retired_jagades

7.5.05
Our final league game, the final league game of my first season. Its at home to Scunthorpe, a side who just about managed to stay up this year. I’m making changes, no doubt about that. To get him fit for the play-offs, Danny Smith returns to right back in place of Marshall. Ross Clarke is given a start on the right wing, while McEwen and Fitzgerald start together up front. Edwards is out in the middle and Kevin Street plays. No other changes.

Half time, and we’ve demonstrated that, given absolutely no pressure at all, we can play like Real Madrid. We’re 5-0 up. McEwen (who I probably should have played more) put us ahead inside 50 seconds. Bolt clipped a ball over the top for him to run onto, he did so, and curled a wonderful finish over the keeper and into the net from the edge of the area. Bolt also set up the next goal, 14 minutes later, for Fitzgerald. His cross caused absolute havoc, first bouncing off the post, then smacked against the bar before finally being rammed home. Scott also got the next goal. Ross Clarke squared it and from the edge of the area Fitzgerald rammed it high across the keeper and into the far top corner. Now if he could do that more often! That, incidentally, was our 100th league goal of the season. Next up was the ubiquitous Gavin Bassinder, who headed in a Bolt corner like it was second nature. Without those corners, we wouldn’t be where we are! For our 5th goal, McEwen demonstrated his class once again. Cutting in from the left, he clipped a sweet cross onto the head of the games smallest man; Kevin Street. Streety nodded it into the bottom corner.
Umm, do you think we can lose this?

We make a muck of up several good chances, but we don’t lose, and even add one more goal, a David Edwards shot, to make a grand total of 6!

That’s it then, at the end of the game, we were given a huge standing ovation, but thoughts are already turning to next week, and the impending play-off clash with Wycombe.

15.5.05
Watched the other first leg today, between Layton Orient and Boston. It finished 1-1.

16.5.05
Its been a hellish week building up to this. Wycombe Wanderers away (first leg) for the chance to go into League One. This time last year we were in the same position, except against Barnet, and with me only a tense fan, rather than half-mad manager.
This can go either way. If we’re on a good day, we can paste them, but if not, it could all go badly wrong. I know we can do it, although I feel we’re the weakest team in the play-offs by some way. If Bolt fires, we have a chance, but its scoring goals that does it, and can we score enough. Ok, we’ve scored 103 league goals, but never when it mattered, now we must score, there is no second chance. I’m happy to be away from home first, we’re always stronger at home, and I’d prefer to go there knowing what we have to do.
The plan is the same, 4-4-2, get the ball to Bolt. The team is thus: Howie, Smith, Todd, Bassinder, Briscoe, Fotheringham, Street, Ingledow, Bolt, Fitzgerald, Weatherson. Having Fotheringham back is good, although he’s only semi-fit, but I’m worried about the front two and the centre of midfield. On a good day, those 4 players look ok, but on a bad day, they can disappear without trace. We need to win today, we need to get those goals, we need to make sure any dodgy goals we let in are accounted for. We need some of that finishing from last week. Will I get it though? For my liking, too many of this team are inexperienced. Lots of this team is in its first year in pro football, let alone a play-off, and we’re facing a big, confident Wycombe who could roll straight over us. We must not let it happen.

Half time, and we’re 2-1 down. The wrong team has turned up. We’re giving the ball away, we’re sloppy, we’re slow, and we’re missing chances. Lots of chances. We took the lead on only 90 seconds. Fotheringham clipped the ball into the area, and Fitzgerald pirouetted before slamming it high over the keeper and in. Cue mass collapse. They equalize with a easy header Howie never gets too and Bassinder doesn’t deal with. Then score again when everyone leaves the ball to everyone else to clear, and Stonebridge scores a once in a lifetime left foot volley. The same old story, missed chances, mistakes, and a wonder goal. For gods sake lads, for your own sake, don’t come all this way and nause it up, for once, go out there and do something that means something! McEwen is on for Weatherson at half time.

