retired_manragh

March

Doug called me in for the meeting in March, the first real one since the beginning of this year. We went over the team’s performances in detail, overall he was still Happy and so was Pacey, but the form slump was a bit of a worry, I told him were were working on it, the general play was still good, It was just that we couldn’t capitalize on the good play, missing the target from just outside the six yard box was inexcusable, and what we were doing far too often.

Finances were steady, down about 50K for the year, but that’s a normal thing, Some players contracts had still not been finalized and we went through the state of those, the ones left would need to prove themselves in the coming weeks if they wanted to be retained, the players in question were fully aware.

The only other thing to go over was the fine handed out to me for my comments in an earlier game, although he agreed, I was told I had to be more careful, they were coming down hard on people now, Managers critizing the refs all the time would result in less people wanting to do the job, which wouldn’t be good for the game. With the meeting over we went down the local for a few beers. We were still 4th something to be happy about but hopefully the improvement would come this month.

Farsley Celtic 22nd in the league and we were traveling to their home to play in our first game for the month, our shooting at training had improved, and I was looking for a good effort from the team but most of all a decent percentage of shots on targets to shots.

I wasn’t disappointed Fearns and Daly were doing well we had over 50% conversion for the shots on goal, and not surprisingly we ran out easy 3 nil winners on the day with Daly grabbing another 2 and Fearnsy grabbing one.

Home versus Workington seen me abuse the ref again this time for what looked clearly a dive in the box, which they converted for the only goal of the game. Our strikers reverted back to the old form of missing sitters, and my further comments after the game would see me serve a touch line ban against Kettering. On reflection the decision was probably right, but when a player is fouled and the theatrics cause him to spectacularly roll 8 times along the ground grab his ankle when its all done and then immediately get up when he hears the whistle it just irks me, if one of my players did this they would be severely warned and a repeat would see them looking for a new club.

Hucknall was our next home game, but first we had to play Kettering away, it should have been a win with us being 2-0 up with 15 to play for reasons that escpae me Aeon failed to get the team to go defensive, and subbed out our Jags on the right centre for Tandy who can only play on the left, in the end we were lucky to get a 2-2 draw, I don’t think Aeon will be at the club if we make the National league next year.

My return at the Hucknall game seen us cruise to victory with a lovely 3-0 win. Zak bagged 2 before the main break and Fickley converted a corner for his first goal of the year.

Dave Colley rang me on the 20th with an interesting prospect it seems Mark Crossley the old former Welsh international wants some first team action, Coles was chatting to him and Crossley said he would consider making a move here if the price is right, with a few other clubs sniffing about though we’d have to move quick, unfortunately I didn’t think we could afford his wage bill, but I set up a meeting with him after Hull accepted a free transfer bid.

The day after I received a phone call from Johnny Kosmina, it seemed Zak was being called up to the Australian under 19’s for a friendly against Uruguay over there, he was touching base with me to see if we could spare him, The pride in me at the moment is too immense for words, Zak was about to play for Australia, I will never stand in the way of anyone playing an International game be it friendly or normal game, u19’s or seniors. He was to set off tomorrow for the game on the 26th which meant he would miss the Leigh game.

Zak was rapt as well when he was told, and Jo actually cried, it was a great day for this family, I never played an International for Australia, something that I regret deeply, back in my day we were looked upon badly by the clubs if we chose to play, so we always had a slight injury here and there which would prevent us from flying or playing.

We missed Zak in the Leigh game but it was our scoring again that lost the game for us, unable to score even though we had plenty chances, this would haunt us if we couldn’t fix it soon.

Crossley agreed to come to the club if we could pay him 1000 pounds per week, unfortunately no matter how much pleading I did, Doug wouldn’t authorize that amount per week. The deal was rejected and he signed with Leceister, with a bit of luck we might get him on loan next year.


