The other top-scorer of First Division's 1980-81 season, Aston Villa legend Peter Withe tied Archibald with 20 goals, but he did it in just 36 games! #KevinToms #FootballManager #PeterWithe #AstonVilla #UpTheVilla #EnglishFootball #FootballIcon #FootballLegend

A crystal-clear statement from Acorn co-founder Hermann Hauser about the global home computer industry's fortunes in the early 1980s is unearthed! Our guest @kevintoms.bsky.social weighs in as well. More revelations from 1992, 1982, and beyond coming this Saturday in This Week in Retro episode 267!

Gamedev legend @kevintoms.bsky.social joins us for Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum handhelds, Xerox's R&D legacy, the BBC Computer Literacy Project recap from 1992 the latest from Commodore and FujiNet, a surprising workstation on FPGA, and a great deal more!

Though best known for its printers, Epson contributed to the computer industry with the HX-20, the first notebook-sized portable computer! #KevinToms #FootballManager #epson #epsonhx20 #80sComputers #microcomputers #retrocomputers #UKretro #UKcomputers

I'm posting a new series about all First Division Top Scorers of the 1980's, starting with one of the top scorers of the 1980-81 season, Scottish legend Steve Archibald! #KevinToms #FootballManager #SteveArchibald #EnglishFootball #ScottishFootball #FootballIcon #FootballLegend

In April 1981, British computer book author Adam Osborne presented the Osborne 1 - widely regarded as the first commercially successful portable computer! #KevinToms #FootballManager #osborne #osborne1 #80sComputers #microcomputers #retrocomputers #UKretro #UKcomputers

One of the pioneers of portable computers was the French company R2E, who officially unveiled the "Portal" in 1980. It only weighed about 12kgs (~26.5lbs) 😁 #KevinToms #FootballManager #oldcomputers #80sComputers #microcomputers #retrocomputers #UKretro #UKcomputers

Built to perform like no other Commodore machine had done before, the Amiga 3000 is still regarded by many as one of the best in the series! #KevinToms #Amiga3000 #Amiga #Commodore #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

Somewhat short-lived and too expensive, the Atari TT was nevertheless an interesting venture into 32-bit territory by the video game console pioneers! #KevinToms #AtariTT #Atari #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

The Amstrad venture into 32-bit territory finally came with the release of its PC2000 series in 1989 - more specifically, the Amstrad PC2386. #KevinToms #Amstrad #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

A Japanese 32-bit computer that later evolved into a video game console - Fujitsu's FM Towns, released in 1989! #KevinToms #FMTowns #Fujitsu #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

The NeXT Computer was famously used at CERN to develop the world's first web server and web browser! #KevinToms #NeXTComputer #NeXT #SteveJobs #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

How about that? A Dutch version of Football Manager featuring - you guessed it - Dutch teams! 🙂 #KevinToms #retrogames #classicgames #retrocomputers #UKretro #UKcomputers #footballsim #dutchfootball #netherlandsfootball #eredivisie

Another one of the 32-bit pioneers is the Apple MacIntosh II. How many of you had the chance to work with this MacIntosh? #KevinToms #MacIntoshII #AppleMac #Apple #Motorola #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

The beloved Acorn Archimedes was one of the earliest British entries in 32-bit computer history! #KevinToms #AcornArchimedes #AcornComputers #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

Although 8/16-bit computers dominated the 80's, it was during this decade that the first 32-bit machines such as the Compaq Deskpro 386 started popping out! #KevinToms #Compaq #Intel #32bit #32bitpc #RetroComputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

How many of you ever played a Premier Manager title? #KevinToms #FootballManager #PremierManager #GremlinInteractive #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SoccerGame #SportsSimulation

Spanish series "PC Fútbol" was one of the longest and most successful in the genre, lasting from 1992 to 2006 #KevinToms #FootballManager #PCFutbol #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SoccerGame #SportsSimulation

Codemasters' own series of football management games, LMA Manager was unique in the fact that it was created specifically for the PlayStation. #KevinToms #FootballManager #LMAManager #Codemasters #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SoccerGame #SportsSimulation

Today we celebrate yet another birthday - the 44th anniversary of the ZX Spectrum 🎂 #KevinToms #FootballManager #ZXSpectrum #TheSpectrum #ZX81 #SirCliveSinclair #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

This one must be familiar to some of you - ANCO's "Player Manager"! #KevinToms #FootballManager #PlayerManager #ANCO #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SoccerGame #SportsSimulation

"Hattrick!" (not to be confused with the web browser game) was a very interesting take on the genre, with a unique and creative interface. #KevinToms #FootballManager #Hattrick #Ikarion #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SoccerGame #SportsSimulation

Anyone remember Ultimate Soccer Manager from the mid-to-late 90s? #KevinToms #FootballManager #UltimateSoccerManager #ImpressionsGames #SierraOnLine #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SoccerGame #SportsSimulation

