In both these MSWL-United leagues, we've picked real life teams who weren't in the top tier of the game. Especially MSWL-2.

Over time, MSWL-1 teams have made their way into the Premier League. Mostly infamously, but Swansea, Cardiff, QPR, Watford, Leicester... 5/32 have played in the Premiership. (Hereford United folded. We don't talk about them.)

When MSWL-2 started up, I begged Allan to make an exception to the rule. You had to pick a non-league team. My choice? Obviously Rushden and Diamonds, as I've been a fan since 1999.

Problem was, they had just folded. And they had folded so late into the season that the FA wouldn't let them enter a new club in the league for the next season, even in League 10.

The only team they could enter? A youth team, into the local Northamptonshire competition.

I convinced Allan to let me play as AFC R&D anyways. He agreed, but basically told me to make sure I'd manage them for awhile :)

The club since got their ducks in a row, got a senior team together, and have achieved consecutive promotions. They're now at Non-League Step 4, which was the lowest league you could pick from when selecting your MSWL-United 2 team. They draw better than most teams at Step 2.

Of course, Burton and Luton and York and Wimbledon are all playing league football five leagues up the pyramid, but I'll take Step 4 just fine!

Thanks again to Allan for letting me play as the team I support - and it's resolved itself nicely I would say!