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Briefing
European Championship Soccer has quite a long history with very brief success. Numerous incidents have forced it to collapse twice in the past and we all hope it will last a lot longer for the third time round. Most of the same loyal members that participated in both of the previous two will be with us again in a quest to become even more loved after the re-opening of ECS V4.0 due to popular demand. With only one active league in Version 4.0, it's smaller than the previous two which both had two leagues. ECS 1 had forty clubs divided into two leagues. ECS V2.0 began with two leagues of twelve in each. It soon got renamed as ECS V3.0 because of a fault in the rights of the sites layout. A new layout was functioned and the site continued and soon had a third league added with all leagues now having sixteen clubs. Sadly however, just days before the beginning of the second season it was hacked and wiped off the internet. It was quite a sickening blow to all the work and effort that had been put into it. The aim over the course of the time ECS Version 4.0 is with us is to expand it to greater lengths from time to time rather than just make too much effort to turn it into a success right from the off. The workload got a lot to handle previously and in a way, it may have been better for me that it was hacked. The one active league we have now may soon become two leagues, or even three with a bit of luck. As always, read-on...and if you're not familiar with ECS, you can check out some of it's history below and for those of you who've been with us before. You may be honoured with a small mention or two.
European Championship Soccer
ECS does go a long way back. It all started in June 2004. The official opening of the very first European Championship Soccer and it was born...You could even say a Legend was born, but I'm not one for cheesy cliches and it all depends how you class the term "Legend". The exact date of the opening however, hasn't been varified. Within weeks the whole roster of teams were under human control and it's popularity flourished in such a short space of time and it had even been named by many as second in line to GI Soccer despite the heavy amount of other fantasy football sites that had already been well into their opening before ECS. It had it's memorable moments. On the first week of fixtures a thrilling 4-4 draw had been the result of an exciting Liverpool .v. Bayern Munich clash at Anfield. Shaun Wright-Phillips became the most expensive player at £40m and Celtic's new striker Mista was topping the form and goal table week in, week out making him by far the best player for the time it was open. FC Porto rallied to the top of the Premier Division and high flying Bolton Wanderers shocked everyone with their displays taking them into the top three for weeks in the Second Division. It holds plenty of special memories and the very first ECS will not be forgotten quickly. In September 2004 It came to a day where personal problems and lack of time forced myself, the owner, to shut down the website and despite everyone's massive attempts to get a new owner to carry it on, it was not redeemed.
ECS Version 2.0 & 3.0
Hence forth European Championship Soccer Version 2.0. On the 10th February 2005 ECS was officially re-opened with a brand spanking new design provided by my step father's contacts. It was even more popular than the last, with praise echoing from everyone's lips about it's great improvements. Two leagues, twenty-four teams and members flew in for the first match week on the 19th of that same month. And already there was a hugely anticipated title clash on the first week. Clearly the Premierships hot prospects for the first champions. Barcelona and AC Milan. It brought a fine display from both goalkeepers which kept the scoring tally to a minimum. It ended 1-1 but was an exciting match overall and it really set the tone. There was one young teenage star by the name of Fabio Paim who signed from outsiders Sporting to join PSV Eindhoven later into the campaign. He impressed every week giving tip-top performances, overtaking Obafemi Martins average rating by a huge margin and striking up to fifteen assists in a twenty-two match season, not to mention a double figure goal tally. He earned a big money move to Barcelona where he continued to impress and eventually earned a call-up to the ECS Elite squad. On the 27th April the ECS Cup began where outsider clubs qualified to add the numbers. It came to end with expected winners Barcelona who were up against surprise package Newcastle United. It finished 2-1 to the Spaniards but happy United boss Graeme Souness had high hopes for the future after a spirited display. Barcelona's triumph completed a magnificent league and cup double and became ECS' first ever champions after second placed for most of the season, AC Milan pulled off some dismal final few week displays which saw them slip to third behind Chelsea eventually. It was a memorable season and a very successful one and if that is anything to go by, we have a cracking season of fantasy football ahead of us in the new European Championship Soccer Version 4.0
Good luck and God bless to all that take-part.
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