The last game of the month would see us play Hinkley who were in first place, with us being in 6th it was predicted to be a big game, but it ended in a boring nil all draw, the game was dominated by the defences from both sides, we managed to get 7 shots away but no decent chances, likewise our defence did a terrific job as well limiting them to 3 shots for the game. Coming into April we had a lot of work to do if we wanted to make the playoffs.


The end of the month seen me renew my contract for another year, Doug and myself were hoping this would bit of a morale boost for the players to see the manager sign for another year.

retired_manragh

April

I couldn’t believe my eyes this was by far the worst performance I had seen at the club in all my time, a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Lancaster who were only just behind us in points, we were beaten in all areas of the pitch. I take my hat off to the Lancaster team it was truly a great team effort by them matched by an equally poor performance by us, We’ve slipped to 7th now and play-offs are looking like something to aim for next year.

My team talk was harsh on the players, we had 4 games left and to have any chance of getting there we would have to win three out of four at least, maybe all 4.

Stalybridge would prove to be an Obstacle it was a big rivalry and this time we were the traveling side, As always there is reports in the paper about this and that but we tried to ignore the hype that the Tameside Derby’s drew.

Our team was out to prove a point in the game and a point they did prove, we were the best Tameside team in this division as our boys cruised to victory, smashing 4 past the Celtic. Morris and Zak got both our first half goals off free kicks, it stunned the home crowd which was nice and when Mark Hume was sent off for them in the 22nd minute you could here a pin drop. Lynchy knocked in a nice goal on 39 and we took in a 3 goal lead at the half. Lynchy added another on the hour, and the Celtic fans were piling out the gate, it’s a great thing to decimate your rival, confidence would be high and we had gotten back into 6th place with the win.

Our last three games would see two at home , Alfreton and Vauxhall, our last game for the regular season would be at Redditch which would probably decide if we made play-offs or not.

Alfreton were just above us in the league 4th versus 6th but our goal difference was vastly superior, with a win we would equal them on points and move atleast 5th which was the last of the playoff positions, and win we did in a game where only one goal separated us.
Daly grabbed the goal in injury time of the first half. We were peppered with goals after the half but a magnificent performace from the back 4 and Lynchy made getting good chances impossible in the end they didn’t get a single shot on target and we ran out 1-0 winners and moved into a play off position. The disappointing thing was that only 217 people turned up to watch for such a pivotal game.

Vauxhall was next and another game we couldn’t afford to drop any points on.
A Terry Fearns hatrick sealed the win for us which was nicely supported by Steve Daly who gave him 2 assists, Zak the other. 600 people turned up this time to see us move into 4th place.

With the ladder so tight anyone from 8th place could still make the playoff’s as Alfreton were playing Blyth they would need a 5-0 win and other results to go their way to have any chance.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos |-Inf---| Team | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st |-Pl----| Workington---| 41 | 20 | 11 | 10 | 61 | 51 | +10 | 71 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd |-------| Hinckley-----| 41 | 19 | 11 | 11 | 74 | 51 | +23 | 68 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd |-------| Nuneaton-----| 41 | 20 | 8 | 13 | 65 | 54 | +11 | 68 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th |-------| Droylsden----| 41 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 72 | 48 | +24 | 66 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th |-------| Blyth--------| 41 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 66 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th |-------| Lancaster----| 41 | 19 | 8 | 14 | 62 | 55 | +7 | 65 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th |-------| Kettering----| 41 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 65 | 42 | +23 | 64 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th |-------| Alfreton-----| 41 | 18 | 9 | 14 | 58 | 59 | -1 | 63 | </pre>


The Last Game

The two hour trip down to Redditch was nerve racking, we needed to win to secure a play-off, a draw might do it but we couldnt count on it. The game plan was simple, start off slow and work our way into the game, if you had a chance go for it, just don't leave ourselves open. If it was all square just before half time we were to go more attacking, I would give the signal. by Half time i should have around the ground scores, so we re assess at half time.

We played to our plan at the start, going slow for the 10 just to work our way into the game, some desperate defending on our part was good to see that the lads were focused. Around the quarter hour Daly made a break that brought me out of the dugout, he just skimmed the outside edge of the left upright, goal kick.