Its no good. We lose 2-1. The second half is completely dominated by us, but we can’t score. Bassinder has a header cleared off the line, but we never look like a real threat through the middle. Fitzgerald isn’t up to it running with the ball. I’m so disappointed, I thought that today of all days, we might overcome the problems, we might do things right. But no. It’s the same old story, the way we’ve played out games so many times, the reason we’re in the play-offs instead of winning the title. Against the sides around us we can’t score and do just enough to lose.
Although this result can be overturned at Gay Meadow, I don’t think we will. We’re never going to score enough, we’re all huff and puff, and not enough end product.

retired_jagades

19.5.05
Tonight, in front of a completely full Gay Meadow, we will do or die. Tonight we have to keep a clean sheet and score two goals. That is the ask. We know who we will face, as Boston won 4-0 last night. Now we have to be big enough to face them. We can do it tonight. We have scored enough goals to beat anyone. We can score enough. We can beat anyone. Tonight, we must prove it. That, it seems is the hard part, actually achieving something. It has always been the same at this club, always talk, always dreams, but when it comes to it, no product. Lose tonight and we’ll be made out as unlucky losers, who did well to even get here. That would drive me mad. Winning this game comfortably is the only option open.
I don’t know what to do for the best. Suffering immensely from injury’s and a 50 game season, Fotheringham is barely fit. I don’t want to do it, but I have to. Street moves to the right, and the ridiculously young Dave Edwards comes into midfield. Fotheringham will be on the bench, he can come on and give us 20 minutes if we need him. I realize now I was probably a bit too hasty in selling people, and a bit too slow in replacing them. That is going to cost us now.
We must attack!

Half time, and its 0-0. I try to gear them up, you’re the only side in it I tell them, but I privately think we’re not going to do it. I think the lads think the same. Their keeper has pulled off two fantastic saves from Bassinder, and they’re just too strong. They have a mental block over us. All we can do is go for it. Edwards off, Fotheringham on.

In the second half, I become more and more convinced that we’re not going to do it, and when, with 10 minutes left, Bolt misses a simple header, I’m ready to accept defeat as graciously as possible. Gerry though, has a plan. Off comes Danny Smith, and on goes Dave McEwen to send us to 3-4-3. With wingbacks.
With 4 minutes left, we get a chance. Lee Briscoe sweeps the ball out to the right. Fotheringham, out on his feet, doesn’t get to it, but does put their defender under enough pressure to make him misjudge his sideways header. A yard quicker than their centre half, Weatherson is onto it. Through, one on one. The goalie rushes out, filling the space big Pete has to aim at. With time running out, he slides it towards the far post. I can see right behind the ball. Wide? The post? Or in? Please, please go in. It rolls, slower and slower before finally striking the post… and trickling into the back of the net. The place explodes, as fans rush onto the pitch, burying the team (don’t get injured for gods sake), and the ref, sensing his authority countermanded, wisely blows for time.

We did it!! We won!! But only just. This was sweet justice I suppose, but I can’t help but feel they deserved it more. Emotions are running so high, everyone is celebrating, but myself and the team are simply exhausted. I don’t know how we did that, but somehow, we did. I suspect we won’t get much sleep tonight.

One huge, huge blow. Just before the goal, taking a goal kick, Scott Howie slipped. He’s pulled a muscle, and he’ll be out for the foreseeable future. This is not good.

28.5.05
Its Saturday afternoon, and we’ve left Shrewsbury for Cardiff, to do absolutely nothing in preparation for Monday’s final V Boston. We have a walk by the river, and then go watch the F.A Cup final, which Chelsea, the premiership champions, win 1-0.

30.5.05
The Millennium Stadium rises around us as far as the eye can see. Our fans have half of the lower tier, and they’ve filled it completely, a sea of blue and amber. Where were these in those 3-0 away defeats? The players look a bit overawed, and so am I! The changing rooms are bigger than our main stand, and they’re mostly silent. Lee Briscoe takes charge, he’s not the captain, but he’s an influential member of the team. He’s been there, seen it, and done it. Whatever ‘there’ and ‘it’ are. The stadium almost shakes with the rumbling of the crowd outside. Vague bits of it drift down the tunnel to my players, who look even more nervous then the Boston mob.
They run out into the mass of colour rising away, this is it, the chance, the big one, and we have to win!
The team, decided in front of the lads yesterday, is thus: Young Petter Bjorkli is in goal (god help him), with a back 4 of Smith, Bassinder, Todd and Briscoe in front of him. Fotheringham, who is fit enough, is on the right, Street and Ingledow in the middle, with Bolt on the left. Weatherson and Fitzgerald up front.

