B, C, D, E, F, as does your opponent (unless playing solo when a random letter generator is used). The outcome of each confrontation leads to play moving on in five different ways, with possession remaining with the same team, changing to the other side, the ball going out of play, a foul being committed or a goal being scored. There are over 8500 possible outcomes so each match is completely different. The outcomes are a matter of luck but experience can result in more successful decisions being made, as you get to know the relative strengths and weaknesses of your own team compared with that of your opponent. The author suggests each match lasts 15 minutes each half. For more experienced players there is an advanced version of the game to play using the same book.

A website (www.footballfantasygamebooks.com) gives further useful background information and suggestions for fans to organise football fantasy events such as leagues, cups and competitions, which I can see being popular wet dinner time activities.