2 points for correct result
4 points for correct score
2 points for each correct scorer
Correct joker doubles your score   (correct score on a joker would give you 8 points)
Wrong joker result gives you minus 2
Correct Badger gives you 2 points

The prize for winning the league is one rep point.

Cup games: In the event of a draw, it's half the points if you've predicted a draw when it gets to 90 mins and the full points if it's still a draw after extra time. Half the points will be awarded for correctly predicting the winner of the match if it goes to penalties. However, if you do predict a draw and it's a match that won't be going to a replay, you can get a possible extra point by stating which of the two teams you think will eventually win.

Random score generator: I will be using the random score generator again for those who miss predicting, so we shouldn't get some people too far behind that after missing a couple of weeks they lose all interest, because I know it's not easy getting on here every week.
To be fair to everybody, this is going to be like, say if three people in one week miss their predictions, the first one in the table will be given all 0-0, the second one down the line will get 1-0 and the third will get 0-1 and so on, like if there's four missing the 4th will get 1-1, then 5th 2-1, 6th 1-2. and if there are so many missing, might as well pack in.
And if you miss two weeks on the trot, I'll stop until you come back on again. Not doing it for half a season like I did t'other year.  


At the end of the season, the winner of group 2 and the bottom of group 1 will swap places in what is commonly known as "promotion" and "relegation". It's something that most football fans will be familiar with, unless you're a fan of Liverpool or Arsenal or one of those other fashionable clubs.

The second placed player in group 2 will then have a play off with the player who finishes second from the bottom in group 1 to decide whether they will be going up, down or staying where they are.

We're going to have two seasons in one though, just to try and make it a bit more interesting and not so long drawn out. The first season will end on the Boxing Day fixtures, with the play offs being on the dates of the Twixtmas fixtures and the NYD fixtures.

The second season will start the following week, which is usually the FA Cup 3rd round, finishing on the last game of the League One season. Then another period of relegation/promotion play off games, taking in such fixtures as the EFL play offs, FA Cup Final, UEFA finals and such like.

Each group will have it's own set of fixtures. Both groups will have the Town games, with scorers to predict as before. Then it will be a split of League One fixtures and bonus matches, hopefully around ten, eleven or twelve games per Matchday.

The random badger is restricted to three goal scorers in any of the fixtures in your group.

Here's how that will appear at the end of the fixture list. All you have to do is fill in the blanks.......


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Any of those will score two points if correct. No minus points for getting it wrong.

Postponed matches will only count if the match is re-played before the next Matchday is under way. Abandoned matches will be awarded half the points for the score at the time of abandonment, so 1 point if you have the correct result, 2 points if you have the correct score.

Substitute or scorer in one of the Town games:- These will be only be allowed if you change them before the match involved has kicked off.

Prediction League Archive: https://www.sportsbabble.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=12830


So we now have a two legged Play Off between Lord Snooty and themaclad. The usual rules apply, but in the case of the match ending in a tie, we will have a tie breaker. That will be to predict the total number of corners in the two Huddersfield Town matches during the two legs. The closest wins. If it's still a tie, the winner will be the one who scored most points over the season, which in that case would be themaclad.



Final Division One table for the 2025/26 season:

1. Baggiebob(BBB) = 432 pts
   
2. jjamez = 424 pts
   
3. neonfoxinthebox = 359 pts
   
4. ritchiebaby = 328 pts
   
5. Lord Snooty = 327 pts
   
6. SHEP_HTAFC = 171 pts
   

1. theo_luddite = 379 pts
   
2. themaclad = 369 pts
   
3. Devongone = 348 pts
   
4. St Charles Owl = 336 pts
   
5. WakeyTerrier = 287 pts
   
6. Amelia Chaffinch = 270 pts
   

Thursday January 1st (all 15:00):
League One:
Lincoln v Town
Town scorers:
Lincoln scorers:

Doncaster Rovers v Bolton Wanderers
Exeter City v Luton Town
Leyton Orient v AFC Wimbledon
Mansfield Town v Bradford City
Northampton Town v Stockport County
Port Vale v Blackpool
Reading v Burton Albion
Rotherham United v Peterborough United
Stevenage v Plymouth Argyle
Wigan Athletic v Barnsley
Wycombe Wanderers v Cardiff City


Tie breaker:
Total number of corners in the two Town matches of both legs = ??


