retired_mjs74

The Trigger that caused a thousand emotions...

Picture the scene, it is a very wet, damp and cold December evening and as Luke Williamson steps up from his seat, his train pulls in to Loughborough train station. Ok, it is not the most picturesque start to life as a Football Manager but, with some hard work and a little luck, surely there was room in this beautiful game for another Coach.

Complete with his U.E.F.A ‘B’ certificate in hand however, tonight is celebration night and all thoughts of what session to put on for Loughborough Dynamo the following day is put on hold…

retired_mjs74

The Drunken Bet…

It is 10.45am and with the alarm buzzing for the 4th time, Williamson leans over to switch it off with the regret of the previous night still ringing in his ears. Still smelling the alcohol on himself, he sits up and gives his eyes a rub before squinting to see some markings on his wall.

‘I can’t remember last night that much but surely I would recall that’ he thinks as he stares bewilderedly at the apparent 4-3-3 formation scribbled on his wall. However, trying not to stress too much, Williamson jumps up to take a shower. Passing the landing area, it takes a second glance to realise that once again, there are scrawling’s on the hall way wall. Phone numbers to be more precise. After walking into the bathroom, he checks back on himself to read some of the names and numbers.
“Peacemaker7???” he confusedly reads.

Once it the shower, he realises where the name is from and with it, confusion really sets in…

Back in 2001, Williamson, a then rooky at this coaching lark, was on a Sports Psychology Course in Glasgow. Whilst on the 4 day course, between lectures, seminar’s and endless lagers in the evening, Williamson got to know a veteran player and coach Stuart Redmond, aka Peacemaker7.

With Forfar close to his heart, Peacemaker7 was a good player in his day and more importantly, itching to help teach others. Now, a few years on and without much contact with Peacemaker7, Williamson was about to become somewhat reunited with the former Forfar man.

After stepping out of the shower, Williamson stands still for some 5 or 10 minutes pondering the previous night. Ok 5 or 10 minutes might seem like a long time, but when a writer needs to emphasise a point somewhat, there are few better ways of portraying thought so deep.

As attack verse defence is pulled to pieces and worked on for the next few hours of his ‘about to be busy’ ordinary life, Williamson decides to stand back and make a call.

“Ayup Peacemaker7” the still-confused coach greets after Peacemaker picks up.
“Oh, you phoned to apologise ya cheeky g!t?” the Scot remarks.
“Eh?”
“last night! How hammered were you exactly?”
“A-erm-hmmm Why?” Williamson asks nervously.
“The bet was interesting and funny at first mate, but after the 6th call, I was bored and very tired” he chuckles before moving on. “Anyway fella, how are things”

At this point Williamson has two options.
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Move on, make pleasantries and wish his Scot friend a farewell and best wishes prior to Christmas
<LI>Ask what on earth he is talking about? Bet? Calls? Ideas?
</UL>

However, as he is about to take things further, Williamson spots an opportunity to stop-step in-and coach. (If you are a Qualified Coach you’ll be bored with this stuff but you’ll know my meaning).

“Peacemaker, listen, I’m caught up, can I call ya in an hour or two mate.”
“Better than that Luke, I am down your way tomorrow for a game against the England under 15’s, maybe we could meet up?”
“Yeah sure sounds good, gotta dash pal” and with that Williamson hangs up and coaches his full back who is still not grasping why he needs to pull wide from a goal-keepers ball.

retired_mjs74

Loughborough University - England Under 15’s verse Scotland Under 15’s
December 15th 2004


As Williamson watches on in a dull second half, England fall 2-1 to a Scotland side coached by Peacemaker7. Ok, the guy isn’t managing the side but you could argue he is the guy behind the scenes.

Williamson checks his phone, again checking his call register from his drunken night. 16 calls could be bordering on stalking if it wasn’t for the focus being aimed at football.

With tactics spot on, England struggle to break down Peacemaker7’s Scottish side despite several substitutions and as Williamson walks down the club bar, he greets his old friend with much bitterness over the fact he has saw an England team fall to defeat to the friends from North of the border.

