It’s a contest that captivates football enthusiasts, data aficionados, and algorithm enthusiasts alike. The current leader of the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is not a data analyst, an insider of the football world, or a computer scientist. It is a 67-year-old woman who employs traditional methods to choose her team each week. Susan Clarke, also known as the Ruby Reds, achieved legendary status within the FPL community by outstripping millions of other players. She stands atop the largest online Premier League game, despite her unconventional low-tech method.

The FPL, which engages over 11 million players worldwide, allows participants to manage their own virtual teams of Premier League players. Clarke’s success story is remarkable, especially considering her age and old-school techniques. Using a pen and paper, she selects her team weekly, a method that has sparked awe and admiration from hobbyists to those who spend hours analyzing player data.

Clarke’s achievement is particularly significant, as the FPL has increasingly become a tech-driven game. There’s a growing use of automated data analysis and AI to select teams, making her success even more unexpected. On the Lazy FPL newsletter, Clarke shared her simple approach: at the age of 67, her pen and paper lists might just be her key to triumph.

The game welcomed its first participants in 2002 with about 70,000 players. Today, it boasts over 11 million, reflecting the global love for football and Fantasy Sports. Clarke’s story highlights the unpredictable nature of the game, delighting players with a reminder that heart and intuition can sometimes outperform cold data and technology.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/29/susan-clarke-67-beats-millions-to-top-the-fantasy-premier-league