Finally the time has arrived and voting begins. Everyone who registered to vote should receive their ballot e-mail today (2nd October), this thread lists all eligible writers and stories in each category. Please claim your vote in this thread and remember that votes need to be sent by midnight (GMT) on October 15th. You must vote in at least eight of the following seventeen awards to be eligible to vote in the final round, and you cannot vote for yourself.
MAIN OVERALL AWARDS FMSer of the Year
Formerly known as User of the Year, this award goes to the person judged to have made the biggest contribution to the FMS community over the course of the year. That means nominations will be based on a mix of story writing, helping/encouraging others, participation in the story ideas and off topic threads, sorting out meetups or other community-enhancing efforts. As a consequence, this is NOT the same as writer of the year. While moderators and helpers are as much FMSers as the rest of the forum, actual moderating-related community work MUST be ignored when nominating people in this category. This award is far too prestigious to create anything but a level playing field.
Eligible Users: *See List at End
Writer of the Year
The author of your pick for Story of the Year is not necessarily the same as your nomination for Writer of the Year. Someone experimenting with different styles, writing a few good stories which aren't considered good enough for Story of the Year, may yet be a better writer. Then, it's equally conceivable the author of Story of the Year is simply the best in your opinion. Using the FMS Index by author shows the broad range of writers on FMS.
Eligible Writers: *See List at End
Story of the Year
As the title suggests, this award is for the overall best story of the year.
Eligible Stories: All stories eligible in other categories are eligible for Story of the Year
Funniest Writer of the Year
Probably one of the most difficult awards to win, because different people have different ideas on what's funny. Judging by its roll of honour, you'll do well in this category once you master harsh jokes and black humour.
Eligible Writers: *See List at End
Funniest Story
Introduced in 2006, Funniest Story is a rather self-explanatory title. A chance for the one-off funny writers who aren't cynical/sarcastic ALL the time.
Eligible Stories: All stories eligible in other categories are eligible, determined by what people think is funny.
Best Newcomer
With it being increasingly difficult for new writers to attract an audience, winning this award usually goes a long way in establishing yourself as a recognised writer. The charme of this award is that you can only ever win it once. No second chances.
Eligible Writers:
Amaroq
Bowman4NQ
briancloughisthebest
Chonner
mark wilson27
markyt
mcjack
Panpardus
player_65 Rangers
prince_capri
smithaldo
Tomunco
Wegason
Best Story Character
As the forum moved away from "match report stories", off-the-field storylines develop in many stories. Not aided by a definitive list of story characters, people will have to decide which character "came alive" enough to win this award. It's a category that continued to gain standing to the point that it became one of the Main Overall Awards. The winner of the first two awards almost went professional with his character!
Eligible Stories: Open for any nominations
MISCELLANIOUS OVERALL AWARDS Most Missed FMSer
On FMS, people come and go, and the harsh reality is that to the general public, few people are actually sorely missed when they're gone, simply because new people take their place. There are exceptions though, and those always feature in this category, for which one becomes eligible by not posting a story all year after being an active writer the (awards) year before. Not a position you want to be in then, and we've not seen any winner of this award return to FMS.
Eligible Users:
13litz
Andrew Downing
Bagpuss
Dittohead
Dixie flatline
Flann O'Brien
Ghostwriter
Harlequin
Jambo 4eva
Lionel Perez
Maollellujah
Mikezone13
Nickygreenan
Richey
sebs
SMSL
Soldout
Steve 'Wall
Trickey Winger
Best Challenge *NO VOTE NECCESSARY*
Periodically, FMS picks an Official Challenge (see Challenge section at
www.zelenazvezda.com) to keep the forum busy. For the FMS Awards, all winners of these challenge elections play off for the Best Challenge Award.
Eligible Challenges:
The Islands Challenge
The Freedom Fighter Challenge
The Uncle Scrooge Challenge
The Bobby Robson Challenge (BobBev)
Pole to Pole Challenge (Peacemaker7)
Best Story Idea
Every now and then, someone starts a story with an original twist to it, be it a heavily edited database to create some form of Superleague, or just a story told from a different prespective. This award is about which story had the best idea behind it. You may interpret this as "best scenario idea", or as "most original story angle", whatever "Best Story Idea" covers in your opinion.
Eligible Ideas: Open for any nominations
Spirit of FMS
Up until 2004, annual awards for Most Underrated Writer and a Perseverance Award were presented to the unsung heroes of the storywriting community. The former went to those who, despite writing several good stories, wasn't well-known or well-supported enough to win one of the big awards. The list of winners made it look a bit weird though, for every single one of them was an established community member at the time. Thus, "underrated" was hardly a fitting tag. Eligibility criteria were tightened up, and even being listed on the final shortlists for
any other award disqualified one from being up for the Underrated award. This backfired spectacularly, as in 2005, it disqualified ALL nominees from a place on the final shortlist.
