North v South: GW39 Digital Match Day Programme (2022)

Price: £0.0m

Saturday 28th May 2022

Gameweek 39 Charity Match Digital Matchday Programme

Making Fantasy Into Reality!

Raising money for Street Child United This Digital Match Day Programme is produced by FPLHINTS Magazine

CONTENTS (SECTIONS) i. Acknowledgments ii. A Message From Benny and Ash iii. About Street Child United iv. Confirmed Match Day Squads v. Captains’ Interviews vi. Team Doodles vii. Players’ Skills/Videos viii. GW39 Fantasy Game (via GAFFR)

Acknowledgments Team North and Team South football kits sponsored by @PlanetFPLPod

GW39 fantasy football game made by @GAFFR_IO

GW39 Designs by @fpldoodles1

A Message From Benny & Ash Often when monumental events are organised they are done with a lot of thought and planning. But in the age of social media things have become different. Let the screenshot below be a reminder - be careful what you tweet – it might actually come true!

Multiple people messaged me (Ash) shortly after my off the cuff post back in September 2021 about the possibility of a football match featuring fantasy football managers. Benny was the most determined to make this happen. And remarkably after a few messages and a phone call things went into motion quite quickly. Before we knew it we had booked out a stadium for our match pitting the “North” against the “South” in central England (Birmingham) one week after the season ends which in turn made this match into “Gameweek 39” by default.

Crucially, we wanted the event to be as accessible as possible from a geographical perspective in the UK (hence the location). In addition, from the get go, we wanted this event to be notfor-profit and when we became aware via Gianni Buttice of the fantastic work that Street Child United were doing it just made complete sense to raise money for them in the process.

Words can’t describe how grateful we are to the fantasy football community for the support they have shown to our charity match initiative and for all the donations made to Street Child United. We would like to especially acknowledge @PlanetFPLPod for sponsoring the kits for both teams, as well as @Gaffr_io for creating a free to play fantasy football game for the occasion and @fpldoodles1 for the unique designs! We would also like to thank the players who are self-funding the costs via registration fees. In addition, we would like to thank Castle Vale Stadium for allowing us to host this historic event.

We hope you enjoy the match and for those that can’t make it on the day we hope you have fun watching the highlights.

Kind Regards, Benny and Ash (Benny_Blanco40 | @FPLHINTS)

About Street Child United Street Child United is a UK charity using the power of sport, specifically international sports events, to change the negative perceptions and treatment of street-connected children everywhere. They believe in a world where every child can access their rights, no matter their background. Key priorities include:    

Challenging negative perceptions Right to identify Right to protection from violence Right to education

(Read more here) Street Child United are proud to work with exceptional young people. Their goal is to help them become advocates for street-connected children, who can bring about social change.

(Read more here)

Get Involved With Street Child United Street Child United exists because of amazing community of supporters who are working together to make a change for street children across the world.

There are so many ways that you can make a difference.

(Get involved!)

A Message From Sadock A Message From Jasmin -

Confirmed Match Day SquADS

Team North

Team South

Benny Blanco (+ Manager) Dan, LocoLord (Assistant Manager) Clarkie (Captain) Hindu Monkey (Vice Captain) Michael Saville (GK) Sam Martin Gianni Buttice Ben Dinnery Ben Crellin Stevie, UnitedFPL Abdul, FPL Salah Paddy, Viking MattyhFPL Ed (FFFEST) _FPLJJ FPL Corf Pig LowFPLTSB

David Munday (+ Manager) FPL__Raptor (+ Assistant Manager) James Drewery (Captain) FPLPlonker (Vice Captain) FPLBhuna (Vice Captain) Ash, FPLHINTS (+ Chairman) Sham, 2Guys1Cup (GK) Ash, FPL_Juice Ross, FPLMerch James, PlanetFPL Suj, PlanetFPL Az, FFScout Pras_FPL FPLStrategy Harry (FPLTIPZ) Adam (ThreeFiveWho) TheFPLNacho Peter (FPL.Team)

Backroom Team: Chef JayHenno Elf

Backroom Team: FlapJack FPL Nima

Go to gaffr.io and pick your fantasy football team for GW39 as well as to see each player’s position.

Team North Captain - Clarkie

If you were a Northern cuisine or snack, what would you be?

It would have to be a Yorkshire pudding. My pride isn’t from being Northern, nor from Leeds, it’s being a Yorkshireman!

What does it mean to represent Team North on this historic occasion?

To be apart of the biggest FPL IRL event we’ve seen, for charity, as captain is a great honour. I’m really excited to be a part of something that we will no doubt be talking about for years to come.

