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*OFFICIAL* FMS Challenge #1 2006-07 - The Islands Challenge
The Islands Challenge
1) Start with a team from an Island in Europe (off the mainland of home country) outside of the big 5 major European Leagues, Examples of these are Visby and Häcken in Sweden - I can dig up many more of these, I had them all somewhere once when I was 'devising', but I've lost them all and those were the only two I can find off the cuff. With this team you have to win a major national trophy and then you can choose to move onto Part Two or Part Three from here.
2) You can now move to an Island team in a major European League. Examples of these are Tenerife and Mallorca in Spain, Bastia and AC Ajaccio in France, Cagliari in Italy and um... Newport IOW and Canvey Island in England. Of course these aren't exactly jobs you're gonna get after winning a trophy in somewhere in Sweden, so you'll prolly have to settle for something like Atletico Catania or something. Again I'll dig these up, I know there are plenty of them. Here you have to win the national championship - you can also skip this stage by staying with your original team and winning their national championship, if you haven't already! Winning a major European Championship with an Island team has only been achieved once by Cagliari
3) Now you have to win a European Trophy and become the first ever Island team to do so. Bastia made the final of the Cup Winners Cup once upon a time, but that's the nearest an Island team has ever got... so go forth and become a history maker.
4) Go to an Island nation (NOT England, however) and get to a Major Tournaments semi-final. Island Nations will be the Home Nations, Ireland, Japan and Australia
5) Finally return to an Island team on Mainland Europe and bring home the glittering prize of the Champions League
6) Buy a small carribean island and retire with a small fortune in the bank
11-18-2006, 06:30 PM
*OFFICIAL* FMS Challenge #1 2006-07 - The Islands Challenge Post #2
Okay then, despite being lazy I am in the process of building a list of eligible (according to me) 'island clubs' to take over for the challenge. So stay tuned. :cool:
On another note I have an issue regarding all three CMS Challnges (I will also post something on this in the otehr threads). The issue is 'Past Experience', I am thinking that for all challenges to be a challenge this should be set to automatic. But I'm open to other peoples thoughts.
11-20-2006, 09:05 PM
*OFFICIAL* FMS Challenge #1 2006-07 - The Islands Challenge Post #9
So here it is, my list of potential playable 'Island Clubs' for this challenge. This list is by no means definitive and any further contributions are more than welcome. I will separate the playable clubs into applicable stages for easier challenge planning.
Stage 1 - European 'Island Clubs' (not including clubs of Italy, Spain and France)
We'll start in Denmark...
Odense Boldklub - Also known as OB, quite a big club in the SAS Ligaen (1st Division) so OB would be an easyish starting option. Situated on the Island of Fyn, technically an island although you could argue that most on Denmark is an island.
Football Club Fyn - Surprise, surprise FC Fyn are also based on the Danish Island of Fyn. That's where the similarities with OB end though. FC Fyn play in the 2.divison Vest (3rd Division that is) but they have plenty of potential. A solid challenge here.
Boldklubben Fremad Amager - Or simply Fremad Amager, not surprisingly set on the Island of Amager just east of Copenhagen. Fremad play in the Viasat Sport Divisionen which is the second tier of Danish professional football. If you're still into the Danes but after more of a challenge than OB and less of a challenge than FC Fyn then these guys could be yours.
Amager Boldklub af 1970 - The toughest of the Danish clubs by far, AB70 are in the 2.divison Øst (3rd Division) and like Fremad they call the Island of Amager their home. Whilst at a similar level as FC Fyn, AB70 are significantly worse off than their western brothers.
Four interesting Danish options there, next we move south to Greece...
AO Kerkyra - Situated off the west coast of the Greek mainland in the stunning Ionian Islands, more specifically Kerkyra play on the Island of Corfu. Whilst far from rich, Kerkyra do play in the Ethniki Katigoria (1st Division) so they'd be a more than decent start.
GS Diethnis Enosis Ergotelis - Simply known as Ergotelis, like Kerkyra they play in the Ethniki Katigoria, but Ergotelis start richer than the Corfuans. Situated on the great southern Island of Crete, in the capital city of Heraklion. That's all I've got. Good Cretians!
OFI Crete - Capital rivals of Ergotelis on Crete, they even share a stadium. OFI are slightly better off than their neighbours and also compete in the top division, the Ethniki Katigoria. Perhaps a slightly better Cretian then.