I didn't want to sit back down the nerves were getting to me, but they settled a bit as Daly was put through by Zak and this time he made no mistake slotting the ball under the diving keeper, 1 up and a few fist pumps later, I gave the signal to reset, go slow and steady, nothing stupid.

We were flowing well though and before the 20 we had 2 really good chances with Fearns hitting the crossbar and Zak just heading one wide, things were looking promising, Reddich weren't attacking at all, we cut every attempt that they made out.

2-0 we went just on a quarter way through the game, Fitzy made a nice run down the right with an enticing cross that the keeper just couldn't quite get to, the result was that it fell to Fearnsy and he put away the easiest of goals with the keeper stranded.

This time were told to sit back the back 4 kept right back not allowing any long balls to catch us out, while the midfield was to play a stopping role and just knock thru balls for the Forwards to run on to, It worked well for us and Redditch didnt look like scoring. Just before half time Fitzy took a big knock and was concussed, Jags was brought on, he'd been lacking a bit of form hence him sitting on the bench for the last few.

Half time 2 up and i was frantically calling all the people i had around the grounds, Blyth were beating Alfreton 2-1 so Blyth looked like staying up although Alfreton were pressing hard and scored one just before half time, the Lancaster Nuneaton game was all square aswell, same with both the Kettering game and the Hinkley one. We would be going back out defending for our lives although we were in second place at the moment all Redditch had to do was equalise and were back down in 4th or 5th.

The first ten minutes were awesome for us, just not at our game, Alfreton hit two quick ones to go 3-2 up they couldnt get above us no matter the result, but them winning meant Blyth couldn't either, Kettering were struggling, and Hinkley were still at a draw, Lancaster scored 2 quick ones past Nuneaton aswell so with them loosing and us above them we couldnt get knocked out by my calculations.

Our defence was great, the second half was just us bottling play up although Redditch weren't really threatening they managed to score a late consolation goal in injury time, but we would win 2-1 and secured second place. We were in the playoff. The nerves were gone for the time being.

retired_manragh

The Play-offs

“2 days, are you having a lend?” I asked

“Na, I’m serious we play Lancaster in Lancaster at the Giant Axe for the first Leg” replied Aeon.

“Christ, they're not giving us much time then to recover,…. How’s Fitzy?”

“He wont play but best if you ask your misses,.. We couldn’t of got a worse team to play either, you remember that thrashing they gave us a couple weeks back, 5-1, I don’t like our chances” Aeon remarked.

“You’re to pessimistic Aeon, it’s a play off game 2nd versus 5th , were the 2nd placed side, it’s a different ball game. We’ve had a great run to get to second place our forms good I think we’ll do ok”



A Big crowd was there to greet us, well greet isn’t the word that should be used but it sounds better than heckled, cursed or jeered. The nerves had me everywhere but I think I got it through to the players that today’s game is a different kettle of fish. Finals are different than regular games, more scrutiny, more pressure, it’s all about who can settle first and follow the gameplan.

Our was simple we’d sit back for the first quarter hour and just let things flow, no big breaks to start, no getting caught out from a long ball, just work our way into the game.

We settled the better, the opening minutes seen us passing well, it was crisp and accurate, just moving it around giving everyone an early touch which was great for the players, Jags was back in for the injured Fitzgerald and it was he who set up our first assault on Lancaster’s goal, a nice run from the centre to the right hand edge of the Penalty box tapping it past one defender and firing a hard ground ball across the face just out of reach of the keeper, Daly arrived a fraction of a second too late and the ball crossed the byline for a goal kick, sooooo close.

Chances were hard to come by with both teams playing carefully, but we took one of ours on the 26 minute mark, Morris with some sublime skill, skinned one and nutmegged another, hit a nice angled pass in between both centre backs for Steve Daly to run onto and smash our first in the top right corner, the keeper didn’t move.