*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***
*** scores for ***

Group A

BaggieVicar 14
BaggieOne 12
Zimnan 10
Minizin 9
B.B.B. 9
Stairs 7
A.A.A. 6
Twerton 4

So we reach the final week of the year and Group A manages to stick in a very, very average week!! They did manage to equal the most points scored on one game, which stands at 22, on the Norwich v Charlton game but there were also a couple of negative points games to offset that - WBA v Bristol City (blind optimism on display??) and Stoke v Preston.

A little bit of symmetry (or divine intervention??) with the time of year sees BaggieVicar leading the way this week with 14 points. only the second time he has topped the weekly scores. He scored on the Bonus and Scoreball and had he played the Gamball he would have scored 2 more points as he got a CR on that game as well!! BaggieOne is second with 12 points, he was one of two players to score on the Gamball and added 2 CSs but missed on the Bonus to keep his score down a bit. Zinman is 3rd with 10 points. This is the 6th time in the last 7 weeks that he has been in the top 3, if he could find some consistency with his balls (he missed them all this week!!) he would be so much better off!!

Minizin and BBB are joint 4th with 9 points. They both missed the Gamball but BBB scored a max on the Bonus and Minizin managed a CS as well as a CR on the Bonus. Stairs is 6th with 7 points, the 6th time in the last 8 weeks that he finds himself in the bottom half of the weekly scoring. AAA is 7th with 6 points, this is his lowest weekly position in 14 weeks, shows the consistency he has shown as he has moved up the table!!

Twerton is bottom of the pile this week with just 4 points, that is the 3rd highest bottom score in Group A this season so not too much damage caused for him!!

205 Minizin
188 Stairs
174 A.A.A.
171 BaggieOne
162 BaggieVicar
158 Twerton
148 B.B.B.
145 Zinman

Minizin stretches his lead to 17 points and becomes the first player in either Group to pass the double century mark!! Stairs is still comfortable in 2nd spot but the pack are edging closer to him. That pack consists of AAA, BaggieOne and now BaggieVicar who moved ahead of Twerton this week into 5th. BBB and Zinman continue their fight for the wooden spoon with just 3 points between them.

Cheers
SCO


Group B

Lady Jane 18
4eva 11
Derby 10
SCO 9
Themaclad 8
Salop 7
Snooty 5
Amelia 4

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and is looking forward to the new year, whatever it may bring.

An above average week for Group B with every match, and every ball, producing a positive score. There was quite a spread of scores though we did see some unusual sights - Derby actually got a correct score and Themaclad was mid-table!

The week's outstanding performer was Lady Jane who scored on the week's high of 6 games and was the only player to score on all her balls. 4eva claims 2nd spot although he was the joint lowest result predictor - he only got 3 but turned 2 of them into maximums with one of them being his bonus. It really helps when you get that ball right. Derby also made it to double figues and secured his 6th correct score (4eva has 21!)

SCO continued his recent run of scores - in the last 5 weeks his score has been between 7 and 10, so this week's 9 points is hardly a surprise. He was one of 2 players not to pick a correct score but again he was helped by a positive bonus ball - he has scored on 12 of these and this week was his third in a row. Themaclad is a point back with an unusually average week - he matched SCO's 4 correct results, turning 2 of them into correct scores but missed out on all his balls. Salop had one fewer correct score but did at least gain a point from his scoreball.

Less impressive scores for Snooty and Amelia. Snnoty matched Salop for results and scores but in addition to losing points on the gamball and bonus, he also lost a point on the scoreball. Amelia was one of 3 players to score on the gamball but otherwise struggled, scoring on just 2 other games and failing to nail a correct score. She followed Snooty in selecting the week's scoreless match for her scoreball to leave her at the foot of the table with 4points.


