Guide · Glossary

A Beginner's Glossary of Football Positions

Positions come up constantly in Footle and across the PitchWits games. If the abbreviations trip you up, here's every common role explained in plain English.

Goalkeeper

GK — Goalkeeper. The last line of defence, the only player allowed to use their hands (inside the box). Judged on shot-stopping, positioning, command of the box and increasingly on distribution with their feet.

Defenders

CB — Centre-back. Central defenders who mark strikers, win headers and organise the back line. FB / RB / LB — Full-back. Wide defenders (right or left) who defend the flanks and often push forward to support attacks. Wing-back is a more attacking full-back used in some formations.

Midfielders

CDM — Defensive midfielder. The anchor who shields the defence and breaks up play. CM — Central midfielder. The all-rounder linking defence and attack. CAM — Attacking midfielder. The creative "number 10" who plays between midfield and attack, supplying the forwards.

Wide and attacking roles

LM / RM — Wide midfielder. Midfielders who operate on the flanks. LW / RW — Winger. Attackers hugging the touchline who beat defenders and cut inside to shoot or cross. ST — Striker. The main goalscorer, leading the line. A CF (centre-forward) is a central striker who may also link play.

Why position matters in the games

In Footle, the position tile is a powerful filter — knowing you're hunting a winger rather than a defender slashes the pool of possible players. In Tier Drop, remember to judge each player against the best in their position, not against everyone.

Play Footle and put your positional knowledge to work.