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You just can't beat the cut and thrust of the English League. Starting at the bottom of Division Four, you must fight your way to the top. It isn't easy, primarily because your team is rubbish. But by carefully bidding for players on the transfer market you should improve until you are not quite as bad, and start thrashing everyone.

There are no graphics or sound; this is a standard text-only management sim. It has some nice features, however, such as a minute counter when each game is playing. Goals are scored "as they happen", so you'll be on the edge of your seat until the very last minute.

Each player has a skill, fitness and ability value. These combine to give on overall figure for that player. The team is divided into defenders, midfield players and attackers. The totals of all the players in these categories are totted up to give the three strengths of the team. It is thus a simple mathematical process to work out which players to buy to improve your team. This takes away some of the fun; there aren't many other factors to affect the outcome.

One big niggle is the fact that all keypresses are stored in the buffer, to return and annoy you later. If you press the "start game" button twice, two games are played in succession. And there's nothing you can do except snarl.

The balance of The Footballer is tipped in your favour. If you keep playing, you tend to move to the top of each league. This adds to the feeling that it's just a matter of loading up and waiting until you win.

Leave it playing until you win.

Graphics 0%
N. A seventies-computerish typeface is used.

Sonics 0%
N. Like most games of this genre, there aren't any.

Grab Factor 46%
P. Quite friendly. Not complex or difficult.

Staying Power 41%
N. But it is limited in its enjoyment.
N. A little too biased to the human player.

Overall 41%
N. Just another management simulation.