I am 55 years of age and have been playing OLMEC games for... a while. Donkeys ages ago I stumbled upon a Diplomacy site and played that on-line/by e-mail for a while, but the site was running other games, one of which was Psychosoccer. I got hooked and took a second team in SESL. Sadly Psycho has gone, but I still play in SESL, although I did leave for a couple of seasons and came back to a different team.

That led me to SFLSL which I joined at the start of season 2. I named my team after the area where I lived, Orchard Park, which is between Giffnock and Thornliebank in East Renfrewshire, just south of Glasgow, Scotland. One manager was outraged to be beaten by a team of 'fruit pickers' and that in turn lead to the mention of 'cider makers' - hence the nickname. The Thistle in the title comes from the team I follow in real life. Partick play in Glasgow.

As far as managerial style goes, OPT can play most tactics well and certain tactics very well and I like to think OPT are more than a one trick pony. Since I started playing OLMEC games I have rarely NMR'd in any league, although I don't always play to win. Then again, I never play to lose.

I have slowly been adding to the overall SL of the team, although this has taken quite a few seasons. At first I concentrated on T11, and this is still the case today, but the number of decent players in the squad now means that the T17 is very good too.

Season 9 and we had no need to buy any players from auction. Our 3 draftees average scout was 29.3 and one scouted at 36. Can't complain at that ;-)

Season 10 - League Champions so last to pick in the draft. First pick was a WG 0/9. Blind picks were a MF and a FW. Not much in the way of choice. Still one scouted at 35 and the average of all 3 was 29. Another good season of draft picks. I had been hoping to keep some of the older lads and make OPT a huge squad of great players but I needed to bring in resources to keep the T11 high so I said good-bye Archie Gemmill 6/22 MA and Frosty Jack 1/14 DM who went to DAL and Alf Stamp 5/20 WG who went to DUB. No doubt they'll be back to bit ma bum.

Season 11 - Back to back Championship wins, but this time with a Cup win to make the double. How can I top that? Towards the end of Season 10 I knew we were heading for the OLMEC Cup and so I blew the budget on a couple of high SL players from other teams. These guys have now aged and I don't have the resources to get them back to their previous SL highs, but with some preseason deals in the bag I think I might still be able to make top 3 this season.

Those were the preseason thoughts and it turned out to be better than expected with the Championship and both Cups added to the virtual trophy cabinet. How exited was Mrs Scott to see those 3 dust catchers...!

Season 12 - Top T11 and T17 all season and expectations were high, especially after winning the treble last term. However, a disappointing run in for OPT in the league saw the Cidermen finish 3rd. With 4 teams there or thereabouts towards the end it was very exciting for the spectators but, ultimately OPT sat out the final session and rested players for the SFLSL Cup which was won against SFR. Something at least from a season that had promised so much.

Season 13 - I am feeling prepared for the new season, but with so many of the old guard leaving (Archie 6/23 DF, Maxi 5/23 SD and Danny O'Rourke 6/23 DM)it feels strange to not be at the top of the T11 table. The replacements are all top notch players, but lack the SL right now. Hopefully the draft players will not be as average as the previous two seasons.

Draft update - 2/16WG, 0/7SD and 0/8FW. The lowest scout report is 28 and the highest is 38. OPT have found the luck that brought 3 League titles to the Southside. Now to train them up!

Rivals have changed slightly this season. GOV and SFR are still there - obviously, but the Enders are no more and have been replaced by LD. Season 12 was hard enough without the Choo-choos throwing a spanner in the works. Never again.

Season 14 - Draft could have been kinder, but them's the breaks. Only one of the older lads has been shipped out - Barreras 5/24MA. That was the start of the season, but results were not good early on and some sweeping changes were made. OPT had their worst season in the last 10 seasons and the only saving grace was lifting the SFLSL Cup or this would have eclipsed Season 3 as our worst season ever. Line drawn...