Instead of them pressing to get a quick equalizer it was us who extended our lead 2 minutes later when Jimmy Williams hit a cross tantalizing close to the keeper, who misread the flight, this time Steve was on hand and hit the open net giving him his second.

Lancaster’s keeper was having a torrid time of it, nerves clearly getting the better of him, and when Fearnsy stood over the penalty kick in the first minute of injury time, all he had to do was put somewhere remotely near the corners and we’d be three up, unfortunately Fearnsy was as nervous as their keeper and our most reliable of penalty taker’s put it into the stands high and right, their keeper hadn’t moved. Still we went in 2-0 up at the half looking the better team, Lancaster had hardly made an attacking run into our half.

It was a different Lancaster side that came out after the break, the absolute pasting that their manager had given them at half time had done the trick, our defence was clearly their equal though and we repelled all their attacks comfortably, on a counter Fearnsy had a great chance, but nerves were telling and instead of striking the ball cleanly he kicked the ground first duffing the shot which trickled into the keepers arms, he was subbed and Jody Banim came on with immediate effect, a nice ball placed out to the left by Jags had given Jody 10 yards on the nearest defender, by the time Jody had reached the penalty box on the left though his defender had caught him, but a nice feint towards the byline and then cutting back towards the centre opened enough room for a another hard grounded cross picking out the late arriving Morris who slammed it past the outstretched keeper, 3-0 up and 15 to play.

Our defence was superb for the rest of the game, didn’t give them a sniff, and when we were walking back into the change rooms I patted Aeon on the back as gave him everyone’s favourite line when you call something. “I told you so”.


The Return leg which again only gave us a two day recovery seen us play in front of our largest crowd this year some 1600 plus people, and we didn’t disappoint, well Zak didn’t anyway, seeing the keeper slightly off his line he launched one from 40 yards out, with the precision of a premier league player it went into the top right corner leaving the keeper no hope in the world, and all this in the 3rd minute of play.

Lancaster were going all out now 4-0 down overall and with nothing else to loose but a bit of pride, they pressed us hard looking for goals, but a team that’s pressing that hard leaves big holes, and Zak’s from this year was proving he didn’t need much of hole, and so it was him again this time provider after a nice interception, gifted Morris a goal from a nicely weighted cross.

In truth we should off scored more, Zak had his second overturned with a dubious offside call, but we ran out easy 2-0 winners and at 5-0 overall, it was a great day for the club to at least achieve the same as last years results, but we were hoping for a bit better result in the final this time though.

retired_manragh

The Final

My hands were shaking in the rooms before the game, not from nerves this time from excitement, we were playing Nuneaton and this was a team that hadn’t beaten us this year and didn’t really have the talent up front to beat our defenders.

Going through the pre game tactics it was much the same as our first Lancaster playoff game, start slow keep it all together and just work into the game, The players seemed confident, all except Fearnsy anyway who went to the toilet about 8 times before the game started, the decision had already been made to start him on the bench, and Dean Blackwell one of our coaches had the job of calming his nerves.

I’d prepped the teams all I could, and awaited them out on the pitch, I was chatting with Dean near the dugouts when Dave Colley our scout wandered over to have a quick chat and wish us luck. It seemed there was about 10 scouts that he new in the crowd and they had all came here for the same reason. Zak had been earned himself a bit of a reputation and the scouts were here to see how he handled the big day.

“Where they from ?”

“Couple div one sides, Forest’s scout is there as well as Wednesday’s, but the main ones are Wigan, Middlesborough and them 3 guys sitting up the back are the ones that will stop you retaining Zak for next year, you should recognize 2 of them”

“aaa ****, that’s not good, Beardsley and Venables. Aren’t those two in charge of Chelsea’s Youth system now?”

Dave Colley just nodded “Yep and the man next to them is Ray Townsend they don’t send him to see just anyone, he’s the head scout at Chelsea, all you can do now is try and get a good price for him. Phil Cannon was there for that home semi, he’s there lower division scout, let’s just say that goal last week is still a talking point at the moment”

Dave was about to continue but the players were coming out on to the pitch, not long now until we knew our fate for next year.

