The FM Library

It’s been a long while coming but eventually the 11 Questions series is back, in this post we welcome one of the newer bloggers to the scene, please welcome Norman Proctor FM

Creator Name & what made you choose it:

Back on FIFA 12 (yes, yes I know, the arch enemy game) I was creating a virtual pro for the Pro Clubs game mode. Norman Proctor was the auto-generated name my player started with, and it stuck from there. Since then Norman Proctor has become an F1 driver, a Valheim warrior, a CS: GO sharp-shooter, a WWE Superstar, but most importantly a Football Manager and blogger.

Real Name:
Tom

Football Team:
Leeds United

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!

Christmas 2012, my Grandparents bought me Football Manager 2013. After checking the Leeds squad ability, the first team I managed was Chelmsford City (I don’t really know why, I just picked a random team from the Blue Square Bet South). As a tribute to being the first team I managed, I used their home colours in the design of my blog logo and website.
I realised I couldn’t stop when I was skipping my AS-Level Biology lesson first thing on a Wednesday to get sacked at Chelmsford, and when I was partially responsible for the banning of using laptops to take notes in lessons because I was playing FM in my English Literature class.
Don’t skip your school lessons kids and concentrate in class.

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

I attempted back in 2016 when at Uni to stream FM but failed miserably, not knowing how to set up a microphone correctly. I lasted for 2 ½ streams where there would have been no sound. I gave it another go while furloughed during the pandemic, this time writing a blog. I have really enjoyed the experience so far, and my friends have too as I don’t bombard them with messages of my save updates as much.

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 think I’m somewhere in the middle. My assistant organises general training, but I do individual player training. My assistant gets sent to a lot of press conferences, but I’ll do the talking for big matches. I’m usually a key highlights man but have started FM22 on comprehensive to get a better idea of how my tactics play. My formations and set piece tactics always come from me, I’m not one to download tried and tested routines. Some people consider it cheating but usually I turn attribute masking off, so it doesn’t take ages to get a scout report back to only half know if a player has a 4-13 shooting attribute. I love a long save and am not one to end it when the regens (not newgens) start taking over.

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

I have fond memories of an FM17 Journeyman, managing the likes of Dundee, Porto B, Bordeaux, Colchester Utd, New York City, Roma and Barcelona. Sadly the save file corrupted 2 days after accepting the job at Barca, I am still devastated.
Happier memories though include reaching two Champions League semi finals after 17 years at Gibraltar United on FM15. Also in 8 seasons on FM19 taking over Bristol Rovers in League 1 and ending with 3 FA Cups, 2 League cups, 2 Premier Leagues, 1 EFL Championship, 1 Community Shield and 1 Champions League.

Which bloggers do you always make sure that you read?

MaddFM, LuttorworthFox, CoxieFM, FMStag and Rock’s End FM are always a must read for me, but there are so many other great blogs out there from other creators.

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.

There are too many people for me to mention everyone who impress me but to narrow it down to two; I envy what analysis magic The Female Football Manager can do on Excel. And FM Rensie’s skins have long been my go-to and I wouldn’t know where to start with designing those!

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…

I’m not one for clicking off blogs. I’m more than happy to sit and read through a detailed story, some data driven analysis, game by game match reports or any other style of blogging. I can’t lie, my eyes do often get drawn towards any spelling and grammar errors. But especially now writing myself, I won’t stop reading for fear of there being an error in my own work!

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 try my best to combine comedy, tactics, finances and match analysis into my stories and blog posts to make an enjoyable read. So otherwise I’m laughing at my own jokes and that’s just sad!

Thanks so much to Tom for doing this, it’s been lovely to get to know the man behind the blog, now make sure you go and check out his blog!!