APO Levadeiakos - The baby of the Crete clubs, Levadeiakos play in the Beta Ethniki Katigoria OPAP (2nd Division). Situated away from the capital down in Leivadia, this club would be a significantly tougher challenge than the other three Greeks available.
From some god-like Greeks back up to some cool Norwegians...
Tromsø IL - The Laplanders of Tromsø play in the Tippaeligaen (1st Division) and are quite a strong side in that league. The Island Tromsø is set on the fringe of the Skerries in far northern Norway, a port city (the largest in Norways north) you can see view aurora borealis and the midnight sun from here. I'm sure you knew that already though.
Tromsdalen UIL - Also based in Tromsø, Tromsdalen will be a little more challenging than their wealthier neighbour. Playing in the Adeccoligaen (2nd Division) and widely tipped to struggle, Tromsdalen certainly look like a real test.
Aalesunds FK - In contrast to Tromsdalen, Aalesund are quite well off for an Adeccoligaen club and are heavily favoured to gain promotion in the first season. Situated in the town of Aalesund, which is set across the three Islands of Norvøy, Aspøy and Hessa just south of Tromsø. A massive fishing harbour graces Aalesund.
IL Hødd - Amongst Norways far western maritime cluster of Islands on Sunmore, the Island Ulstein and it's capital Ulsteinvik accomodate Hødd. Another Adeccoligaen club, Hødd is quite poor and subsequently quite a challenge. They build great ships on Ulstein!
So that's four Norwegian clubs as well, we'll just pop over to Finland for a moment...
IFK Mariehamn - Set in Mariehamn, the capital of Ã…land in the Ã…land Islands of Finland. MIFK are a lower table Veikkausliiga (1st Division) club with grand ambitions (or not). MIFK's stunning setting - part of the baltic archipalego set between the Stockholm and the Finnish archipelago seas - will no doubt capture your imagination. Even if the football doesn't!
Finally we look down, down, down towards Portugal...
Clube Sport MarÃ*timo SAD - Playing in the Portuguese Liga (1st Division), MarÃ*timo are a highly regarded and quite successful club. Situated on the Island of Madeira off the southern coast Portugal amongst the Portuguese archipalego. A good start but there are some big clubs to beat in Portugal.
Clube Desportivo Nacional - Also based on the Island of MarÃ*timo, Nacional da Madeira play alongside their local rivals in the top Portuguese Liga. Whilst not quite as strong financially as their neighbours, Nacional da Madeira would make a very strong challenge club. Watch out for To Madeira though!
Clube Desportivo Santa Clara - Yes Xenon, Santa Clara are playable in this challenge. Based on the Island of San Miguel in the Azores, Santa Clara are in the Liga de Honora (2nd Division) but despite their lowly league status they are quite wealthy. A good challenge indeed.
With that I conclude my playable 'Island Clubs' list for stage one of the challenge. So I've found 16 suitable clubs, I'm sure there are more but I'll be darned if I can find them. Despite the suggestion of the initial challenge post I'm quite certain that the Swede's of Häcken are based in Göteborg (which - I'm pretty certain - is not an island), also it appears that fellow Swede's Visby have been relegated and aren't playable anymore. Anyway, the list for stage two will follow soon. If I get around to it! If you are looking to start a game immediately just add at least one of Spain, Italy and France from the lowest divisions as well as your starting league/s.
11-21-2006, 06:54 PM
*OFFICIAL* FMS Challenge #1 2006-07 - The Islands Challenge Post #10
Now it's on to the second and third stage list. The same disclaimer applies, this list is certainly not definitive. But it's a good start.
Stage 2/3 - Big European Nations 'Island Clubs' (Now we're talking France, Italy and Spain)
France is as good a place as any to start...
AC Ajaccien - Ajaccio is situated on the Island of Corsica off the coasts of France and Italy. With no European pedigree to speak of and a top finish of sixth in Ligue 1 (1st Division) back in 1971, it's fair to say that Ajaccio are far from a powerhouse in French football. But can this change? Currently playing in Ligue 2 (2nd Division) and looking far from convincing.
Sporting Club Bastia - Also set on Corsica Bastia have a bit more history than their lesser neighbours. The one big trophy in the cabinet is the 1981 French Cup, but they have also come so close on many occasions. The most famous of which would be the 1978 UEFA Cup final loss at the hands of Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven. Currently down in Ligue 2 but looking towards a swift promotion and of course back into Europe.
Now for some Italian options...