The whistle blew and all was good for the first 4 minutes we started the same as we had been starting, nice and settled but Nuneaton McPhee had other ideas as he tore through our defence single handedly and put one under the Ashton for the first of the game, It was a great individual effort.

We increased our tempo after this but it was still Nuneaton who had all the chances, this time our defence was better more efficient, repelling a good half dozen attacks before the half. Zak was being man marked and didn’t have an impact on the first half, but we needed more from the whole team if we were to win, and at the moment it didn’t look like we would.

I gave my half time speech, urging the players on, telling them we were still in the game and giving the usual instructions, we changed our game plan, a bit more direct and attacking, from the restart we would hit them hard, we had to try and get this goal back as early as we can, the longer it went on the harder it would be, but never once should we lose belief in ourselves.

It was Jody Banim our captain who brought them all in close and gave them a truly rousing speech, the players responded and were visibly pumped, but sometimes things said in the changeroom aren’t brought out onto the pitch, Im glad to say this isn’t one of them times.

5 minutes after the restart Jody headered in Zak’s corner, he lost his marker in the crowd and popped up on the near post to neatly tuck it home, the players didn’t rest on the laurels either, and we were attacking hard, Nuneaton were shocked I think, they say back and let us come, when Zak grazed the post from a free kick just outside the box it brought a collective oooooo from the crowd, 2 minutes later and in an almost identical position the crowd were cheering , same free kick this time it grazed the inside of the post and hit the back of the net 2-1, half hour to go.

Steve Daly made it three with 20 to go, Jags the supplier this time a nice little touch in the box gave Steve enough room to have a crack, taking a slight deflection it whistled into the net.

If Nuneaton were shocked before now they were gob smacked, The last 20 minutes wouldn’t have seen the ball enter our back third for more than 20 seconds I think and on the death knock Zak popped up to nod in his second of the game and seal his fate.

It was a surreal experience for me, I was elated with the team we, had secured promotion to the National next year, but loosing Zak would see us struggle, maybe we could keep him but the chances were slim. We’d be losing Danny Warner as well, I couldn’t see him holding a position down so we accepted an offer for him from Hucknall, he just to hammer out the details in the contract and he would be on his way. About 5 others would be leaving and I was desperately hoping to get some good players in.

We won I kept telling myself, but I couldn’t get next season’s woes out of my head for long enough to savour the victory, it took till much later that night before I could celebrate hole heartily, the result of a lot of beers and quite a few bourbon’s.

retired_manragh

The Off Season

A week was behind our great win in the Final, and truth be told I was still a bit hungover, A 5 day bender with bits of sleep here and there had taken their toll on my body, Jo has gone back to Australia to check on things there and I’ve called a staff meeting for tomorrow to go over next season, expectations, players to get rid off, players to get, all the rigmarole you expect in an off season. The coaches were assigned parts of the squad to go over and give me a report on and we’d assess them at the meeting

Meeting:

With everyone there we proceeded into the meeting, Most of us still jovial and buoyant over the promotion, we went through the strengths and weakness of the season and it was our concentration that needed improving, with more fitness it would come, and now in a higher league we all agreed we needed a tougher preseason than the last one. Our teamwork was great and that’s what got us promoted, an ability to work hard for the team when we both had and didn’t have the ball was a key factor. The forwards were good a bit inaccurate but good all the same, the midfield was magnificent, and the defence was great as well, in saying that were under no illusions that we needed to strengthen in all areas to compete next year.

Jason handed out his reports and we all went over them:

Our Goalies were going to be a problem Ashton wasn’t good enough to loan again for a higher division and Phillips and Tate would struggle in the league was the general consensus, needed a decent keeper, would keep a close eye on Loan availabilities.