Anstoss (known internationally as "On the Ball") was designed by German developer Gerald Köhler and developed and published by Ascon (later "Ascaron") #KevinToms #Anstoss #OnTheBall #Ascaron #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SoccerGame #SportsSimulation

Before EA Sports published their Fussball Manager/FIFA Manager series, they had a series of manager games just for the Premier League! #KevinToms #FootballManager #FAPremierLeagueManager #EASports #EA #ElectronicArts #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SportsSimulation

Football Manager pioneered the sports management genre of video games - some of which no longer exist today. I'll be showcasing some of them, starting with Fussball Manager. #KevinToms #FootballManager #FussballManager #FIFAManager #FootballGame #SportsGame #FootballSim #SportsSimulation

Its 8-bit technology and lack of video game titles (such as Football Manager) ultimately meant production of 1989's SAM Coupé ended as early as 1990. #KevinToms #FootballManager #SAMCoupe #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #UKComputers #UKRetro

The Philips VG 5000µ was a modest machine primarily sold in France, as seen by the characteristic AZERTY keyboard in the picture! #KevinToms #FootballManager #VG5000 #Philips #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

A top choice for UK schools and small offices: the RM Nimbus PC! Sadly it never got its own Football Manager. #KevinToms #FootballManager #RMNimbus #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

Southampton’s run is impressive and this graph of their table positions through this season shows it #KevinToms #Southampton #EFLChampionship #EFL #EnglishFootball

While powerful, the Enterprise was not commercially successful - nor did it ever get its own Football Manager version. #KevinToms #FootballManager #Enterprise64 #Enterprise128 #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #UKComputers #UKRetro

Blurring the lines between computer and workstation, the Triple X was an ambitious machine produced by British manufacturer Torch. #KevinToms #FootballManager #TorchComputers #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

Then boy do I have a game for you from the OG @kevintoms.bsky.social kevintoms.games

A very early mash‑up of phone and computer - the ICL One Per Desk (OPD), also sold as the Merlin Tonto! #KevinToms #FootballManager #OnePerDesk #MerlinTonto #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

While dear to many software developers, the 1984 Tatung Einstein sold little, and so there never was a Football Manager version made for it. #KevinToms #FootballManager #TatungEinstein #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #UKComputers #UKRetro

Building on the success of the ZX series, the Sinclair QL became the last breath of the company before being sold to Amstrad. #KevinToms #FootballManager #SinclairQL #ZXSpectrum #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

Don't remember making a version of Football Manager for the MTX but it's possible that a similar game was made for it! #KevinToms #FootballManager #MTX500 #MTX512 #Memotech #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #UKComputers #UKRetro

The Sharp MZ-700 sold well in Japan and Europe, but never boasted of its own version of Football Manager. #KevinToms #FootballManager #Sharp #SharpComputers #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

This one is a bit of a rarity - the VTech Laser 200, initially sold in the UK as the Texet TX8000! #KevinToms #FootballManager #Laser200 #Texet #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

Along with the Mattel Aquarius came another US microcomputer that did not last very long - the 1983 Coleco Adam. #KevinToms #FootballManager #ColecoAdam #ColecoVision #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

The Aquarius could have been Mattel's glorious entry into the world of microcomputers, but was discontinued just months after its 1983 release. #KevinToms #FootballManager #MattelAquarius #Mattel #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #UKComputers #UKRetro

How many of you remember the Apricot PC a.k.a. ACT Apricot? #KevinToms #FootballManager #ACTApricot #ApricotPC #ApricotComputers #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

Another microcomputer from 1982 without its own Football Manager version, the LINK 480Z was aimed at educational settings. #KevinToms #FootballManager #LINK480Z #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

As Retrostreamers has been streamlined & is moving in a different direction, I'm setting up my own blog for my Speccy related stuff. I'm going to start off by redoing my old Retrostreamers articles, starting with the day I met @kevintoms.bsky.social sloanysoft.wordpress.com/2026/03/29/h...

The sleek Jupiter ACE resembled the ZX81 and the Spectrum, but was discontinued by 1985, without ever having its own version of Football Manager. #KevinToms #FootballManager #JupiterAce #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #UKComputers #UKRetro

Another machine that did not see its own version of Football Manager, the Grundy NewBrain may be familiar to some of you in the UK! #KevinToms #FootballManager #NewBrain #GrundyNewBrain #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

There were several computers from the 80's that, for one reason or another, never got their own Football Manager version - such as the MicroBee on the picture! #KevinToms #FootballManager #MicroBee #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #RetroPC

How many of you have had one of these Tandon computers? #KevinToms #FootballManager #Tandon #RetroComputers #HomeComputers #Microcomputers #80sComputers #PersonalComputer #RetroPC #UKComputers #UKRetro

I am working on a major update to Football Star Manager which will rollout to Steam first, and that just happens to be hugely discounted for a few more hours, so now is the time to grab a copy! https://getonsteam.kevintoms.games/