“Before you say a word, I would have beat your lot if I was in charge of that lot” Williamson smiles in reference to the England side he has just watched.
“Haha course you would mate, how the devil are ya?” Peacemaker7 shakes Williamson by the hand and smiles full in the knowledge that coaching a national side, whatever the level, wins you respect from those around you.
“I am good thanks, dull game though, and this weather!” Williamson looks up to the cold skies with a freezing appearance despite his training jackets and warm-looking joggers.
“Fancy a cuppa?” and with it the pair walk up into the bar.

“So just how many calls was it?” Peacemaker says with a amazed chuckle.
“Too many for that time of night, I am so sorry”
“Ahhh it’s ok. I didn’t mind. All sounded loads of fun though?” he says suggestively.
“Well that is just it. I ain’t got a clue about any of it.”

Dissecting the story, piece by piece, however could complicate things much more so but with it, the pair enter into what would end up leaving them with little tolerance, energy or spare time.

“So I am going to form a club?” Williamson poses.
“Aye, it would appear so wee man. But who was the fella you had the bet with?”
“Just a fella I did my U.E.F.A ‘B’ with. Lad called Flipsix. Top man by all accounts. I had loadsa shyte all over the house when I woke. Tactics, names numbers, names of towns…” Williamson is interrupted.
“Aye you would have, you had it mapped out bit by bit when you spoke with me. First you was getting loads names together. You text me saying I have 20 or so who’d be up for it!” Peacemaker7 again laughs. But now neither are sure whether it is laughing at the thought of a drunken fella trying to form a football club after a drunken night or laughing at the thought that this idea is a genuine one.

“So how much was this bet?” Williamson, not uncommonly, looks bemused at this question from Peacemaker7. So a short phone call later and Williamson is now a wee bit worried, for want of a better Scottish word.

“£10,000 is a lot Luke, surely this isnee a real bet.”
“Well, erm, you see Flip, he’s quite keen on this sorta thing. It was his mate of a mate who dared that Gorman fella to find loadsa Gormans. He has been aching to have a go at a similar venture but it appears he’s dragged me in on it.”

The evening winds on and the conversion drifts to Chelsea, Forfar, England and Scotland. The pair sl@g off other coaches who have done poor jobs which could have been done better…by Peacemaker7 and Williamson of course. And generally the conversation moves so far away from THE BET that both guys forget the immature idea’s and discuss plans and roles for the future.

It’s a pleasant evening, with a couple of beers enjoyed and eventually the offer of staying over at Williamsons to for the evening. No guy can turn down a evening of more beer, football talk, FM2006 and Pro Evo. After all, it also means Peacemaker7 can stay for a game tomorrow evening down at the local all weather pitch.
“Ahh, the legs can’t take it much longer Luke”
“I’m sure they could do another season or two if you wanted” Williamson says with a wry smile.

retired_mjs74

New Years Eve 2004

It is 7pm and with Luke Williamson settled for the evening, nothing can interrupt his quiet, but cosey evening with the Mrs. Jonathan Woss is on the BEEB and there is no £15 entrance fee to watch it so as far as Williamson is concerned. It’s a plan.

Before the truly sh1te programmes come on however, the phone rings.
“Hello” Williamson says very slow and uninterested. After all, he’s spoke to the family, he’s done all the necessaries. So who could this be?

“Hello, I am so sorry to bother you this evening but I have been given you number by an aqaintant. I was told to call you urgently. ”

At this point, Williamson takes his confusion to a new level.
“Sorry, who gave you my number and what’s so urgent.”
“Flipsix3, he told me that the money was in place and I just needed the say so from yourself and you to sign the documents?”
“What fecking documents” Luke rants. Not usually the aggressive type off the pitch, calls like this appear all too normal for a modest Midlander coach.

