Rules...Introduction...What is PBM...
Hi, my name is Paul Hemmings, and CF is my creation, and I will be your games master.

Play-by-mail is a game that you play through the mail. I send you a turn, you read and study it and then fill in new orders for the next turn, then return the orders to me before a deadline and I run them through the computer before sending you the results, then the cycle starts all over again.

I do have to eat so I currently charge you for each turn. You can pay by cheque, postal order or paper cash and any cheque or postal order in excess of £20 will be rewarded with £2 worth of free credit.

If you get your friends to join then each time one of them sends me £10 or more you get 10% credited to your account.

The game is run full time for my enjoyment as much as for yours, and is designed to give you a complete experience, allowing you do anything you would be able to do in real life. However, to try and cover every aspect of the game in a rule book would be a huge task, so this rule book concentrates on the important aspects, the rest is left for you to discover.

My system is designed to run four games and you are allowed to manage or influence, just one club in each game. These games are split into two groups, Games 1 and 3 are processed one week, with 2 and 4 processed on the alternate week. Each game has evolved a flavor created by the people who play and the games have been named as a result.

Game 1 - the SUPPORTERS GAME - because most of the people who play here are managing the club they support in real life. This is also my flagship game and my longest running game and the most realistic game in which you can manage any club from anywhere in the world in any league in the world and all clubs play in their real life leagues.

Game 2 - the COMPETITORS GAME - because most managers here seem especially competitive. But there are only five leagues, England with four divisions and playoffs, Scotland with two divisions, Italy with two divisions, Brazil with two divisions and a combined European league with two divisions.

Game 3 - the THINKERS GAME - because managers here have a great awareness of tactics, and players learn new tactics faster. But there are only five leagues, England with four divisions and playoffs, Scotland with two divisions, Italy with two divisions, Brazil with two divisions and a combined European league with two divisions.

Game 4 - PLAYBOYS GAME - because this game has a lots of rumours, high-living managers and hard-hitting newsletter, ala the tabloid press. But there are only five leagues, England with four divisions and playoffs, Scotland with two divisions, Italy with two divisions, Brazil with two divisions and a combined European league with two divisions.

Within each game each league has its own flavour allowing you to have different experiences depending on where you manage as well as who you manage, for instance

ENGLISH CLUBS can only sign foreigners that have come to a British club in real life, but may TRIAL players who are rumoured to be coming to a British club in real life. English Premiership clubs are usually fairly rich and it can be a real challenge getting a Natiionwide side up into the Premiership and keeping them there, just as it is in real life. All the english leagues consist of a Premiership and 3 Nationwide divisions with Playoffs.

ITALIAN CLUBS will find that the cost of living in Italy is currently about four times higher than anywhere else meaning they have vast sums of money to spend on all the best players and can any player from anywhere in the world. All italian leagues consist of Serie A and Serie B divisions.

SCOTTISH CLUBS will find a lower cost of living in Scotland and have less cash to spend than most other clubs. All scottish leagues are grouped into a Premier division and a first division.

EUROPEAN CLUBS from the remaining European nations are grouped together in all but game one, into two divisions in the European league. Most european clubs are fairly poor but there are exceptions especially the bigger spanish clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona, who can compete with anyine in terms of income.

BRAZILIAN CLUBS are the poorest of all but are usually rich in talent. Brazilian leagues are grouped into two National Championship Brazileiro divisions.

If you feel like giving the game ago then please send me your details and request a favourite team or two, I can not guarantee your team is free but you can go on the waiting list for a team and as the top teams become unmanaged their Chairman will advertise in the newsletter for a new manager, this ensures that players who have played the game for awhile get priority over new players when it comes to managing the games top sides. Chairmen can also make private JOB OFFERS to lower division managers when that manager has done especially well.

I run the games on a 14 day turnaround and you need to return your orders to me by the stated dealine.