Season 15  - Top T11 by a fair margin but lacking cash to buy resouces. Too many trades last season has used up the Ks, but OPT should be there or thereabouts this season. Hoping to regain the title and I have my fingers crossed that draft picks are back to being good to great.

SEASON 16 - OPT actually won all 3 trophies in season 15 (left the preseason chat up there for a laugh). Season 16 was tougher and only the Div 1 title was lifted. Only! Check me.

Season 17 - Snap! Not happy, but at least we something. Div 1 trophy will not be wrestled away easily. SFR were nearly there though...

Season 18 - Top-tastic! I feel the good old days are just around the corner. The 3 age 0 lads at draft ( 0/8 GK, 0/9 WG and 0/10 DF ) all scout at over 30 and have an average of 33. Couple of trades at the start of the season, one or two that I didn't need, but still with top T11 in Sanc and a wad of resources. If I can't win stuff with this squad then it is time to chuck it. - Update - Won nowt...

Season 19 - this saw emergence of ORA who had been building away slowly in Division 2 for many seasons. ORA beat us to everything, including the SOS Cup. Sore one for the lads as we had the best T11 by far.

Season 20 - Draft could have been better, but my last couple of seasons draft players are now looking to kick on and make it happen for the Cidermen this season. ORA now top the T11 table, but that does not worry me. My lads will destroy them this season. - that was it worked out. League title and Sanc Cup in the trophy cabinet.

Season 21 - League was tight and went to the wire. SFR pushing all the way to the last day but OPT did not crack under pressure and title number 8 was secured. Lost in the SFLSL Cup final to ORA. Plenty still left on the roster and ready for next season.

Season 22 - By a fluke and with thanks to GLS for beating ORA in the run in, OPT managed to secure title number 9. The draft picks have been pretty awful of late but I have managed to max most of them out with some extra resourses from here and there. Cup runs were cut short with two defeats to ORA.

SEASON 23 - Draft picks are not great but the roster is good thanks to a couple of early trades and OPT have plenty of cash and resources. Top 3 on T11 and T17 to ORA and SFR but I think OPT wil be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. First league match could set the tone as we are up against ORA.

Season 25 -missed an update last season but you didn't miss much...

I no longer reside in Orchard Park and have now been seperated for 2 years. It's been a rollercoaster but I am finally getting my life sorted. Kind of...

OPT took a back seat for a while but I hope to get them back to the top of the league soon. Might not be this season, but soon.

Season 29 - Now divorced but I have met and moved in with the lovely Tracy in the interim. Moved out of Glasgow but back to happy days. My son has retired from football aged 17 and I am sad about that but what can you do.

SEASON 30 - Still in Coatbridge and still playing Sanc via my phone. Should I invest in a laptop....? I have had a few lost to getting thrown out the window thanks to Sanc and SESL over the years so not sure it would be financially viable with this current squad to invest in an up to date machine. Hoping to continue to mix it with the top 6 but not confident of winning anything this season and that is a first. Really need to be on your best game these days as the influx of new managers has brought the standard up in Sanc almost to the level of SESL. It gets harder every season.

SEASON 31 - Still have not invested in a new laptop and perhaps last season showed my lack of investment but top 6 in Div and 2 decent Cup runs is a good return given our standing at the start of season 30. Hoping to improve this season but it's a tough league to play in these days.

Season 33 - still on the phone but sometimes log on using a wee tablet. Hoping for better this season than last for sure. No change in the home life which is good but I have a kilt to fit into in November so need to shed a few pounds. Thinking of getting back to a bit of jogging but struggling to get motivated.

Season 34 - Yes, we did it. Got married at the start of November and it is going well - so far 😉

About the same time I took on the role of Commish of Sanc which will take a lot of time up. I always said that two leagues is enough to compete in and I am back to just two teams now. OPT and Dumbarton in SESL. Strangely I am doing better (slightly) with both teams now that my third team are on sabbatical. We will see if that works out soon 🤞🏻

SEASON 36 - Still as busy as ever. Sanc is coming along nicely with all the teams now having a manager and no caretakers. Long may that continue. I have ventured into United and it has worked out well, so far. I took over Southend United from the late Dave Dowson and managed to steer the team to the Division 2 title and win the Youth Cup. Not bad for a rookie. My second season in United 1 has just started and SU are in Div 1 amongst the big hitters of the league.