Richard Ord did the defenders and passed out his assessments

So there it was, we all agreed Defence would be our biggest problem, Aeon was being a twat saying we needed to replace them all and if we didn’t we would be strait back down, I’ll speak to Doug about replacing him.

Dean Blackwell did the Midfielders.

Midfield was great this year, Zak, Lynchy and Jags held it together with some good backup, but with Zak looking like going things would need to be improved.

Steve Thornber and Pat Connel did the Forwards

Attacking looked Ok but a talented forward would be great to have, would start looking for one aswell.

Concluding the meeting and going over all possibilities it was decided we need a keeper firstly, definitely needed a few defenders, Left sided and Centre Backs would be nice, Midfield was strong, depending on if Zak was still there, but backup’s would be good. And a good forward would be needed for the incoming season

We would need to cut Fitzy, Rapley, Ruffer, Talbot, and maybe Robinson..

retired_manragh

Off Season (cont)

The off season was proving to be hectic, early June I had hundreds of emails to go through, phone calls, interviews it was getting a bit much, 14 to 16 hour days were killing my life. All this while the players were on holiday, when they came back it would be even more hectic.

We had a reserves and Youth team playing this year, and Aeon didn’t inspire confidence in this regard I would bring it up with Doug to see if we could pay him out and get someone a bit better.

I was working with Dave Colley pretty intensively aswell early June going through his lists of all possible players, out of hundreds of players the only one we could get was Richard Hughes a young Midfielder from Notts Forest who would provide good back up, Warner had gone to Hucknall, and other’s were told there contracts were not going to be renewed, we were sure about Robinson or Rattlespurr so we were going to leave them on Month by Month.

No keeper wanted to come to the club, this was a huge problem for us, We were struggling to get anyone decent who was interested full stop, and on the 7th I was called into Doug’s office things were going Down hill.

“Hi there Matt, come in and sit down we have a dilemma to solve “

“Oh” I exclaimed not sure what he meant

“Have a look at this” Doug said as he handed me a document.

It was Chelsea’s bid for Zak, so far there had just been enquiry’s and when we told them we wanted three quarters of a mil up front and 50% on the resale all of them went running, Chelsea’s offer was a bit different though.

“800 kay and 25%....... You’re gonna accept it, aren’t you”

“I am afraid we have too, its too good to pass up, his valuation is a touch over 50 kay at the moment we’d be mad if we didn’t sell for this, and honestly who wouldn’t want to go to Chelsea at the moment”

I nodded my head in agreement, it looked like we had just lost Zak to Chelsea, while we were talking a phone call came through, Lille had just matched Chelsea’s Offer, now we definitely had to get another decent midfielder, although with him going to Chelsea he wouldn’t play, maybe we could pinch him back on loan for the season.

With a 800K in the bank or there soon to be it would mean a bit more spending money and indeed it was, Doug said I had 80 K more to play with now, and the rest would be invested in the future of the club, I suggested better Youth and training facilities which was accepted, also we should go fully professional now we had the money, with the facilities and a more professional outfit we could get better quality players down here ensuring our survival, cause at the moment we weren’t attracting anyone. Doug took the suggestion under advisement and would get back to me on the Professional status of the club.

Days after the meeting Dave Colley called me up, more bad news, West Ham had offered him a contract, we were never going to be able to match it, and the 1000 pounds we were getting as a fee was a joke for a scout of his ability, I would be sad to see him go but happy when he brought a few players files to look over before he left, some off them actually wanted to come here.

Zak was rapt when told about Chelsea and Lille and he lated signed for Chelsea on the 12th, we seen no reason to hold him here so he went down to London to get accommodated. Jo went down with him and stayed a week, all which Chelsea paid for.

Things were coming along on the transfer front, we’d had a handshake agreement with three defenders to come and do a 3 week trial after the holidays, and Dave recommended two decent scouts who we signed up before he left. We couldn’t find a keeper though and it was causing a lot of heartaches, we had a crack at Paddy Gamble from Forest but he wasn’t interested in either a full time move or coming down as Loan and there wasn’t anyone else suitable, This would be a long month going through squad lists and ringing people to see if the could come down on loan. Most of the time the bids were accepted and when we talked to the player in question they couldn’t stop laughing, like it was a huge joke, it was dampening my spirits.

