Watford Observer Fantasy Football Competition 2007/08

FOLLOWING the success of the Fantasy Football Competition last season, we are again offering you the chance to win a share of £1,500.

Thanks to the generosity of Competition sponsors Loans.co.uk, one lucky reader will win a £900 first prize if they finish top of our Fantasy table next May. In addition, there will be a runners-up prize of £300, with a third prize of £100, and eight prizes of £20 to the entrant who scores the most points each month.

Unlike many similar competitions, the Watford Observer Fantasy Football Competition is based exclusively on the performances of Watford FC's professional players in all first-team league and cup matches in the 2007/08 season. But, before entering, please read this carefully.

HOW TO ENTER:
Using the squad of Watford players in the groups listed below, you must select five players of which two must be strikers (S), two must be midfield players (M) and one must be a defender (D). You must select one player from each group, but you may only select one player from Group 1. In other words, you may select a second player from either Group 2, 3 or 4. Any entries that do not comply with this rule will not be accepted.

During the season, you will be allowed to make up to five transfers (a transfer deadline will be enforced this season, and no transfers will be accepted after Friday, March 28). In making transfers, you must replace like with like (ie a striker for a striker), while ensuring your selections still only include one player from Group 1 and contain a player from every Group. In the event a player is sold or leaves the club, he may be replaced, but this will count as one transfer. If a new signing is made or a youth player rises up into the first team during the season, he will be included in the Groups, but, again, if you wish to sign him, it will count as a transfer.

Entries will be accepted at any time during the season and will start accumulating points from the next weekend fixture after the entry is received. But, in a change to Competition rules, entries will be limited to a maximum of three per person and no fun, artifcial or made up team names will be accepted. To start accumulating points from the first match of the season, your entry must be received by midday on Friday, August 10. A transfer will not begin scoring points until the Saturday after it is received. This is because a Fantasy Football week runs from Friday to Friday.

So look through the groups below, and one you have made your selections and read the terms and conditions, fill in the form and send it through.

Points will be awarded on the following basis:

• Appearance (a player in the starting XI) 3 points
• A substitute appearance (the player must be on the pitch for more than 15 minutes) 1 point
• A goal scored 10 points and if that goal is the winning goal 5 bonus points (if the victory margin is more than one goal, the winning goal will be the last one scored)
• A hat-trick 50 points (therefore if a player scores four goals, he will receive 60 points)
• An assist (as determined by the Watford Observer's match reporter) 5 points
• A yellow card received 2 points deducted
• A red card received 5 points deducted
• Man-of-the-match (as chosen by the Watford Observer's match reporter) 15 points (in the event two or more outfield players are selected, 10 points will be awarded to each player. If the goalkeeper is chosen as man-of-the-match, no marks will be awarded).
• Defensive clean sheet (applies to players classified as defenders in the starting XI) 10 points
• Defensive clean sheet for substitutes (subject to above ruling regarding substitute appearances) 2 points
• Goal conceded (applies to players classified as defenders in the starting XI) 3 points deducted
• Goal conceded by substitute (applies to players classified as defenders and subject to above ruling regarding substitute appearances) 1 point deducted

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1) Readers may enter up to three teams and each must be submitted on a separate form.
2) The three final cash prizes will be awarded to the entrants who have the highest aggregate scores at the end of the season, be that after the last league game, the FA Cup Final or the Play-Off Final.
3) In the event of a tie for the first, second or third prize, the respective amount will be divided equally between the winners.
4) If you choose to enter a team after the start of the season, it must be received by midday on the Friday before the weekend fixture you wish to start accumulating points from. For Competition purposes, April and May 2008 will count as one month. Therefore, the last day an entry can be received is midday on Friday, March 28, 2008.
5) The monthly prize will be awarded to the highest scorer for each month, based on points accumulated between the first and last days of each month.
6) The monthly prize can only be won once by each entrant. If the same entrant leads the monthly standings on a second occasion, the prize will be awarded to the second-placed entrant.
7) In the event of a tie for the monthly prize, the prize will be awarded to the entrant with the highest aggregate total. If that is also equal, the prize will be awarded to the entrant with the highest monthly score from the previous month(s). If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by a random draw.
8) Decisions over the awarding of points are made by the Watford Observer. No correspondence will be entered into over any aspect of the competition and the Watford Observer's decision with regard to all aspects of the competition is final.