PFPL

Forgot to read my notes and made a mess of the play-offs, Week 41. Oh well…

Found out today that the Twitter API v1.1 has been depreciated. Need to sort that out sometime soon.

In the closed season I have been working to improve the website and review the PFPL accounts. I have changed the website layout to improve navigation. I have also changed the appearance of the payment system. Please make sure you read the payment process carefully; a few members opted to be paid out last summer but did not provide bank details so I could not make these payments.

Over the last three years membership levels have dropped significantly and web hosting costs have more than doubled. The prize money was not adjusted to reflect this, resulting in the PFPL accounts running at a deficit.

In order to address the deficit, reduce the impact of fluctuating membership, and cover running costs, I have increased entry fees. The fee for all non-conference divisions will now comprise three parts: entry into your division, entry into cups, and an administration charge.

The prize money for non-conference divisions remains unchanged this year. The conference, as a starter division, will not contribute to administration costs and the prize money will be proportional to entry numbers.

Lots of catching up to do on the administration from following the quick turn around in the COVID affected 2020/21 season and the delayed Euro 2020. Re-write of the accounts section to improve functionality.

The PFPL accounts section was hastily added to the site during the lockdown as was cobbled together with the essence on speed and not quality. Summer 2023, when it was raining, offered some time to replace the very bad code with some less bad code.

Fixtures were entered and verified on 15 February 2022. The FA cup draw subsequently rendered seven of these fixtures obsolete. The committee decided to change the fixtures and inform the players that had already submitted. Unfortunately the amended fixtures also contained an error. The Newcastle United v Crystal Palace has also been cancelled. This has been left and will be classed as void when producing the results.

From the PFPL web hosting company.

It is with regret that we have to announce that WiserHosting is winding the business down over the next year due to a change of personal circumstances affecting the business owner.

We have been unable to negotiate satisfactory terms for the sale of the business such that disruption to our clients’ hosting services would be minimised. Therefore we have opted to wind the business down over the next year, allowing our hosting clients to migrate existing hosting accounts to another hosting provider in their own time, but before the deadline of 30 November 2021, at which time WiserHosting will cease all web and email hosting services.

We have elected to refer our clients to our recommended hosting provider as shown here, as they offer a free migration service:

They can assist you and perform migrations on request if required, with 24/7 online support, and telephone support from Monday–Friday 9am – 8pm. With an improved web and email management service, it should feel quite familiar to current users of our cPanel hosting system. Their hosting network operates on 100% renewable energy, and they also have possibly the best DDoS protection system built into their network.

During lock-down a few new teams were added to the database in case we needed to dredge the lower divisions for one man and his dog fixtures. If you wish to change your allegiance to one of these lesser teams such as Biggleswade Town FC or Barrow Gasfitters United have a look on your ‘Player Profile’ page.

Website transferred to new host.

Due to lock down I would not be able to collect any cash. Therefore, the decision was made to move to an online payment system. This was hastily cobbled together, and was not without its issues, but managed to get everyone paid up on time!