Average Gamer Age

[Insert_Goal_Here]

So, I've just bought FM19, I had a hiatus between FM12 and FM17, but have bought the last 3. Although I didn't get very far with FM18, what with work and parenting, but I intend to with this iteration.

Now I've been playing FM or CM as it used to be since the 97/98 version, managing Sheffield Wednesday. I will never forget that team. But what is the average age of those who play Football Manager? Is it even possible for SI to collect this information? I feel like I am an older player at 32 years old. So what is your age? I hope that there are many more 30 something FMers. 

[alanschu14]

I'm 37.

I love sports management sims regardless (my first I ever played was Eastside Hockey Manager) and have played them from a young age, but I have a feeling a game like this probably skews a bit on the older side.

(although I personally think gaming in general skews a bit older than a lot of people realize as those that grew up in the 80s/90s are now approaching middle aged!)

[Kazza]

This type of thread appears every year and I get one year older every year............now 66. Started playing from the beginning of the original series, cannot remember exactly,  CM1992?

[melogroovy]

I'm 57 and live in the US.  Been playing since 2008.  I think my version was called World Wide Manager then.

[physiar]

36 in a few days, playing since the nineties. 

[Snorks]

I turn 50 on the 23rd Dec this year, as has happened for the previous 9 birthdays, the first gift  I open will be from my kids, it will be a small, slim box with that magic disc within. Whatever has been planned for the day will include a couple of hours for me to install, set up and get to the first day of a new save,

Still got every box sitting on a shelf in date order.

Before that I was a bit if a 'patchy' player, from the days of CM plus others that were around at the time (Premier Manager is one that comes to mind).

[Lord Rowell]

47 and 48 shortly... been playing since CM2.

[RomaRulez]

I'm 53  and from the USA.  This is probably the 5th or 6th version of FM I've owned.  I had over 900 hours played on FM18 and I'm already over 100 hours on FM 19.  I typically play lower league teams and try to work my way up.  I'd say Roma is my favorite team in real life, but I like to play all over Europe in FM.

[krlenjushka]

38 in 8 days. Fm maniac for 15 years...

[ravenation]

39 and won it all - probably the best manager of all time 

[CFuller]

I'm 28, and next year will be my 20th 'anniversary' of playing CM/FM. Started on the CM3 demo in 1999.

[westy8chimp]

32... For gods sake man create a poll! 

[XaW]

34.... i guess FM'ers are a bunch of older dudes.... 

[Tony Wright 747]

69 and I have been playing since CM2

[mhaffy]

64 and counting...been a regular player of FM series since the Domark days!

[Dalglish]

I'm now 45 and have been playing since 92.

 

 

 

 

[Trevor L.]

47. In the US. Been playing since 2000.

[kirky.66]

52,been playing since champ man 91/92.

[Greyfriars Bobby]

45, in the USA.  I discovered Football Manager in 2013 (FM 12).  

I am a teacher, and some of my students, who are usually 16 or 17, play FM.  

My 14-year-old son plays FM, and his 11-year-old sister is intrigued by it too. 

I think the results we're seeing here reflect the fact that those of us who play FM and post on an internet forum about it are usually in our 30s or older.

[Maaka]

39, Norway, picked up my first CM when I visited England in the mid 90's (believe it was '94).

I think @Greyfriars Bobby har a good point. Probably not many younger FM'ers who wander about these forums (some, of course, but not many).

[stormlord50]

I'm 36, from Australia. Been playing since around 2000. Played the demo on a disc that came with a gaming magazine and was hooked!

[Champions_09]

Wow, after reading the replies I feel pretty young 

I'm 25

FM06 was my first FM game, didn't play 2005. Did play quite a few of the CM games though, mainly 01/02 and CM4.

[pompeyfan]

53 on Sunday, been playing CM since the first Amiga version in the early 90's.

[Angel Georgiev]

31 and playing from 2001 (CM 3 or 4, don’t remember). Two big breaks away from the game from 2003 to 2008 and from 2011 to 2015. 

[phnompenhandy]

32 and feeling old? That's just insulting! 57 years young here

[parsdaft1982]

35 here. Started playing premier manager and LMA manager on the Playstation before moving onto CM on the PC. My dad used to go mental when I was on leave (joined the navy when 16) I used to hog the computer playing CM until I got my first laptop. Been addicted ever since., still have no clue on tactics tho 

[Bobbins71]

since there are a lot of oldies on here (me too, 47) may I ask about the newgen son in the game.  (Hope Im not hijacking your thread).