At the same time, the Perseverance Award was described as:
"Another one in the unsung heroes category. Who deserves credit for sticking at their story, even it's for a small audience? For those who realise what FMS really is about: writing stories because you want to/like it. This one is different from the Most Underrated Writer award in that the other one is for the best writer not to be spotted by the masses, whereas this award can be won by simply sticking at something, at all cost.".
Effectively, the same people were in the running for those two awards, probably because readers saw writers sticking to the same story for 2-3 years, without it being rewarded with an award, which was undoubtedly seen as "underrating". It therefore made sense to merge the two categories, and from 2006 forward describe it as "The Spirit of FMS Award", with much the same description as the old Perseverance Award (a name never popular with many community regulars).
Eligible Writers: *See List at End
GEOGRAPHICAL AWARDS Best English Story
For 2005 and 2006, there weren’t enough nominees for either Best English or Best Scottish stories to exist separately and they were folded into Best British Story. Fortunately, this year we are able to award them separately once more. This award celebrates those stories based entirely in the English leagues.
Eligible Stories:
The Siege of London (AAC)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...8632087142/p/1
Author: Educated Hick
The Lord of the Rings CMS Challenge: a trip down memory lane
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7282069772/p/1
Author: HD
From Matlock Town to Manchester United
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2632023872/p/1
Author: mark wilson27
From the Unibond to God Knows Where
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2342080292/p/1
Author: mark wilson27
One great city, one ‘great’ team
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...1102003323/p/1
Author: sherm
A Scotsman on the South Coast
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2082091023/p/1
Author: sherm
Knot another Stafforshire story
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...9452055303/p/1
Author: -jenko-
The greatest little fire
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...9092078972/p/1
Author: Panpardus
Another Robson Legend, only time will tell (BRC)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/7672042543
Author: Panpardus
The Don Domination – A story foretold
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...8472028033/p/1
Author: prince_capri
Red Tide Rising – Manchester United
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2232051833/p/1
Author: Killzone
The Resistable Rise of Prescot Cables
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...5542010292/p/1
Author: mcjack
‘Dad!, I’ve Done It!’
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...3272048333/p/1
Author: Will-NFFC
Sharpening a Rusty Blade
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...3612076152/p/1
Author: Amaroq
Droitwich United – Big Time Dreams
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...6732002423/p/1
Author: Chilliconcarne
Strictly No Dancing?
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...9472019492/p/1
Author: markyt
Reviving the Legend
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...3632052403/p/1
Author: Donners
Manchester United – The New Revolution
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7782040623/p/1
Author: gandycoleuk
Fondest Wishes – Harrow Hill in FM2007
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2252067282/p/1
Author: Faramir
From the Fringe – Holyhead Hotspur
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2812060852/p/1
Author: Faramir
Life After Wenger
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2692099923/p/1
Author: Tomunco
An Interview with the Arsenal Manager –a young fan’s story
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...5182039203/p/1
Author: Mambaman
Short Arms, Long Pockets
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...9202066303/p/1
Author: BobBev
Absolute Bobbins
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/5522093933
Author: BobBev
“I’d say he’s the best in Europe, if you put me on the fence” (BRC)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/9502047933
Author: Terk
The Saints Go Marching Up The Football League!
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...3882062733/p/1
Author: crouchaldinho
Seeking Salvation
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/9812011443
Author: Wegason
Best Scottish Story *NO VOTE NECESSARY*
For 2005 and 2006, there weren’t enough nominees for either Best English or Best Scottish stories to exist separately and they were folded into Best British Story. Fortunately, this year we are able to award them separately once more. However, with Best Scottish Stories, the low number of entrants means that all five are given a bye into the final voting round.
Eligible Stories:
Rangers – Retaking the upper hand in Scotland
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/3782074852
Author: player_65
Bottom of the heap – a Scottish epic
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...4592047602/p/4
Author: Bowman4NQ
The True Story of a Footballing Legend
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...3802045933/p/1
Author: Peacemaker7
Fee Fife Fo Fum, I Smell the Blood…
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...4812061523/p/1
Author: Faramir
Scottish Reprise – Return to East Stirling
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...4472047281/p/1
Author: Faramir
Best Rest of the World Story
As the title suggests, this is where every other non-British based story goes. With the addition of several Asian and even an African league to FM, this category can only grow in the future. This used to be awarded as “Rest of Europe” and “Rest of the World” but the low number of stories taking place outside Europe means the two are folded together.
Eligible Stories:
The Old Lady Strikes Back
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...1852032303/p/1
Author: mark wilson27
A matter of life or death, or much more than that?