With Team South being underdogs, do you feel there is an added pressure for Team North to not let their fans down?

Fans? We’ve got less fans than Manchester City! There’s no pressure there. We of course feel confident we have the better team but anything can happen. We just have to work hard as a unit and enjoy ourselves.

What are your hopes and expectations for Gameweek 39?

My hope is that Team North win convincingly and my expectations are the same. Outside of the result I just hope for a great spectacle. This will be my first time meeting people from the FPL community so honestly it’s going to be a brilliant day regardless!

Do you feel that Team North's training at St George's Park gives them an extra edge against Team South's training at Waterloo Park?

Nah. Let’s be honest, one solitary training session is good for one thing only, morale & team camaraderie. We could’ve achieved that with a kick about on any old field but at least it allowed Gianni some good Instagram posts!

Why should neutral fans support Team North?

Neutral fans should support us if their football club isn’t used to glory or trophies. Let’s face it, the smart money is on Team North so why not have a dash of glory in your life?

Any final words of wisdom? l will take this opportunity to thank Benny for his part in setting up a truly fantastic event for such a worthwhile cause and for letting me be a part of it. Street Child United help so many young people and to say I get to have a kick about with all my friends while raising money for them is magnificent.

Team South Captain - IceMan

If you were a Southern cuisine or snack, what would you be?

Cornish pasty, because I’m a meathead!

Name one thing you love about the North?

Arsenal – “North” London.

What does it mean to captain Team South in the first ever charity football match?

It’s a great honour to be the captain! It’s a responsibility that I’m not taking lightly. I will show leadership on and off the pitch with the maximum amount of effort possible. This match will be making its mark in history and I am incredibly proud to be part of it. I’m lucky in being to leverage my passion for football and in turn help those that may be less privileged. This is the very definition of THE BEAUTIFUL GAME! In terms of motivating the team, what’s your approach for Gameweek 39?

This is done in a number of ways. But primarily by reminding everyone how fortunate we are to raise money for such an incredible cause. In addition, I will look every one of them in the

eye, ask them to connect with their heart and soul and play the game like it’s their last.

Why haven’t Team South produced any Twitter memes unlike Team North?

‘Cause we have better things to do like earning more but not getting to enjoy it ‘cause everything is too damn expensive, being sarcastic to tourists but benefitting from good weather within a picturesque agricultural village whilst speaking the Queen’s English correctly.

Do you think your friendly match two weeks before kick off with an almost full squad gives you an advantage over Team North?

You could say that Team North’s trip to St George’s Park gives them an advantage. We are focusing on our preparation, not theirs. We are ready to put on a respectable display for all the people taking time out of their day and paying their hard earned money to come and support a wonderful cause. It’s also a sign of respect for our opposition that we don’t expect to just turn up and win be default.

Why should neutral fans support Team South?

Some Northerners call us “Soft Southerners” and have questioned our chances for Gameweek 39. With that said, everyone loves a good underdog story, right?

Final team thoughts before kick off?

I will tell the team to work hard for each other, not to let their heads drop. If someone makes a mistake they will be the one to pick them up, be disciplined, make the 90 minutes the best they’ve ever played. Go out there and smash those Geordies! This is our opportunity to make history and be remembered! Up The South!

FPL Doodle’s Illustration of Team North

FPL Doodle’s Illustration of Team South

Players’ Skills/Videos (Team North) – Click Below To View @BENNY_BLANCO40 @_FPLJJ -

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@PIG_FPL -

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@GianniButtice -

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@FPLViking_ @MichaelSSaville @UnitedFPL2 @MattyhFPL – @SmuelMartinFPL – @FantasyClarkie @BenCrellin – @FPLSalah – @RandyShafter –

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Team North Initial Preview -

Players’ Skills/Videos (Team South) – Click Below To View @FPLHINTS @FPLMERCH @FPLPlonker -

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@TheFPLNacho @PRAS_FPL @JamesDrewery @FPL__Raptor -

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@PlanetFPLPod @FPLBhuna @FFScout_AZ Team South Initial Preview -

GW39 Fantasy Football Game via GAFFR GAFFR has been built by fantasy football fanatics and is known for its flagship fantasy game focusing on the second tier of English football.

They also launched a Super League game at the start of the 21/22 season which allows you to pick players across multiple elite clubs from Europe. In addition GAFFR is the home of the third season of ChampManFPL. The creators of GAFFR have taken football to a new level and created a one-off fantasy game for North v South: GW39. You can register for free and pick players from both teams!

Click here to learn more about GAFFR