I very often get a regen son in my career saves.  The general view seems to be that this is rare, but I just assumed it was because the age profile of the players made it so that it was impossible.  Most players were under 30, I assumed, hence getting a 16 yo son in the game was virtually impossible.  If you are 35+ then you have an increased chance.  Looking at responses here maybe the age profile is actually much higher.

Ive had 6 sons now across about 10 different careers in the last few versions.  Am I just lucky?

[lordjanos]

29 and been playing since the legendary CM01/02. 

[joseflor91]

I'm 27, I had a very basic laptop I spent playing FM08 for many years, since I was 20. Now I have a decent laptop and I've been playing FM17 for a year and a half, with only two saves, always in lower leagues, and now I'm playing FM19, trying to go all my way up from Northern Ireland 3rd Division to the top.

[Orange2000]

i`m 40 from Russia. Playing since cm2 (mid 90's ) Before that, playing some soccer manager games on sinclair zx spectrum(early 90`s)

[NabsKebabs]

Unbelievably, I'm the youngest here at 21 years old. 

[Red Horizon]

33

 

Playing since CM9798

[stevemc]

35, playing since the 90's

[psucolonel]

I am 47 and have bought every version up until this year.  The reason I haven’t purchased is because each year, I try to get into a save but the ultimately go back to Out of the Park Baseball...which is another good sports management simulator.  The big difference between the two is the fact you can carry on (import) a save from version to version over the course of years.  With FM, you must begin anew with each new version.  FM is likely the more detailed, and better designed of the two, but OOTP is good enough that the ability to carry on each year makes it worth while for me.

 

Anyway, as I said, I am 47 and still love sports management simulators.  I’m very tempted to purchase FM...but then I keep reminding myself of what I’ve done every year for the past 19 years!

[Armistice]

I don’t know why I had the feeling that most people here were in their late 20s.

I’m 23, almost 24.

[Mr U Rosler]

47, playing since I could persuade Neil Ruddock to leave Liverpool to play for Man City and then watch (via commentary) him get sent off 15 times a season 

Must be mid 90's.

[mmladja]

30 yo from Serbia. Playing from 2000. I think. I remember I bought Kern Lyhne from Silkeborg every time.

[owen130]

31 from Wales being playing since 98. Wasn't there a member of the forums who was in his 80's I seems to remember?

[oafcmetty]

40 - playing since the Amiga days

[RorysRocketThrow]

38 just after Christmas.  Bought every version, starting off on the Amiga.

Quite proud to say I've achieved nothing on every version since the first two.

 

 

[Tony Wright 747]

2 hours ago, owen130 said:

31 from Wales being playing since 98. Wasn't there a member of the forums who was in his 80's I seems to remember?

Yeah I seem to remember that

[roykela]

39 here and been playing since CM97/98. Although it wasn't my first CM game it was the first one i owned.
Been a fan of the game series ever since and will probably always be.

[gothenburg83]

45, playing since original Championship Manager on an Atari ST

[badger100]

45, playing since original Championship Manager on an Atari ST

 

As as per the above and I am 51 and still have the machine and the boxed game.

[alian62]

I'm 56 ..  FM10 was my first but long time player of Football sims . Been playing since 1992 . First game was SOCCER WIZARD.. from WIZARD GAMES ..based in Scotland I think . Also had ONE-NIL 95 and another called GOAL all from the same company . You can still find these online and free to play . FA PREMIER LEAGUE 99 was also a game I had before CM01 came out . Also played FIFA MANAGER - TOTAL CLUB MANAGER alot before and during the FM series . So 26 years of football sims . Urrrrghh i feel old

[Amarante]

10 hours ago, Armistice said:

I don’t know why I had the feeling that most people here were in their late 20s.

I’m 23, almost 24.

Same. 23, 24 in March. I feel like we should be in the kiddies section. Damn!  Here i thought am getting old. 

[private pyle]

41 and played every game since the start.

[Deisler26]

38

[Dan_987]

36.. started in the early 90's playing One-Nil Soccer Manager and Goal by Wizard Games, Ultimate Soccer Manager, Player Manager 2, Championship Manager 01/02 and first FM was 2005.

[Phil930]

35.  Started mid-90s with Italia Manager, which I believe was 1995 and I was 12.  First in UK, my golden CM years at Uni (so much time :)), then had family bring the game with them to the US. Steam was great for me!

Skipped a few years around 2012, but FMT got me going again, and back to full version now.  Beyond breathing, CM/FM might be the second highest activity in my life.