194 4eva
150 SCO
145 Lady Jane
134 Snooty
129 Themaclad
123 Derby
122 Amelia
108 Salop

A couple of changes in the table but no change at the top as 4eva just keeps adding to his lead - now stretching to 44 points. SCO retains 2nd place but Lady Jane's good week sees her take 3rd place from Snooty and she's now closing in on SCO. The other change sees Derby edging ahead of Amelia.

Zin


Playoff Standings Update

As we reach the end of 2025, a few weeks over halfway through the season, I though an update on the standings would give some players some extra Xmas cheers and others a New Year's resolution to use!!!

1: Minizin - 205 points
2: 4eva - 194

3: Stairs - 188
4: AAA - 174
5: BaggieOne - 171
6: BaggieVicar - 162

7: Twerton - 4 points behind Playoff places
8: SCO - 12
9: BBB - 14
10: Lady Jane - 17
10: Zinman - 17
12: Lord Snooty - 28
13: Themaclad - 33
14: Derby - 39
15: Amelia - 40
16: Salop - 54

So as we stand the top 2 in each division are looking comfortable, especially 4eva who is running away with Group B. After that the PO places are filled with Group A players!! The chasers makes interesting reading with 5 players - Twerton, SCO, BBB, Lady Jane and Zinman all within a realistic shout of putting some form together and closing the gap on that 6th spot.

The bottom 5, all from Group B have some real work to do if they are going to be delaying their holidays for the Playoffs, but I fear a couple may have already booked their flights in anticipation of being free to head to the beach!!!

See you all in 2026!!!

Gamball:
Derby - Wrexham

Others:
Wolves - West Ham
Everton - Brentford
Newcastle - Crystal Palace
Spurs - Sunderland
Birmingham - Coventry
Bristol C - Preston
Middlesbrough - Southampton
Norwich - Stoke
Portsmouth - Ipswich

Apparently. Castledine is going to Coventry for £8m. Paid for with the money they're getting off Sunderland for Rudoni.

And we're getting Bailey Cadamarteri from the Wendies.

THE MATCH

MONDAY 29TH DECEMBER KO 7:45PM

v

LAST MATCH



Our first home Boxing day fixture for 8 years saw us claim a point against high flying Hull. We started the game brightly although didn't create much, but we were looking the most likely. We took the lead when a long ball by Charles put Ingelsson through and he prodded the ball past the keeper. Hull levelled when Belloumi turned well and fired past Charles. Onto the 2nd half and Hull looked a bit better but it was us who took the lead when Bannan found Cads who controlled and finished nicely. Our lead didn't last long as Crooks lashed home after the ball fell for him. Both teams had half chances but the game ended in a fair result.

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

THE MATCH



Our last fixture of the year sees us entertain Blackburn. Blackburn are struggling at the wrong end of the table and are just 4 points above the relegation zone. I would expect them to be hovering around the bottom of the table as the season goes on, but I think they might have enough to just avoid the dreaded drop. They are managed by Valerian Ismael who took charge in February. There leading scorer is Gudjohnson who has 7 goals so far this season.

And that's it's for 2025. Been an interesting year to say the least, a mid table finish under Rohl and then the off field problems that has dominated the news, wages not being paid, the ground falling apart, training ground a mess, Rohl leaving, embargos galore, unable to sign players as half of the squad left in different ways and then finally going into Administration and more importantly the end of DC 2 different points deductions which will see us in League One next season but with new owners who hopefully know what they are doing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

DEJPHON CHANSIRI, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB    

ALL TIME H2H

OWLS 62
BLACK 58
DRAW 40

CURRENT FORM

OWLS     D L L D L L                                                          

BLACK D W L D D D

EFL STOOGES

DOES IT MATTER THERE ALL CORRUPT  

OLIVER LANGFORD
Mark Stevens & Lee Venamore
Fourth Official: Benjamin Speedie

THE TEAM

Charles
Palmer Cooper Iorfa Otegbayo Amass
Thornton Ingelsson Bannan
J Lowe Cadamarteri

