Mid-September brings Drop 40 hit number eleven, and it could turn out to be the title decider for both leagues. Luděk Mikloško was a goalkeeper whose professional career spanned from 1980 to 2001. He spent most of the first half in his native Czechoslovakia playing for Baník Ostrava before moving to West Ham United in 1990, with the fall of Communism leading to far greater opportunity in the western leagues for players from the east.
He swiftly became a fan favourite with the Hammers, spending nine seasons at the club and making 318 appearances. He played a big part in West Ham’s promotion to the First Division in 1991, and while it was a meaningless match for West Ham, his heroics in goal on the final day of the 94/95 season denied both victory and a third consecutive title for Manchester United, handing the trophy to Blackburn Rovers instead. He also got 42 caps internationally, representing both Czechoslovkia and subsequently the Czech Republic.
After a few seasons at QPR, he retired from playing and spent a few years as a goalkeeping coach for West Ham before later returning to Banik Ostrava as a board member and sporting director. Things sadly took a turn for the worse for the big man in 2021 when he was diagnosed with cancer that went on to spread to his stomach. While the initial radiotherapy succeeded in keeping it at bay, in December 2024 he announced he was withdrawing from further treatment, having no desire to let gruelling and uncertain chemotherapy get in the way of his life and ability to work.
Said announcement instantly put him into the DDP Drop 40 as a new entrant for 2025 and his survival to 2026 only saw him rise up the rankings. With the hammer coming down for good on this West Ham cult hero at the age of 64, he scores 11/22 points for 84 teams, with some big ramifications for the scoreboard. I Will Not Die, it’s the World that Will End! will be ruing the decision not to include him, and they drop to third as a result. At least their spell on top leaves them at number 33 on the all-time rankings! With The Sound of the Underground’s joker, the radio silent Russell Hoult, still in play, Perhaps moves into a lead of six points and quite possibly declares Czechmate. Octopus of Odstock also returns to pole position in the Theme League with their sixth sporting hit for Elton Welsby’s Sporting Triangles.
Will the bile-duct of Russell Hoult seal the deal, or can the other two big potentials in Ben Sasse and William Macintyre tighten the race yet again? Stay tuned!
His name was Ludo Miklosko, he came from near Moscow….
Luděk Mikloško, Drop 40 #12
December 9 1961 – September 14 2026
80 Teams 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀+40 = 11 Points
4 Teams 🃏 = 22 Points