The FM Library

We, at the library want to shout from the rafters about creators that we like, so we put the word out to some of our favourites to find out a little bit more about them..

With 11 simple questions.. for FMwayoflife

Creator Name & what made you choose it:

FMWayoflife – I believe I chose the name as it relates to our addiction to the game doesn’t it?

Real Name:

Harry Purdy

Football Team:

Super Chelsea FC!

Talk me through your FM journey – where does it start? When was the moment that you first clicked on that little icon – and when did you realise that you couldn’t stop!

I started playing the old Championship manager games with one of my oldest friends from the village, he used to be Manchester United and I would be Chelsea before the glory days! If my friend was feeling nice he would let me sign a few United players on the cheap! I remember Luke Chadwick turning me down though haha! I think I first noticed my addiction though in about 2008

Ok, you’ve been playing the game, what made you jump from “player” to “creator” and how have you found the journey?

I started on a forum called Neoseeker. I used to just do little save updates and used to get a lot of good responses from other forum users but can’t remember what year that was. In 2016 though I saw FM content floating about on Twitter and thought I’d get involved. I had a year out in 2017 for some reason but haven’t been able to put FM18, 19 and now 20 down. When I returned last year I got a good response so here I am!

What’s your style of play? Within the library we have a couple of guys who plough through seasons letting the Assistant Manager’s do the vast majority of stuff, mainly getting into the late 2060’s trying to complete bizarre and random challenges, but we also have guys who are very much into the finite detail and will manage every aspect and would consider a save done after 5 or 6 seasons. Where do you fit within the scale? There is of course, no incorrect answer.

I’m pretty involved with the club to be honest. There are a few things I don’t do IE U19’s and B team training schedules and sometimes I get a good head scout to set up my scouting networks but apart from that I do most other things. I’ve fully dived into the training aspect on this years’ game and am finding that really rewarding.

I’d have to say that I love possession based football and last year with MK Dons and this year with De Graafschap is proving that!

Favourite version/save? Any particular bittersweet/comic/down right depressing memories?

I’ve had so many great saves and so many good memories from this game. My favourites though are a Journeyman save where I started at York, and moved all the way through to the Championship, got the Arsenal job and got sacked, went to Norwich and got them in the Champions League my next stop was Spurs where we won the League (which was great revenge after the Arsenal sacking) and lastly I ended up at PSG and won 3 Champions Leagues in a row, it was the pinnacle!

More recently though my save with MK last year was great fun and we won the Europa League!

Which bloggers do you always make sure that you read?

FMSamo! His content is amazing. Others that I follow closely are MaddFM and BlackCaesar! I could list loads though because since the FM20 Beta has been released the Blogging scene is on fire.

Who within the community, seriously impresses you – produces the type of content that you just think “Wow, I couldn’t even contemplate producing stuff to at that level – for me it’s Laura/Chilled Moose and the face packs that she produces – some serious design talent there. This can be across any format of creation.

I’ve been following Oliver Jensen’s latest tweets about the data he’s collecting and that is genuinely impressive! It’s something I would never have the patience to even try and create so I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s going to do with that.

My all-time favourite though was Teach! I could watch that guy play FM all day and it’s a shame he’s not streaming currently.

What puts you off reading other creators blogs – what makes you click that “X” button in the top right of the page. For me it’s using the correct grammar for team names – I saw a blog about 18 months ago where the blogger named his opponent as oxford united and not Oxford United – I’m still angry about this…

Do you know what? I’m certainly not a grammar snob and I think everyone deserves a chance. I try and read as much content as I can. I think for me though you can always tell within the writing whether the blogger is engaged or not and I think it’s the enthusiasm that keeps me going back. Sometimes I feel people write just for the sake of it, if you know what I mean?

Ok, final question.. I have 5 minutes and I have a list of blogs in front of me – In 100 words, why should I click on your blog…

I’m rubbish at stuff like this! If its enthusiasm you’re looking for then I’m your guy. I put my all into my Blogs and try and make them exciting to read for you all. This year as well I’m in the Netherlands and I haven’t seen many bloggers managing there. If you like Dutch football or just football in general come and give my blogs a read!

We thank FMwayoflife for their time – and now he returns to his bias of Chelsea… Well he can’t be right all the time!!