Cagliari - Based on the Island of Sardinia, off the coast of Italy and France, just south of Corsica. They start reasonably well off in Serie A (1st Division). A league that they won back in 1970 the one and only time. Years later in season 1993/94 Cagliari made it to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup - which was quite a feat in itself - before going out at the hands of Inter Milan.
Nuorese - Also Sardinia. Begin the game quite poor and down in the Serie C2 Girone A (4th Division). It's a big climb from here!
Sassari Torres - Sardinia again. Local rivals of Nuorese, they are certainly better off than their rival and are also playing in the Serie C2 Girone A.
Olbia - Island of Sardinia. Down in the Serie C2 Girone A along with Nuorese and Sassari Torres. Not much wealth in Olbia right now.
Messina - Moving away from Sardinia and down to the famous southern Italian Island of Sicily. Messina are a medium sized Serie A club. Season 2005/06 saw the club play in Europe in the UEFA Cup but with no success in a season that had them mathematically relegated but for Juventus' enforced relegation to Serie B.
Catania - Like Messina, based in Sicily. Similar club size too, just a bit larger than Messina and with plenty of ambition. Obviously also in the Serie A. With very little history in the Serie A and no European pedigree Catania will be out to create history grabbing that first European trophy for an Island club.
U.S. CittÃ* di Palermo - Yep Sicily again. The biggest of the Sicilian clubs in Serie A, Palermo start their first European campaign in 2006/07. Without a serious trophy to their name they will be looking to rectify that as soon as possible for the proud Island of the South.
Gela Juve-Terranova - Sicily is a big Island and we move down to the lower leagues now with Gela. Playing in the Serie C2 Girone C (4th Division). A solid club for their level, but a long way from Europe!
Igea Virtus Barcellona - The fifth and final Sicilian club, Igea Virtus also play in the Serie C2 Girone C. On par with Gela they would certainly be a challenge even to get to Serie A from here.
Finally we say hola to our Spanish friends...
RCD Mallorca SAD - From the splendid Island of Mallorca of course. Off the east coast of Spain, Mallorca play in the Primera DivisÃ*on (1st Division) and are one of the wealthier Spanish clubs outside of the giants of the capital and Barcelona. With a Copa del Rey trophy to their name in 2003 Mallorca will be out to add some European silverware to that cabinet.
UD Las Palmas SAD - The Canary Islands (off the coast of far west Africa) field no less than six clubs in the Spanish professional ranks. A strong club, Las Palmas are based on the Island of Gran Canario, they play in the Segunda DivisÃ*on A (2nd Division) and will be expected to push hard for promotion.
CD Tenerife SAD - Up there with Las Palmas for wealth (in the Canaries), Tenerife are not surprisingly based on the Island of Tenerife. Also a Segunda DivisÃ*on A club, Tenerife are a good chance at promotion immediately. In season 1995/96 they made a massive UEFA Cup run before finally falling in the semi-finals at the hands of the eventual winners in Schalke of Germany. Some European pedigree at least!
UD Vecindario - The third Canaries club to be playing in the Segunda DivisÃ*on A is Vecindario. Based alongside Las Palmas on the Island of Gran Canario Vecindario are certainly the weakest of the three Segunda DivisÃ*on A clubs.
UD Lanzarote - The Island of Lanzarote in the Canaries is the home to this little club. Playing in the Segunda DivisÃ*on B Grupo 1 (3rd Division), Lanzarote have a lot of work to do to get to a European competition and finally conquer Europe.
CD OrientacÃ*on MarÃ*tima - Also from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. O. Maritima play in the Segunda DivisÃ*on B Grupo 1, where they are expected to struggle.
Universidad de Las Palmas CF - Another Gran Canario club, Universidad LP are the third side from the Canaries to be playing in the Segunda DivisÃ*on B Grupo 1. Stronger than O. Maritima they will be a decent chance to be promoted sooner rather than later.
So that's it for the Island Clubs.
Stage 4 - 'Island Nations'
As mentioned in the original challenge post the Island Nations available should be any of the Home Nations (except England) and then Ireland, Japan and Australia. I would suggest that any smaller Island Nations are also selectable. I'm thinking the Faroes, Iceland, any South-East Asian nation and perhaps any of the Caribbean nations, plus any other justifiable 'Island Nation'. It's really just up to the story-teller.
Well, after all that I suppose I'd better start a new challenge game now. :thup:
*OFFICIAL* FMS Challenge #1 2006-07 - The Islands Challenge 
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