I know Bryce from high school and I met Phil at an MLS game in DC over a decade ago now.

I don't know anybody here personally. 

It's possible I met Paul Cockayne at a Diplomacy tournament innthe late 80's in Birmingham or Leicester (I think they were called MidCon). 

I've a feeling I met Mark Stretch, who used to play here, at a Psychcon or Midcon (Psychpath is where I started playing Olmec games - long story going back to 2004).

I definitely met Andy Bate in my first MidCon(?) he was Austria and it was my first ever face to face game. He was the only one eliminated from the game. He's played in both U1 

Edit: it was ManorCon not MidCon.

My first United game was "Football is for armchairs" (FiFA) in the early 90s.  One of its best features was an end of season face to face at someone's house for a weekend United tournament, some board games, beer/curry/beer/pizza/beer/etc. Those were the days when a sleeping bag on the floor was a viable option!  

I believe the first of these get togethers was held at Sir Simon Compton's Northamptonshire mansion, and we met a few more times on those weekends and also at a couple of TringCons.  I can confirm that IRL Compo is not only United royalty but a great guy and very, very funny (well he was 30 years ago anyway)

I don't think I've met anyone else in MSWL but my memory isn't what it used to be...

GREAT TOPIC from Brian here...

I did not know the Phil-John MLS game story...good stuff!

Steve citing Paul and some emeritus (emerita?) coaches...good stuff!

Roger and Compo...I believe Compo has a mansion...good stuff!

For me...in U1...

- Phil I have known since about 1985.  Phil went to college with one of my good friends from Quincy and we've interacted/annoyed each other since then.  Phil is the godfather to my youngest...Mad Max and thankfully Phil still puts up with me.  Here's Phil and I enjoying breakfast from Las Vegas earlier this year (although I can't remember who paid for this breakfast?)...

- Dave Dohm and I have known each other since I was about 17.  Dave was good friends with John Blazel's (U2) brother.  So we played some sports together (like floor hockey) among other things.  Despite what I say about Dave he is a greay guy and I'm glad he is playing in my leagues.  

- Ian...the I-Man.  Ian came to my house when I lived in Wisconsin in 1999 (I think) and has been to BOTH of my houses since I moved south to the St. Louis area.  Ian is a great guy (despite what I say about him).  We made (yes, that is the right word) Ian babysit my oldest Curt on his first visit so Amy and I could go out and get a steak.  I think that's a true story.  Then, on that same trip, Ian drove around with Jay Wilkins.  Ian will never forget.  On his 2nd trip Ian drove back to Phil's hometown (Ian says he still has nightmares from riding in a car with Phil driving)...

In addition to what has been said here, I've known Kevin Martin (in U2, but inexplicably not in U1) for nearly 30 years. We met when he came to college at Truman State and I volunteered on staff at the Baptist Student Union in my free time. I could probably say that "I got him his first real job" but the truth is he probably would have won it anyway and he's really, really good at it. So, we interact frequently in our positions. 

I could write for hours about lan...he was only visiting a short time, but it seemed like it lasted forever. I mean that in a good way.

John H...I'm surprised he still speaks to me. We happened to cross paths in DC when he was in law school and I was in town for a conference in, I think, 2009. I recall the date because a tornado hit my hometown while I was there (unless I've confused trips). I had walked a great distance to the stadium, and was very discombobulated and dehydrated. And we stood the entire game. :-) Anyway, John is a great character and I had a great time. But I was so wiped out from travel and stress and dehydration, I couldn't have been much fun.

John B and I actually crossed paths professionally once in the mid-90's, but I can't recall why. I was with a private firm at the time, and I think I had a case or client that had connections to Wisconsin...or wherever he was at the time. I reached out to him for advice on a matter local to him, I think.

Jeff Bagby needs to be in this league. As good as this game is, take my word for it....it would be better with Jeff. 

I hope I haven't left anyone out. In all the years that I have known Al Sellers, he has NEVER bought me lunch.

