The Champions Curse Strikes Again!

by Paul Price

So the eleventh season of Lineker football is now over with, and with it the tenth anniversary of the SPFA Premiership. A total of six different teams have won the illusive prize, but still not one team have managed to retain it. Last seasons winners The Tangerine Candyfloss could only manage a fourth place finish, despite doing extremely well in all other competitions.

Taking the title for the second time in three seasons, was FC Tensixty, finishing up an impressive ten points clear of their nearest rivals. The pre season signing of Sergio Aguero proved an excellent one as he repaid the £2,750,000 fee by scoring a total of 20 league goals, forming a formidable front line also consisting of league top scorer Bojan and Maxim Choupo-Moting. Daz Hargreaves’ side also held the best defensive record in league, conceding just 43 goals. The experienced trio at the back of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and centre backs Federico Fazio and Gary Medel are largely to thank for the sides solidity.Finishing up in second place was the Viking Raiders, their highest finish yet, since the merge between the PFA and the SFA. The Raiders have creative midfielder Toni Kroos to largely thank for their excellent finishing position, having his best season yet after eleven seasons at the club. With veterans Daniele Vantaggiato and John Heitinga still producing the goods at either end of the pitch, it goes to show that sometimes experience comes up better than youth and pace. At 35 and 34 respectively however, how long can the two players last?Finishing in fourth was last seasons winners The Tangerine Candyfloss. After spending more than £4,500,000 on new talent, Rob Barker will be disappointed with the sides Premiership performances. Especially given the long list of honours that The Candyfloss managed in other competitions. They managed to win no fewer than six trophies, including an SPFA cup treble - League Cup, SPFA Cup and the Memorial Cup - and the most prestigious competition in the gameworld, the Lineker Gold Cup, beating Carrazeda Ansiaes 1-0 in a tight final.

On the last day of the season all but one relegation spot had been taken up. It was between White Riots and Woodstock FC as to who would take that last spot, with the only game remaining being White Riots against the already relegated Hornstulls Eagles. With a worse off goal difference nothing but a win would suffice for Riots. In a surprisingly open game - 25 shots on goal between the two teams and it was 2-2 after 25 minutes - the White Riots deservedly came out on top winning the game 3-2 with two goals from Brazilian striker Jair Miranda. Not for the first time White Riots managed to survive relegation on the final day of play.Not so lucky were the Mutt Ring Racers, finishing just two points away from safety. Fans have blamed a lack of signings for the sides poor form, with nothing but youngsters signing for the club during pre season. Manager Kev Kennedy has faith in his squad however, and will be looking to the same players to help them gain promotion back to the Premiership next season.Recently promoted Gooners FC will be playing Championship football once again next season after failing to survive. Having started extremely badly - the side went the first 16 games of the season without a win - Gooners were always up against it. Manager Matt Coggins managed to turn his teams fortunes around as the season grew older, but it was too late as too much ground had already been lost. Expect them to back playing in the Premiership in the not too distant future, especially if they can keep hold of prolific striker James Vaughan.The other teams suffering relegation to the Championships were Wessex Wyverns, Psycho All-Stars and Hornstulls Eagles.