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...6642036282/p/1
Author: Dimony
You’re writing a diary? Surely they’re only for women?
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...1412028882/p/1
Author: binny
Around the World in 80 Games
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...9542066182/p/1
Author: Chonner
The Superclub and The Supergirl
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7902000903/p/1
Author: irishregan
New Era At Madrid
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...1622069962/p/1
Author: smithaldo
The Pride of Brazil – Internacional story
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7212061523/p/1
Author: davidmcain
All Sorted for E’s and Whizz
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...2482072752/p/1
Author: Terk
La Serenissima: stella del mio destino
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...6942044833/p/1
Author: Wag
The Bloods, sweat and tears of a Part time Manager
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...3382072872/p/1
Author
anpardus
Juventus – Bribes, Scandal and Match-fixing
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...8502011403/p/1
Author: sherm
Best International Management Story *NO VOTE NECESSARY*
And still that isn't the end of the sub-categories. There are two more we class under the "Geographical Awards" banner, even though strictly spoken, they are not. The first of these is the award for international management stories. Any story based exclusively on international management is eligible for this one. Once again, due to lack on entrants, all eligible stories are given a bye into to the second round of voting.
Eligible Stories:
The Revival of the Three Lions
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7662013913/p/1
Author: mark wilson27
The Restoration of Glory
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...5432001482/p/1
Author: -Xenon-
Managing to be a Manager
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...8682078923/p/1
Author: paulsgruff
Best Fantasy/Super League Story *NOT AWARDED*
Finally, on a regular basis, we see the emergence of a story based in a fantasy league or a super league (like a European League, a British Super League etc...). In the event of the leagues merged for these stories not fitting into one and the same geographical award, the story is entered into this Fantasy/Super League category. Unfortunately, there have not been enough entrants this year for it to be awarded, but the one eligible story is listed here as it remains eligible for overall Story of the Year.
Eligible Story:
My Life In Yours (Sign-Up Story)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...1562060182/p/1
Author: Gennaro08
SPECIAL CATEGORY AWARDS Best Short Story
A story qualifies as a "short story" if it's a complete story in its own right consisting of a maximum of five story posts, each limited in size (the semi-official limit at this time is 1,000 words per post). Generally, writers use this style to describe a crucial month in a season, a very important cup final (introduction-build up-game-post match-closing post), or similar events. In 2002, the award for this type of stories was fiercely contested, and from time to time, a wave of short stories hit FMS.
Eligible Stories:
Why Wait Until The Window’s Shut, You Fool (An attempt at a short story)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/1322010272
Author: blanklook
World Cup 2010 – an Australian perspective
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/1722008582
Author: Panpardus
Breaking News: Man Found…alive, maybe dead, half dead but some say parts Alive
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/2392071452
Author: SaC
FM addiction almost killed me
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...3362080852/p/1
Author: bomjr
The Night After Transfers
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/6422086572
Author: HD
Cold Fusion – A Short Story
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/1282003643
Author: Educated Hick
Best Challenge Story *NO VOTE NECESSARY*
Challenges are very popular with FMS, and have resulted in countless attempts to get a story going. While they have a higher attrition rate than "normal" stories, they also have their fair share of successful ones. Despite this, the fact that an official FMS challenge only lasts for a few months means there's little time to achieve (and thus write on) a lot. As a result, challenge stories are often less detailed. Nevertheless, a good challenge story can be quite enjoyable to read, as the author gets closer and closer to the elusive task of completing an FMS challenge. This is another award where lack of entrants mean that all those eligible are given a bye into the second round of voting.
Eligible Stories:
Short Arms, Long Pockets
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/9202066303
Author: BobBev
Absolute Bobbins (BRC)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/5522093933
Author: BobBev
Another Robson legend, only time will tell (BRC)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/7672042543
Author: Panpardus
“I’d say he’s the best in Europe, if you put me on the fence” (BRC)
http://community.sigames.com/eve/for...7/m/9502047933
Author: Terk
*Writer; FMSer; Funniest Writer; Spirit of FMS Eligibility List
The addition this year of the need to register to vote in the awards process also meant that anybody who didn’t register lost their potential eligibility for the Writer, FMSer, Funniest Writer and Spirit of FMS awards. Below is a list of those eligible to win these awards, now it’s up to you to chose the most deserving.
Eligible Writers:
Amaroq
Attjen
BenArsenal
Bobbev
Chonner
Donners
Faramir
Flipsix3
gandycoleuk
HD
irishregan
mark wilson27
markyt
Nathan Pike
Panpardus
Peacemaker7
Raptor
Terk
FMS Awards 2007 *First Voting Round* 
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