shannon2007

Freedom Fighter Challenge

Path 1: Unionist (Northern Irish)

You are a bright young managerial prospect in the Northern Ireland Amateur Ranks. You have achieved success in every coaching position you have been in, however a black mark hangs over your head and has prevented you from getting your first managerial job. In 1996, you were actively involved in the Orange Order during the July Parades…

During a riot in Belfast you are arrested for assaulting an Irish Catholic, and although no charges are laid, you feel it has prevented you from taking the next step in your career and deep down you continue to harbour a strong resentment to the Irish people for this.

Eventually after five years of trying to clear your name you are offered a total of three managerial positions over the Summer of 2001. Institute, Distillery and Armagh are all willing to let what happened in the past stay in the past, and are looking to you to turn around their team.

Step 1: Success At Home

In your first managerial job with Institute, Distillery or Armagh your goal is to win the Northern Ireland Premier Division with a side comprised entirely of Northern Irish players.

After this task is completed, you get the chance to head down to the Republic of Ireland, to prove once and for all where you can extract your revenge on the football field.

Step 2: Ruling the Republic

You accept a job in the Irish league with whichever team will accept you. From this point you begin to stock your team full of Northern Irish players. Your goals in the Republic of Ireland are to win the Premier Division twice with a starting eleven that regularly features at least five Northern Ireland players.

After achieving your goals in Ireland, you decide to head to a bigger league…Scotland.

Step 3: How do you Like Your Haggis?

You can start with any Scottish team provided they are not in the Premier Division, or in Division One (in other words the club must be in Divisions 2 or 3). The goal again is to stock your starting eleven with at least five players from Northern Ireland. From your starting point in the Scottish Lower Leagues, you manage to take your club to European Competition, either the UEFA Cup, or if at all possible the Champions League.

Even the most sceptical of chairmen are starting to notice your achievements now…it’s just a matter of time before you make the move to England…

Step 4: A Brilliant End

You move to any English side you wish, provided they are not in the Premier League. With at least three first team regulars from Northern Ireland, win the Premier Division, and then go on to claim Champions League Glory. In the Champions League Final, your squad must feature at least four players from Northern Ireland; one must be the captain of your team.

Along the way at any point in the scenario you must take over the Northern Ireland job and qualify for either a European Championship or World Cup. You may or may not decide to have a break in your club career during this time…it’s up to you.

Path 2: Republic of Ireland

All it took was one trip to Northern Ireland for your life to change forever. A useful young footballer who was being considered for National Team honours at one point, your career was ended in the July Parades in Belfast when some drunken slob broke a bottle over your kneecap. The glass shards wound up severing a ligament, and effectively ending your career. Fortunately, your club was kind enough to keep you on in a coaching role, and in the past five years you have shown that you have considerable potential in the managerial field. So much so that your agent has solicited three offers from Division One clubs asking for your services as manager next season. The three clubs that had come calling on you were Finn Harps, Kilkenny City and Dublin City. You know you will accept one offer, you just haven’t decided which yet.

Step 1: Conquer the league boy

With your lowly First Division club, you must win the Irish Premier Division with a club consisting solely of Republic of Ireland players.

Step 2: Victory Parades not Orange Order Parades

After proving your dominance in your homeland you decide to show those Northern Irish players just who the better nation is.

You accept a job in the Northern Ireland league with any team. Your goal there is simple. Win two straight Northern Irish Premier Division titles with a starting eleven that features at least five Republic of Ireland.

Step 3: Scottish Successes

Your next step is to head to Scotland. You can start with any team who offers you a job provided they aren’t in the Premier or First Division. The goal again is to stock your starting eleven with at least 5 Republic of Ireland players and lead your team to Europe.

Step 4: London Calling

Start with any club in England, provided they aren’t in the Premier League. With at least 3 first team players from the Republic of Ireland win the Premier Division and go onto win the ultimate prize. The Champions League. In the Champions League Final you must have at least four players from the Republic of Ireland in the squad; one must be the captain.

Along the way at any point in the scenario you must also take the Ireland job and qualify for either the European Championships or a World Cup...

Catches:

Changing jobs in Scotland and England is acceptable. It isn't in the first two stages. For example if you complete the Northern Ireland stage with Distillery and want to move to stage two in the Republic of Ireland, the team you join there is the team you must win the two titles with.

Your assistant manager must always be the same nationality as you. If there is a Scottish Assistant at the team you join in Scotland, you must sack him and find a replacement. If there is no willing replacement you go without an assistant...tough luck.

If you are fired, you move back a step. If you're fired trying to win in Scotland, you need to head back to your stage two, or if you are fired in England you need to recomplete your goals in Scotland.

Here's why I think this one could be interesting.

There's countless different paths you could take to get from A to B to C...also each scenario involves different difficulties. The Northern Ireland version would obviously be harder than the Republic of Ireland version. But regardless of which version you start there's a big challenge ahead of you...

The drawback of the Sir Alex Challenge was the way it was so heavily scripted. When no one was able to move from East Stirling to St. Mirren it kind of destroyed the challenge...this one offers enough flexibility to make it possible but there are still the steps you have to achieve in a specific order.

shannon2007

Remember to add (FFC) or whatever to then of your title.

BarryLFC

Or just save us the bother and go with (FFS)

retired_NickiCFT

I'm gonna give this one a shot, not sure if I will go N. Ireland or Republic yet, but possibly Rep. as its my first challenge! Wish me luck!

retired_workingmom77

Good luck

retired_bootcamp_nat

Sorry if you've already read this, but...

I have an issue regarding all three challenges. What are peoples thoughts on the 'Past Experience' option with FM07 and the Challenge. I am mainly thinking with reference to the backwards playability of the challenge, therefore the only fair way to start would be as 'automatic experience'. Thus keeping the challenging part of moving clubs (if/when required) and signing higher profile players. Does that make sense?

What have people done so far?

And what are people's thoughts in general??

BarryLFC

Given as the story is more important than the challenge, I would say go with what you feel is best.

retired_edenholt313

Ill be attempting Path 2 : certainly the most interesting challenge ive seen.

will keep you posted

retired_icee

:******)

retired_fetterssarah

This is a very interesting challenge. I may take this up soon. I just love the 2 build ups to the challenge, fantastic writing!