SCORE & SCORER (HOME TEAM SCORE FIRST)

1-1 Cadamarteri

WEDNESDAYS FIRT GOAL TIME

56

ATTENDANCE

24786

BML LEAGUE

Owlkev 12
Maddix 8
Imre 7
Washington 6
SCO 4

BMPL

Stateside 7
Pei 0
Wereham -11
Southey -12

OTHER GAMES OF MILD INTEREST

Millwall v Bristol City
Birmingham v Southampton
Barnsley v Lincoln
Cardiff v Stevenage
Gillingham v Colchester

HDAHD

THE MUPPETT LEAGUE

SCO

The Proclaimers will be singing at full time again.

Oh it's the most wonderful time of the year... according to some. Depends on how you look at it if you ask me. But the one thing that always sticks out is the boxing day fixtures and it is quite often one of the first people look for when the fixtures come out. So imagine the disappointment when it was announced that port vale would be following Santa to town. Nothing against port vale as a team or non existent place, but a festive fixture against a team closer in proximity or more rivalry always feels better, especially for a festive atmosphere.

So anyway, port vale come on boxing day sitting bottom of the league, 7 points adrift, with vale fans planning chants against Darren Moore's management. Something we are all too familiar with, that being said the former Wednesday man should never have been offered the opportunity to be at the helm of the terriers. Moore had a disastrous spell in charge of town and saw himself relieved of his duties at the end of January leaving andre breitenriter to have the displeasure of taking town down. Mr Moore wasn't out of a job for too long as port vale snapped him up quickly in the February and he begun the job of rebuilding their side, firstly by taking them down to league two, so kudos to the man, he managed two relegations in one season, bet that hasn't happened much. He did manage the valiants to an immediate promotion back to the third tier thanks in large to the goals from Lorent tolaj. they begun the season with a full squad overhaul, signing 12 new players, but lost the key man of tolaj to Plymouth for an undisclosed fee and have found him to be a massive miss. In his place vale brought in former Barnsley striker devante cole from his failed spell at west brom, many town fans clamoured for us to sign him under Michael duff last season but all eggs were in certain striking baskets, Cole son of Andy, has 5 goals in all competitions which puts him in fairly decent comparison to our strikers, which is saying something considering where they currently sit in the league. Vale also signed long throw expert Jordan Gabriel from Blackpool and former Wednesday player Marvin Johnson both on freebies, although good players for this level, their fitness records leave much to be desired, something our transfer team enjoys capitalising on.

The last time the two sides met was back in 2017 when David Wagner's terriers hosted vale in the fa cup. Town ran out comfortable 4-0 victors over vale with goals from little jack Payne sandwiching strikers from Kasey Palmer and Harry Bunn (no bread pun intended), town would go on to be knocked out of the cup in a replay against Manchester city, the league campaign we know how that ended. Theres a further 3 other meetings between the sides, all in cup action, before we get to the last league meeting, two fa cup ties and a league cup tie, town won in the league cup 4-2 thanks to a lee Novak brace, whilst Nathan Clarke scored the only goal of the fa cup tie the season prior, both with lee Clark at the helm, the other fa cup tie finished 4-3 to vale at the galpharm, in what was towards the end of Stan ternants tenure. The last league meeting was a boring 0-0 draw which condemned port vale to relegation. Overall town have 19 victories over the stoke based side, with 11 draws and 18 defeats, so fairly even, hopefully not so on Friday.

For team news, the lesser spotted Marcus mcguane is returning to training shortly. Herbie Kane has been filmed trying to fight someone on a night out drinking, but he took could be in line for a return to the squad

Nice article here which DOES give me a lot of hope....
Mason backed by West Brom sporting director Nestor - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/art...09g2gn7w9o