The FM Library

Creator name and what made you choose it?

 It was my first Xbox Gamer tag and has just stuck with me since.

Real name?

Hamish McLean, Sounds unbelievably Scottish but I am as English as they come.

Favourite football team?

Wycombe Wanderers

Talk me through your FM journey – where does it start?

I fell in love with Football manager way back when it was Championship Manager. I was just obsessed, my mum would ban me from playing until I had completed all my homework. 

Back then it was a disk only game but if you launched the game with the disk in and then removed the disk the game still played. So I would wake up early, launch the game, put the disk back in the box and hand it to my mum so she thought I was doing my homework. Explains A LOT about my education history.

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

I started Blogging during the very first Lockdown. To be honest it was out of absolute boredom. I work in Hospitality and was on Furlough for over 8 months. I was playing hours and hours of FM anyway and I just started writing about it on Twitter. As soon as I discovered there was a blogging community it all just fell into place.

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 like a healthy mix of the two. I delegate a few things to staff that I’ve always done (Training is one I feel a tad guilty for) . I really enjoy creating tactics, hiring staff and scouring the world for a bargain! But the most important thing for me is the story of the save. I’m sure we have all had those dips in form or troublesome times when we have lost our best player and have had to bounce back. Tweaking that tactic to stop losing streak or replacing your star player with an 18 year old superstar for a fraction of the price will never get old!!

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

I am not sure I can have a favourite version on FM as I’m excited every year! I have two favourite saves. The Wycombe Wanderers Journey on FM 21. It was my first blogged save and with my own club. We ended that save as FA Cup holders and Europa League winners. A bittersweet moment had to be in our FM23 beta save with Palace. We won everything ( 2 league Cups, 2 FA Cups, 2 Europa Conference Leagues, The Europa League and the Champions League) but couldn’t finish higher than 8th in the Premier League. It was infuriating but it has by far been my most read series!!!

Which bloggers do you always make sure that you read?

DPFM was one of the first blogs I started following. The Bolton Save a few years ago was so gripping! Then we’ve got CoxieFM and The Last Throw of the Dice. But there are so many that deserve a mention.

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 that level?

I think CoxieFM has got this whole blogging thing perfected. Everything is so Polished, from save ideas to graphics! You’ve also got people like Wighty creating stunning kits, Scott at DPFM arranging Joint Saves / online cups and leagues and then your fine selves with the FM Library Discord!

What puts you off reading other creators blogs – what makes you click that “X” button in the top right of the page?

I love an original save. I know that is a tad obvious but reading about someone turning around the fortunes of Chelsea really isn’t for me. But tell me you are dragging Torquay from oblivion to stardom then I am there for the ride.

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 would like to think I tell the story well, we have highs and lows in every save and they are down to a bit of luck and definitely some mistakes by yours truly. My series are an honest reflection of playing the game we all love!

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I’d like to than @SadPanda_333 for taking the time to complete our wee questionnaire and shedding some insight into the how and why he joined the ‘creator’ community.

Please give him a follow on Twitter and subscribe to his blog to keep up to date with his posts as they are released.

As always, if this is something you would like to take part in then either drop a comment underneath the post, DM either ourselves @TheFMLibrary, @FM_Burt or message us on our discord server, here.