It's been eight years since Nick Tanner last stepped into a dugout with Winterbourne United in the Toolstation Western League but the former Bristol Rovers defender has clearly lost none of his managerial acumen.
Tanner is currently the No1 ranked manager in the world playing Fantasy Premier League among a mammoth seven million people worldwide who indulge in the ever-popular game.
Tanner, who made 107 league appearances for the Gas from 1985 to 1988 before joining Liverpool, has amassed 587 points since the start of the season to lead the global league by nine points from Bulgarian Boyko Iliev.
What's impressive is that this is only Tanner's second time playing Fantasy Football, having been roped in by his son Will last season only to not be told the rules and give up after a few months.
"There are no secrets, really, you've just got to trust your eyes," Tanner tells Bristol Live when asked for tips, with our own managers barely in the top 40,000.
"It's 50 per cent luck in terms of whether or not the managers are going to pick your players but, at the same time, the more you invest in it, the better you do.
"Last year, the lads in my league didn't tell me the rules and I lost interest but now I know what I'm doing and it's just a bit of fun, really."
In his role as pundit with BBC Radio Merseyside, Tanner is watching lots of Premier League football to aid his cause and even though they lost 4-1 to Liverpool on the opening day of the season, two Norwich City players stood out for him as he was looking for new additions to "winorloseonthebooze".
"I looked at Teemu Pukki and thought, 'he's a decent player, he'll come good ... plus he was cheap! The next week Pukki got a hat-trick and I signed Todd Cantwell from Norwich as well," he said, with the Premier League sending him a gift bag with branded Fantasy Football goods for his early season efforts.
"Last year it was Bournemouth with Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser but there is value out there with some of the smaller clubs."
Tanner's approach to selecting players each week is similar to his approach as manager with the 54-year-old having also taken charge of Mangotsfield United, Welton Rovers, Almondsbury Town, Roman Glass St George and Wotton Rovers, in the Bristol area.
"First tip: don't waste money on expensive goalkeepers and defenders - invest in midfielders and attackers, they're the ones who are going to get you points," Tanner said.
As for his aspirations for the rest of the season, he just wants to finish in the top 10 of the 26-strong League of Legends comprising son Will and his mates.
Having used up his triple captain, bench boost and wildcard for maximum points, it's all about digging in until January 1 now.
"I'm not confident at all for the rest of the season!" he adds. "But I always said when I was manager, if you're in a game with a strong wind, you want the wind with you in the first half and get the goals.
"Too many in non-league want to play against the wind first up. No! Never do that, you could be 6-0 down at half-time, get the goals in the bag and get off to a strong start.
"Go for it. That's been my motto. I've used up all my bonuses getting these points and while I might not stay here, at least I can say I have been top once."
Nick works for community magazine Bradley Stoke Matters and is available for coaching schoolkids free of charge. You can contact Nick at nicktanner799@msn.com, all you need is a ball and a love of the game.