“Look mate”, Williamson continues, “It’s New Year and at the minute, I am in no mood for messing about. Get in touch in a day or two and we’ll talk more then”

“No, no, no, no” begs the mystery caller, please, I am desperate. Flip will buy with your word given to me. He told me to tell you to remember the bet and remember time is ticking.”
“Oh Jesus Christ…”

retired_mjs74

The Bet, The Fears and The Money…

In 1999, a Leicestershire chap from Kirby Muxloe came into a nice cash prize. Never one too gamble on the lottery, Dave Solomon was bought a ticket as a novelty gift for leaving his job for bigger and better things.

Now don’t tell the guy who bought the ticket for him but it was a winner. Not £10,000,000 or anything. But it was enough. Just under £3.5 to be more accurate.

Now despite the begging of Kirkby Muxloe 88, Solomon decided against investing in his local side and instead invested in stocks, shares and his own pleasurable future. Three coaching courses later and much free time, Solomon, better known as Flipsix to his mates, was a U.E.F.A ‘B’ Coach boozing with Luke Williamson on a night out.

Now not one to make accusations but it was rumoured that Flip was a keen eccentric sort. Practical Jokes? Hmmm perhaps. Stupidly outrageous bets with intent on seeing them through? Definite.

On that fateful night in the build up to Christmas, it was suggested in phone calls that followed that several ‘rules’ were set for the outrageous bet. Basically, after far too many lagers, Williamson, in a Mourinho-esque style manner, boasted he WAS the finest, unclaimed Manager outside the Football League.

“Fu(k off” Flip screams in hysterics. “What makes you think you are?”
“I don’t think, I know!!!”
“Yeah yeah, prove it? You can’t. HAHA next” Flip screams. And the bouncers look over to the pi$s heads in the corner with one eye on kicking them out.
“I’ll prove it, tell me how. I will prove it all, I am the best” Williamson boasts.

Hours later, the pair on watching re-runs on Chelsea verse Man United. You know the one, Poyet brace, Sutton, Morris and Henning Berg with the Own Goal. 5-0, what a game! But still the pair are talking. Most of it is **** but still talking non the less.

“Ok, so we agreed?” asks Flip
“hang on, let’s grab another beer” Williamson utters as he walks to the kitchen.
“We’ll build a side from nothing yeah?” Flip asks.
“Yeah, easy!!!” comes the obvious answer as Williamson starts texting on his phone.
“And you have to take a side into the football league, with no money?”
“Yup!”
“And what? Say three seasons”
“Yup!”

Despite it sounding as easy as 1-2-3, on reflection, the flaws in the plan are clear for all to see. No money, in this day in age? Wages etc? Just couldn’t work. On top of that, getting a side in the Pro game in 3 seasons? First you gotta get into a position that is feesable. Not just anyone can take a club within touching distance of a football league can they?

This, however, is where Williamson was to learn he could. Millionaire Flip has, unlike Williamson, spent hours thinking of the bet, which was set at a fee of £10,ooo. He kindly re-adjusted the rules and without telling Luke, began to put the wheels in motion.

Despite his effort, call after call left him with rejected offers to take over small clubs. Ideally, Hinckley United would have given the bet some reality. Could they reach the pro game in 3 seasons? No doubt. But they were already going places and Flip could never conjure a package worth looking at for Hinckley.

So what was next was to prove the fella had imagination and guts.
“Hi, Mr Roberts, thanks for returning the call earlier” Flip begins, “So you are 100% positive that the English FA can’t reject a side even if they are from the Scottish FA and not the English” He poses.
“Well it will be difficult Mr Solomon. But a man of your wealth’s can do it!” and with it, the adventure was born.

Mike..

What... where? gimme back my cash!! :eek:

Well I'd be a fool not to say that I was looking forward to this! :thup:

retired_hern1001

\o/

Excellent opening, looking forward to more

retired_mjs74

January 4th 2005
Leicestershire, Midlands Cup Competition, 5th Round
Holmes Park, Whetstone, Leicester

With football once again the setting on a soaked Holmes Park pitch, Williamson is spectating from the small tin stand at the Leicestershire & Rutland Football HQ.

