Fantasy Premier League

Mumford & Sons: FPL is stressful, but I can’t miss out!

1 Dec 2018

Band members Winston Marshall and Marcus Mumford discuss the highs and lows of playing Fantasy

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When they are not making No 1 albums and selling out world tours Mumford & Sons spend their time playing Fantasy Premier League.

But like millions of FPL managers, they find the game far from relaxing.

"It’s very stressful, tremendous stress actually," says Winston Marshall, the lead guitarist. "It’s more about what I’m missing by not doing it.

"Every year I say I’m not going to do it next year. It gives me tremendous anxiety."

As a Manchester United fan, having to transfer in players from Manchester City in search of FPL points only adds to Marshall's stress.

"I put [Anthony] Martial in because he’s on form," he says. "Of course, [he returned] nothing against [Crystal] Palace. Typical!

"Now I’m going to have to take him out and put [Raheem] Sterling in, through gritted teeth!

"It’s ridiculous, but I have to. If I don’t do it, I’m missing out on all the goss. Everyone’s talking about it!"

Missing deadlines

Marcus Mumford is just as big a Fantasy fan, having also been playing it since it started. 

The lead singer heads to the United States next week, as part of Mumford & Sons' world tour as they promote their fourth album Delta.

He knows it will likely mean missing Fantasy deadlines. "You often forget what day it is," he laments.

But the power of Fantasy does stir memories of Britain, no matter where he is.

"It does tether you to home when you’re on tour," he says. "It’s quite helpful because it makes you think about the UK a lot - actually, all the time."

'FPL brings people together'

Mumford likes the ability that Fantasy has to connect different people.

He is in a WhatsApp group with hundreds of musicians who are only allowed to talk about football.

"At the last gig in Newcastle I met one of the guys who's like a big character in one of the groups," Mumford says.

"I've never met him before. We met on the internet and we're now best mates.

"It's great. It brings people together."

See: Mumford & Sons' Delta tour dates

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