“Some people think Fantasy Football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.”
– Chris Whearty
It’s back! Just like that, and in what feels like record time, the English Premier League season is almost upon us again. This summer’s Club World Cup has shortened the break for all of us football fans, even if its staging was dubious to begin with. The league season will begin in England on the night of Friday, 15th August, with the clash of champions Liverpool and Bournemouth.
And the return of the top professional league in England (and the world?) can only mean one more thing. That’s right. It’s the return of Premier League Fantasy Football. Another 10 months of head scratching, hair-pulling, blind faith decisions to be made as you battle it out with friends and workmates to be crowned Fantasy Football champions for season 2025/26. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Kick Off the Fun Beyond the Classroom
Last year, we successfully launched the inaugural BFITS Liga on the Premier League Fantasy Football website. It proved a great success, with upwards of 20 players taking part, and the league season went all the way to the last game until the champions were crowned. The identity of the champions was up in the air for the entirety of the campaign, but in the end, 4–5 strong candidates emerged from the pack to battle it out.
Even still, drama abounded with Thai Boys FC—managed by myself—coming out on top on Matchweek 38 and completing the cup double that same weekend. This season, we hope for similar drama.
As teachers in Thailand, especially with BFITS, the fun doesn’t stop after school. Friendly competition, prizes, and banter await those who join this year’s fantasy league. So, release your inner Pep or Klopp and take part in this season’s BFITS Liga.
How to Get Started with Fantasy Premier League
Fantasy Premier League is a game where participants manage virtual teams of real English Premier League footballers, accumulating points based on their actual on-field performances.
So, how does the game work? Let’s get down to the nitty gritty, and I hope the following will make it clearer.
- Go to https://fantasy.premierleague.com/ to select your team. Having a valid email address is a requirement for signing up. They give you options over the type of emails you would like to receive. You can deselect these to avoid receiving any spam.
- Players select a squad of 15 players within a budget of £100 million, choosing a starting 11 before each gameweek.
- The higher the player’s profile (or better), the more expensive they will be. Attacking players such as Salah, Haaland, and Isak are generally the most costly, and their performances will influence their cost in the previous season. The cost of players can fluctuate throughout a season based on performance.
- Points are awarded for goals, assists, clean sheets, and other statistical performances, with a captain’s score doubled. Each gameweek, you select a captain for your team. The captain gets double points. For example, if Salah is in your team and scores 10 points, that will be doubled to 20 points if you have selected him as your captain that week. You also choose a vice captain. They will take over as captain if, for some reason, your selected captain does not play (injury, suspension, etc). The captaincy is not fixed and can be changed each gameweek if you so wish.
- Players can make transfers each week (due to injury, suspension, or bad form at your discretion), with a complimentary transfer allowance and the option for further transfers at the cost of point deductions. If you exceed your free transfer allowance, the cost of additional transfers is a 4-point deduction from your overall score.
- For those who may not be au fait with English league football or even football in general, there is help at hand. On the Fantasy Premier League home page, there is a tab titled ‘Scout.’ The Scout is a team of experts who provide in-depth analysis, tips, and advice for players to help them succeed in the game. It is a valuable resource for players of fantasy football, and particularly for beginners of the game.
Join the BFITS Liga 2025-2026
This season, anyone across Thailand’s provinces is invited to join the BFITS Fantasy Football league once again. It’s a chance to connect with everyone, including other educators, trade strategies, and maybe even brag a little when your underdog team beats last season’s top scorer.
We also have a group chat on Line for anybody who is participating in the BFITS Liga, where thoughts and tactics are often exchanged, sometimes with tongue firmly in cheek.
So, for those interested in playing and joining us, here’s the most important thing to know. The code for the BFITS Liga 2025/26 is b8dbxw, and to join our LINE Group, you can click this link: https://line.me/ti/g/p-ojg0y4qy
Everybody who wishes to take part, including those who played last season, will need to enter this code once you have selected your squad at https://fantasy.premierleague.com/. As the league season starts on August 15th this year, that is the date before which you must have your team submitted.
Last season, monetary prizes were awarded to our bright BFITS educators based on players’ finishing positions, up to 10th place, and we’re definitely going to do the same this season, so don’t miss your chance! See you on the other side.
It’s More Than Just a Game
This is an excellent opportunity to connect with people in BFITS who may be based in a different province than you. We had a lot of fun and a great camaraderie in the group chat last year, and I am confident it will continue in a similar vein this season.
Each gameweek in Fantasy Football is essential, and while you cannot win the league in the opening weeks of the season, you can certainly lose it. A fast start may hold the key to ultimate success. Squad selection is of paramount importance. Do you go all in with your attacking players, spending big there at the expense of further back in the field? Do you go with 5 in midfield, knowing these players can sometimes be the difference between success and failure? Lots of questions that will only be answered as the season progresses.
As someone who decided to teach in Thailand and make the most of it, I found that joining this league added a new layer of excitement. Whether you’re here to teach in Thailand short-term or you’re settling in for the long haul, BFITS always offers ways to keep things engaging outside the classroom.
Fantasy Football may not be part of your official school duties, but it sure makes teaching in Thailand feel even more rewarding. You don’t need to be a football expert to play—just willing to try, learn, and enjoy the ride. And who knows? Maybe you’ll win a prize while you’re at it!
So come on, unleash your inner Pep and join the vaunted BFITS Liga for 2025/26. It’s free to play, and with prizes up for grabs, there’s little to lose at the outset. I, for one, hope to see some returning players from last year, along with some new faces. The countdown has started.
Chris Whearty
Line: kilkennycats1986
BP BFITS Program
Buriram Pitthayakhom (BP) School