On something of a scouting mission, Williamson is keeping an eye on Michael Pilcher who is representing the Derbyshire FA side. At the age of 17, Pilcher was a commanding centre half at this level but after doing bits of work for Notts County; Pilcher could be a highly recommended name despite his late development.

As Pilcher clears up another attack from the Leicestershire side, Williamson once again receives a call.

“Mr Williamson, how are you, Mr Carter speaking, we spoke briefly New Years Eve”.
“Ahh how are you? Look I am sorry about the other evening. Stress had built up and this and that…” as he is about to continue.
“Well Mr Williamson, I respect you and will not mess around. Mr Solomon has put together an offer but says it rests on your willingness.”
“Willingness for what?” Williamson enquires.
“Willingness to take over the side. The place is there in the Conference North if you can see off a Play-Off game come July time.”
“You’ve lost me.”
“Well Mr Williamson I am owner of a Football club quite simply and we are folding at the end of the season. Finances have been poor and things are no longer working. The players can’t give up enough time you see. If you want to win, you need to be at least Semi-Pro.”

With time, Williamson learns from Mr Carter that Solomon has put an offer in for a football club and as part of the dreaded bet, he has left it on the plate for his fellow coach to take over and take the so-called gauntlet that has been laid down for him.

With the call ending, Pilcher rises high to head home from a corner and help Derbyshire see off Leicestershire 2-0 with little under 10 minutes remaining. As the rain begins to thump down somewhat heavier, Williamson leaves the car park with added interest.

manda

w00t, sounds just like me, commanding centre half!

retired_mjs74

January 7th 2005
Yew Lodge Hotel, Kegworth, ten minutes from East Midlands Airport

“I’ll put your wages in for one season, the bet of £10,000 still stands but this way, you have an opportunity to prove it!” says Flipsix3.

It’s an attractive offer of course and Williamson is more than tempted. Flip continues;
“If things are not working out after that, we’ll draw a line under it and leave it there.”

With that simple assurance, Williamson signs on the dotted line and agree’s with Flipsix that it’ll be an adventure if nothing else. As the pen finalises the deal, Williamson sits back and starts to take a sip from his cup of tea before Flip intervenes;

“Oh and the club has to be based in Fort William.” He mumbles.
“Right, where exactly is that. I know the name.”
“Scotland of course.” Flip smiles before adding “Fort William is the largest town in the west Highlands of Scotland and is the commercial centre of Lochaber, an area renowned for magnificent scenery with an important history.”
“Flip have you quoted that off a bleeding website or summat.” Williamson sternly asks.
“Well yes actually. Good wasn’t it? I can’t wait. We leave tomorrow to check things out. I knew you’d sign so I booked me and you into a hotel up there. Inverlochy Castle.” Flip looks much more enthusiastic than Williamson. “We have to play some side in May or July. Some play-off tie sort of thing. If we win, the side has the opportunity to enter the Conference North.”
“How’s that work then?”
“Well” explains Flip, “I got a lawyer to check it all out. The clubs profile is all good and that. But the SFA have no places for the coming season to apply whereas the EFA does. I did some research. Don’t worry, our application has put is in pole position. One problem though. We need a squad and the present lot who are seeing out the season aren’t really up for it anymore.”

Flip continues to explain how his lawyer used a little law he discovered when looking into the introduction of both Swansea and Cardiff into the English game. It sort of enabled clubs from Scotland and Northern Ireland to use loop holes to get into the English game, as and when the opportunity comes.

So life was going to begin with a massive game and Williamson and Flip appeared to have just months to assemble a squad good enough and willing to put their time and effort into making the club a success.

“If you are as good a manager as you suggested Luke, you can easily motivate lads to get involved.” Flip knows this will wind Luke up somewhat but with his mind games already in place, maybe he can fuel Williamson into making a dream a reality.