Iām not sure it has sunk in yet.
Two weeks ago I left a secure, well paid job producing videogames to dedicate my day-to-day existence to Fantasy Football. Now it matters more than ever.
Of course Iām incredibly blessed to be in that position. To be handed opportunities to write, speak and gesticulate on matters Fantasy Football for a living is something Iād wistfully dreamt about, but never quite believed would materialise.
But Fantasy Football just seems to be on a relentless and quickening path into the mainstream.
The big daily game providers from the US have arrived.
The Premier League are determined to keep the growth of their game accelerating across the world. Other games will react to keep pace. Radio and TV are catching on.
While it would be nice to hunker down and keep our little secret on the dark web, we have to accept that Fantasy Football is being brought to the masses.
Iām now utterly convinced it’s acceptable to open a conversation at family function with an enquiry on who got the assist for Callum Wilsonās goal. I think thatās now permitted and even appreciated by at least another three other people in the room.
However, soon we may not need those incredibly enlightening conversations.
Soon those assists, and perhaps even bonus points, will be fed to us along with the classifieds by an Alexander Gordon. Later today youāll see that Fantasy Football has become part of the Saturday results service ā another step I never thought Iād witness.
My role in spreading Fantasy Football to a wider audience has already been questioned and thatās understandable.
But I donāt think I can fight it. The growth of Fantasy Football either happens with or without us and it seemed I committed my involvement the moment I wrote that first blog post.
Since then, youāve all played a huge part in getting me to this point. Iām really not sure how to thank you for that – for the support and loyalty youāve shown (except perhaps by introducing a full desktop view for mobile users).
When things do finally settle and sink in, Iāll have more time to reflect.
For now all I know is that those 15 names on my screen are important to me. More important than ever before.
Thereās new responsibility, new pressure and with it an even bigger sense of anticipation and excitement.
Enjoy the kick-off.
