The FM Library

Here we are again, another 11 Questions and this time it’s one of the new guys to the blogging scene CalvFM. Make sure you drop him a follow on Twitter @Calv_FM and go check out his blog calvfmstories.wordpress.com, for FM22 he is doing a build a nation challenge in the Netherland with FC Twente.

Creator Name & what made you choose it:

CalvFM is my creator name. I chose this name because Calv is part of my surname and what some of my closest friends used to call me back in the day! Then FM, just because my blogging is all about Football Manager, so it just seemed right and it says straight away what I am about.

Real Name:

Luke

Football Team:

Liverpool! Have done since I was a little kid. I will always remember that night in Istanbul, what a moment in Champions League history.

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 have always been huge about football, I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t a football fan or player, so naturally I found Football Manager. In all honesty, I can’t remember the first Football Manager I played, the earliest year of the game on my Steam account was from FM13, but there was definitely time before FM13 when I played it! I will always remember going to the computer room as a kid and loading the game up. It is just such an iconic game in the football world, and I don’t know how anybody doesn’t fall into if they are a big lover of football. There were many days back when I was in Secondary School when I remember hiding my phone behind the pencil case and playing Football Manager on mobile, smashing the Premier League with Wolves.

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

A big inspiration to me jumping into blogging was MaddFM. I came across the 5 Star Potential Podcast with MaddFM on and I just started reading his blogs. Then in the summer of 2021, CalvFM was created. I had always thought about content creation before while growing up, but it is something I have always put myself off for a variety of reasons. I have loved every part of content creation during my small journey so far, the community have been so supportive and that has helped so much. I can’t wait to blog during a whole FM22 cycle.

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 guess I am a bit of both, I like to let my Assistant Manager do tasks such as news conferences, training, friendlies and maybe the other odd task here and there. But then I like digging deep into scouting, transfers and setting up my tactics. I have never had a huge save that goes into the late 2060’s or beyond. I think it is also because I quite like to still see real players in and around the game, although when a 5 star potential youth prospect crops up you can’t not get excited!

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

I really enjoyed ‘The Climb’ my first ever blogging save during FM21. I was so hooked! The pressure of gaining promotion and then the excitement, but also frustration, of waiting for a team in the league to sack their manager and me jumping on that chance. It made the save super enjoyable managing multiple teams and using so many different players. Although I failed the end goal of promotion to the Premier League, I ended the save after recently being hired Crystal Palace manager, so I will say that one more season and promotion would have happened.

Which bloggers do you always make sure that you read?

There are so many great bloggers in the FM Community. Ones that I am really looking forward to this year are; MaddFM and his Newcastle save (but without the takeover), CameronFM and their From East to West journey, LutterworthFox and Tiers of Joy and finally DP-FM, I loved their Tangerine Dream in FM21!

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/ChilledMoose and the face packs that she produces – some serious design talent there. This can be across any format of creation.

In terms of blogging MaddFM really impresses me, and the variety of blogging content for Football Manager, for example the recent blogs he has put out on 5 Star Potential. Then in general all the content creators who create graphics such as face packs, skins etc. The tech/graphics knowledge behind the creation is something I don’t think I would ever be able to do! Bullybeef on Twitch is another different type of creator I am really impressed with. The chillness of their streams and the enjoyment within them just stands out to me.

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…

A big one for me is spelling and grammar. Now I know I may make the odd mistake here and there, and even the best writers can make the odd mistake, but when I see multiple errors throughout the blog that puts me off.

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 and make my blogs as enjoyable to read as possible, and for readers to understand what is going on. I make sure to add multiple screenshots of the save, as I find seeing what is happening in pictures makes the story come alive a bit more! Also, I make sure my blogs are not 10 years long, so all you will need is those 5 minutes to read and no more! There may also be the odd joke in there which you can hunt for, I like to think I am a comedy genius at times.