Club Football offers all the usual modes from quick play to a full season. If you choose to play the season mode you will have to play the team that is on the front of the box, so if you do buy the Leeds game you are in a bit of trouble when it comes to this mode unless you a bloody brilliant that is. Before the game starts Gary Lineker will run through the formations and the teams then the mic is handed over to Barry Davis who does a pretty good job of shouting out all the action on the pitch.

When you start to play the game you will notice that the home stadium of each game is an exact replica of what you see every other Saturday afternoon and the crowd will sing the clubs anthems throughout the game. If like me you will foul the opposing team almost immediately which in turn kicks in a very long animation of the fouling player having an argument with the ref and depending on the ferocity of the foul, the player being sent off. You will get sent off for tackling if you use the sliding tackle in the wrong situation in a similar way to PES3 but Club Football is far more sever with its red and yellow cards.

If you have played any of the Pro Evolution games you should find the controls very easy to get used to as they are the same. Unfortunately Club Football isn't as easy to get to grips with because the commands from the control pad as fairly sluggish, no where near as responsive as PES. On the other hand the goal keeper has a pretty decent AI so you shouldn't concede many goals where the goalie is to blame it will usually be your defence. Club football creates a real challenge for the player, it isn't that easy to score and it will take some hard work to get the ball and keep possession. As you progress though the game you will notice that some little extras become available and there is even some FMV clips available for which ever version you have bought.

All in all Club Football is a good solid game with a few niggling points such as the slightly sluggish control system and the annoying animated sequences after fouling, it's not PES but it is an alternative to FIFA. Considering this is Codemasters first attempt at a footy game they have to be commended for such a great effort, maybe a sequel will iron out all the little bugs and maybe improve upon the already very good game play. If you are a fan of one of these 17 clubs you probably will be buying yourself a copy of this title anyway, it is money well spent.

7.5 out of 10