Phil

We like this thread, especially as it seems a lot of us were going to ManorCon in the late 80´s and never (probably) bumped into each other. Sorry I missed you Steve, but I spent most of my time at ManorCon playing diplomacy in those days, until I worked out it was a lot more fun playing a variety of other games. Paul Cockayne I had already met through diplomacy as we both played our first ever postal game of diplomacy together when I think we were both teenagers. That is quite remarkable really as no teenagers would ever dream of writing regular copious letters to each other these days (haha). Stretchy was of course also a regular Manorcon attendee and took over my role as the ManorCon Committee accountant when I moved to the States in 2000. I think that was the infamous year when Derek Hatton (infamous) former Liverpool councillor and Militant activist came to Manorcon to play diplomacy and drew Austria. Yes he suffered an early bath and exit from the game.  Like myself Stretchy also ran a postal games zine which may not have been his forte but anyone running a zine in those days deserves a lot of credit.

Jeff and Hazel Hawker and Dave Gittins I have met and chatted to at Manorcon, although I don´t know any of them that well. Midcon was of course the other main convention at the time and there was of course a lot of crossover between the two.

Well I've known Hazel Hawker for 47 years. Since I was born really as she is my Mum. Jeff I have known for around 40 ish years as he was a family friend before he married mum.  
 

I've met Andy bate , Dave Gittens and Mark Stretch at manorcon once. The rest of people are people I've acquainted with in mswl United and oasl 

I know C-Ball and Abe from my time working The Widowmaker, um, I mean Third Shift. I can't recall if it was Mike or Rob "Comrade" Baptiste who got me into the game. Despite the Meditech connection, I have not yet met Rob Peterson. One day I am sure. ⚽️

I also know Aires from work. We spent 10+ years creating and playing in an incredible fantasy football league. It is the best FF league I have ever enjoyed. I have since retired from FF. I felt some other owners needed a chance to win. 🏈

I would get a real kick out of meeting anyone else from the league. Would anyone ever be interested in planning a meet up somewhere? Obviously there could be multiple events planned based on location and availability. Just something to consider. 🌭🌮🍻

ManorCon: I've realised my first ManorCon was 1989. I passed my driving test in 1988 and went the next year. I was playing Diplomacy in Springboard and they kinda had a team. It was my first ever game of face to face Diplomacy and I am a very shy person only part way through my first postal games. I was bricking it. Strangely I still remember 4 of the other 6 players' names on my board. 

I was France and had a triple alliance with Graham Leach (England) and somebody with a long name (Germany). I stabbed Germany around 1905. Italy I can't remember his name. Austria as mentioned was Andy Bate (editor of Froggy). Turkey was Jim Stewart (who I later learned was a very good player) and Russia was Rob Losyjnski (not spelled right) who I did know was an awesome player.

Been going to Manorcon since 1984, missing out the occasional year for family births, deaths, etc (I was there in '89, Steve). '84 was post A-Levels and I met a couple of people there that first year with whom I was subsequently at Uni. We're all still in touch (been to each other's weddings, etc) and all still go to the con in Leicester every year.

As Vick states above, we have met and conversed there. I took over Carlisle from Mark Stretch, who I know reasonably well - and regularly remind him how I have a least managed a League title with them! Other former MSWL / MSWL2 managers I know inclide Andy Bate and Martin Burrroughs (with whom I shared a house in the 2nd year at Uni). I've also met Graham (as also mentioned above), Hazel and Jeff at Manorcon, although I don't think we played a game together.

As mentioned by Vick, we played Diplomacy by post in the early 80s, though I don't think we ever met face to face.  If I met Steve at ManorCon it would have been early 90s I think.  I attended a coupe of times around then, while I was running my zine, "On the Game".  And I traded that with a zine run by the Hawkers, can't remember its name off hand,

Met, physcially,in person? In MU1 that's surprisingly only Mike "C-Ball" cabral. Mike and I have known each other for just about 23 years now. He actually hired me at MEDITECH. We've been to each other's weddings and I'm happy to have called him both a friend and a mentor for 2+ decades. He's a class act guy all the way. 

BrianB's comment made me think... I don't think I've ever met Brian, Abe, or Aires in person (they've worked our off-hours shifts most of the time we've played in United). Someday...