I’d had enough of Aeon, and went in to Doug’s office and told him I wanted him sacked, Doug was strangely agreeable, but when he said its coming out of my budget I knew why, Aeon was given the news and 14K to be on his way and the search started for a new Assistant Manager, I also persuaded Doug to get me a secretary as now the club was in the National I needed some help with the day to day things, he was happy oblige, the sad thing about it though was that she was on more per week than me.

Friendlies were organized, A few contracts were offered and things went smoothly. When Derek Asamoah was released by Shrewsbury I was pleased, he was the forward we needed and I had ear marked earlier as a good signing lightining quick and a good finisher he would be awesome in this league, He must have been a hour out of his club when I offered him a contract personally, it met all his requirements and a bit extra, but he said he’d give it a week and then get back to me, Unfortunately two other clubs saw the same opportunity and he headed of to Halifax a professional club and tipped to press for promotion.

My advertisement had paid dividends, 5 candidates for the Assistants Job and all of them were great prospects, even Jason Culina’s father applied, he’d be handy, maybe we could entice Jason over to play aswell, that would definitely solve any forward problems.
The standout though Steve Galloway who had been working in Sweden with Umea, all the right answers to the Questions that I asked seen me handing him a 3 year contract and 15K to Umea, A wealth of knowledge crammed into his 44 year old head with a good base in Sweden and Germany.

retired_manragh

Season Two – Conference National

July was upon us and apart from the mad rush for players that we didn’t participate in, not through lack of trying mind you, it was a fairly uneventful month.

Pre-season was tough but the players were still in reasonable shape, no injuries to start us off, and Richard Hughes was the only new player we had so far, Matty Wolfenden (AM/F), Nick Mass (F), Matt Somner (D RC,DM) and Colin Cryan (D R, DM) were all on trial, as it turned out we signed them all for the start of the season.

We couldn’t get a keeper so Phillips and Tate would duke it out over the practice games to see who started.

With practice games against

AFC Wimbledon
FC United
Havant and Waterlooville
Boston Town and
Leeds

All went to script we easily accounted for the 4 teams below us in divisions but Leeds showed us why they are 3 Divisions above us, giving us a resounding 5-0 thumping at home infront of a full house.


A meeting between Doug and myself ended badly with me going off my nut at him, he was being a complete and utter twat, after reflection I still feel the same, He doesn’t care if we get relegated, he’s made his investment back now of Zak’s transfer, so why should he care.

Chelsea were willing to loan Zak out for the season as he was a reserve team player at the moment, and while there was other clubs in the hunt, we had the inside running being one his favourite clubs, and his Mother and Father being here, but proceedings were stalled when Doug wouldn’t authorize the 100% payment of his wages, he would only authorize 50%, it was 400 pounds difference a week for christ’s sake and I was 3K under my wages limit. He wouldn’t budge on it and I came with an inch of just reaching across and punching his lights out, Zak ended up moving to Wolves for the Season, when I rang Pacey about it he said there wasn’t anything he could do, he was sorry, but he was under pressure at his job and was tied down.

Early in the month of August the Australian press was abuzz as Graham Arnold had decided to stand down as Manger of Australia after getting second in the Asian Cup, which was a respectable result. The public were none to happy with his replacement.

retired_mpruett5

Well done fella, Conference North/South always seem to be differcult leagues to get out of. Good Luck for the new season, who else has gone up via the South?

kane1987

Dave Pace is a legend!!he does everything at droylsden!!went to a couple of games last yr look a gd bet 4 promotion this season 2

retired_grneyedqn

ah the playoff's. i was lancaster and got knocked out in the semi's on penalties. also that damn 4-5-1 formation keeps popping up when i play and i have no idea how to beat that.

anyway good luck in the conference, good reading as well