Darren Scott is the first QBE Fantasy Football manager of the month, thanks to his team The Smurfs clocking up an impressive 100 points since the start of the season.

The Smart & Cook broker and Lincoln branch manager lands a prize of £2,500 for his success, which he puts down to tactics. “I started off by looking to include striking midfielders and scrapped that and went for a solid defence with good strikers and Fabregas.”

His change of heart was motivated by watching the players who were doing well in other fantasy football leagues.

His defence strategy has worked with Manchester United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic getting him 14 and 13 points respectively.

Scott has been with brokers Oughtred & Harrison since 1998 before it was bought by Smart & Cook in February 2003.

So how is Scott looking to maintain his success? “I am looking to keep hold of enough transfers so I can make important changes and monitor the players doing well,” he says.

The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.

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