I've never met Al, Kevin, Phil, or Steve in person, but having been playing in MSWL-style leagues for 23 years (coinciding with my career LOL), I feel like I know them all really well. Steve was actually in an MSWL-style league that I ran early on called PSFA. I also used to play Diplomacy a lot back in the day, and encountered Steve there as well. 
  **Note** - there's a lot of old Diplo players here... wonder if that game is still run somewhere??

They're over in MU2, but I'm close friends with both of the Halpin brothers there. Mike and I went to college together, went to Italy and travelled through parts of Europe during one of our semesters, and have been friends for over 25 years at this point. I met his brother Jason through him (shocking LOL) and he's been a good friend for a long time as well. 

Absolutely love Steve's recollections of Diplomacy in the 80s. It's just like the Risk sketch in Red Dwarf 🤣

Brian - I think a meet up is a great idea. What are the odds on you Meditech guys wrangling an Awayday in the UK? 

Roger, If I took a solo weekend in the UK, I am sure my wife would change the locks while I was gone.

😂

I love the implication that your bosses might go for it! 🤣

Rob Loz was indeed an awesome player. He was one of the first people I recruited for my ALOS dip team when I set one up. I am going to have to go back and see what years I was at Manorcon now. Most of the nineties at least.

We should set up an MSWL Dip game or something.

Dave, do you know when ManorCon moved to Leicester? Google.didn't help. I only went to 2 ManorCons: that first one in 1989 and another in Leicester - I've a feeling it was the first time their. I'm.pretty sure I was single again so after May 96 but I also know I didn't play Diplomacy so I'd discovered other games.

Dates are sketchy. I started playing on Diplomacy 2000 in 1999, was invited by Mike Dean to set up games on his Psychozine prior to 2004 (I joined Rob's PSFA that year). Mike then started Psychcon and I went to the.first in 200? in Scarborough and 2 (possibly 3) more.in Harrogate.and Leeds. I also went to his house for a HouseCon. This was probably 2005 (I can't remember which months any of this happened so years could be 1 out) as he went to live in Italy soon after. The last of the Psychcons would also likely be 2005 as I was collecting attendance money and sponsorship games.with Mike living over there. The first Psychocon would be where I discovered other games so my Leicster ManorCon could be around then?

I also went to a Con in Retford (I think) run by Jerry ??? who I met again at a Psychcon. 

I think Italy inn1989.was.Jim.Mills - just have to recollect Germany now.

We also need Jay Patrick Wilkins in this league.

Was ist ManorCon?

Brian, ManorCon ist ein Brettspielkonvention in England statt.

John, danke.

PS - How many languages do you know?

German isn't one of them :D

I'll add Brian to my list since we had a "Zoom" chat yesterday!  

It was great to finally meet you, Al. I look forward to more conversations in the future. 

Manorcon moved to Leicester in 2007. My recollection was that it rained heavily all weekend. The convention moved becasue it was clear that Birmingham Uni weren't really acting on negative feedback they were being given. It's moved around the Oadby campus a little, but last couple of years have been at the 2007 location. Was really busy in 2023.

Thanks, Dave. 2007 makes sense. Jerry I mentioned earlier is Jerry Elsmore.

I think this has all been covered above (I am always late to the party and a good number of work meetings), but Rob brought me in via MSWL a LOT of years ago. United 1 came to be shortly after, and I was working overnights at the time with Brian and Abe (and Comrade Rob Baptiste), so brought thm in (or they may have brought each other in once I opened the door). Aires is part of that same crew, just a later joiner. Did I miss anybody?

Thanks to Roger, very very kind of you, we did have some fun times back at manorcon playing games, eating out at Indian restaurants and chatting to the local ladies as a young 18-21 year old, diplomacy Nasty game if you ask me and that Steve Turner stabbing his mates in the back as he took over Europe , I do recall winning a few of those games though. Great discussion and off the subject who is 49ers and who the Chiefs ??

I remember playing United face-2-face at Manorcon when 8n B'ham think it was late 1980a or early 1990s. !! neither Jeff or I can remember who to GM was, and definatly not who the other managers were !!!

Met many Players whilst at Manorcon  and Midcon, when as players and when running the Games store. It was always good for to catch up with folks who we played against,  and those that played in our pbm zines.