Home life remains the same. Fast approaching our first anniversary and loving life. Sadly our proposed trip to Australia in October has been cancelled due to COVID but got a full refund from BA which is the silver lining. Used the cash to buy beer as we have to stay home for a month of annual leave in October. It's the only way to survive.

SEASON 37 - Still surviving on beer ;-) Absolutely nothing happening. Have not seen anyone and can't go out. Only one thing for it. I bought a guitar. Fingers are sore and I've been trying to it master in for nearly two months. It surely can't be that difficult :-(

Still having some success in United, although limited, to be fair. It's a tough game and I find some of the results more baffling than Sanc. Fingers crossed that by the end of season 37 we will be back oot n aboot.

Season 39 - well we are now getting back to normal and I went to a gig back in December. Nothing massive, just a hundred brave souls to see Kevin McDermott - who? Very much under-rated guy from Maryhill but a great gig. Christmas and New Year was with family again and it was nice to get that back. Also been back at the football and that's been good too. Not always the result but at least it's a day out.

At work it's all change too. After so very many years of working shifts I now have a day time role. Weekends off are great but the shopping at the weekend is horrific. I miss my days off during the week but I'm not going back to shifts. Too old for that!

The guitar didn't last. I might give it another go but for now it's in it's bag for safe keeping.

Season 41 - January 2023, So retirment in June 2022 lastest 4 weeks. Tracy decided I wasn't going to be a lay-about any more and she got me a job. It's a great wee number but don't tell her that. Driving ambulances when and/or if I want. No stress and I limit myself to about 3 days a week. It's nice to be taking people who want to be taken rather than my last job which was 30 years of quite the opposite.

Then came two major changes all at once. We travelled down to Lesmahagow to see a house. Tracy loved it and we put in an offer. 5 minutes from home I got a call to say the offer had been accepted. We had 5 minutes of much joy to be short lived when we got home. The oldest dog, Braeden, wasn't well. He had had a stroke and the vets couldn't save him - although they gave it their best shot.

Now we have moved and enjoying life in a small rural town although winter here is very different to what we have experienced before and it's not been that bad.

Season 42 - not much to report since my last update. The new house is coming along great. Tidying up both inside and out has kept us busy but the results are worth it. I will be holidaying in Florida during this coming season. Looking forward to the hols but will be a challenge to keep Sanc going. I will manage.

We have a new addition to the family - a miniature poodle. She's a wee cracker but it took the cat a few weeks to get used to her. Best of pals now though.

Season 43 - Let's start with some bad news - the wee pup died. She had been born with a liver defect which was only diagnosed a couple of months after we got her. We tried everything for her but to no avail. We had a couple of weeks of mourning but as we had a whole load of puppy stuff and wanted a puppy we jumped right back in. Travelled down to Blackpool and bought wee Chewie - named after Chewbacca as he is a chocolate brown fluff ball. He is also a miniature poodle and is now 4 months old and the cat has a new nemesis. Life is good again.

Season 44 - family life was just getting good when I took the decision to come out of semi-retirement and take on a full time job again. Utilising some of my former skills I enlisted in the cruise industry. What's not to like, bobbing around on the water and visiting new and interesting places. Has to be a great gig. Yip, sounds good but living on a ship for 3 months is not easy to get used to and I still another month to go before I get home. WhatsApp is great though for video calls and getting seeing Tracy and the zoo. The downside is obvious - things happen at home and there is nothing I can do. We will see how it goes after I have had my 3 months at home. Next rotation is bobbing around northern Europe - Aye, Scotland n that. Fun times!