Half time, and its 0-0. We’ve played them off the park. You can call me repetitive, but I don’t care. After 5 minutes, Kevin Street hit the post, and ever since then, we’ve destroyed them. We’re bossing the game, but I can just see it, one chance, and they’ll have scored. We must put the ball in their net, we must get a goal, and we must win! We’ve come too far lads.

Its going to extra time. The chances we’ve missed have been incredible. We’ve played so well, but, despite hitting the post again, we can’t score. There is only one team who deserves to win this, and its us. We must make sure justice is done. McEwen is on for Weatherson. Peter has done nothing wrong, but we need fresh legs.

Its half time in extra time. I send one message out to the players. Be solid. We’re 1-0 up. A absolutely sensational Bolt run led to him launching a fantastic 25 yard shot at goal. Their keeper tipped it over. Fotheringham, calm as always, placed the ball down, and whipped in a corner. Coming off his man, Gavin Bassinder flicked his head, and glanced the ball into the corner. Half the place goes wild, Gerry nearly knocks himself out on the dugout, and I find myself half on the pitch in celebration. Now, we have a job to do. For the next 15 teenyweeny minutes, all we have to do is keep a clean sheet, and we’ll be in the second division. Or whatever it is. I make one change, with the slightly tougher minded Dave Edwards coming on for George Fotheringham. The tension at this moment is absolutely incredible.

I cannot believe this. We went 2-0 up through another Gavin Bassinder header. And they got back. Extra time went on and on, into 7 minutes of extra time! 7 bloody minutes! In that time, they got two crosses in, and equalized. I cannot believe it. None of us can believe it. Now, after having 30 shots to their 4, and having led 2-0, we have to take penalties. Its all with them now, they have the momentum.

It’s a war of attrition, which I have trouble watching. Gavin Bassinder takes our first, and puts us ahead. They equalize. McEwen is next, and again scores. They equalize. Bolt steps up, and slams a great penalty high into the net. They equalize. Now Jason Lee, the scorer of their equalizer, comes up. He’s smiling, he looks confident. Bjorkli looks very small. Lee steps up, and shoots straight and true. Bjorkli gets to the ball, and punches it out. If Dave Edwards scores, we win. He’s 19, and he’s not the man I would want taking this. He comes up, and hits it straight at their keeper. I nearly collapse. They score their next. So do we, with Lee Briscoe bending in a lovely left footed effort. Now, it’s the last pen. Time up. If Pitt fails to score, we win. The game is, literally, up. It all comes down to this kick by a player I don’t even own. All those 103 goals, all those games, all those miles on the road, all come down to this moment. The noise is deafening, overwhelming. Bjorkli focuses in on the ball as Gerry has told him so many times. ‘Look at the ball, that ball is your universe….’ Pitt steps up, and drills it. Bjorkli moves instantly, flies to his left, and gets his fingertips to it, diverting the ball around the post. The place explodes, everyone Shrewsbury comes pouring onto the pitch and descends into a huge group pile on in front of our fans, who have gone completely ballistic. ‘Rockin’ All Over the World’ blares out across the ground, and everyone joins in, Champaign explodes around us, and we run about shaking hands, dancing with each other, before being dragged over for the ceremony.
Chris Todd takes the cup, and lifts it above his head. Success at last!

The night is very long and very loud…

retired_kaynar99

Congratualtions!!!

Look forward to reading how you get on in League One.

retired_jagades

Thanks :thup:

1.6.05

It was the P.F.A Dinner tonight, and although we were so far back from the stage we might well have been in a different room, the evening was highlighted with my winning the League Two Manager of the Year.

Chuffed to get that, it puts the cherry on the cake. I’ve done ok this year, I think bringing in the players from non-league has got it me.



To be honest, we’ve been lucky. If we hadn’t been so good from corners, and if we hadn’t had Danny Bolt, we wouldn’t have got near where we are. We’ve scored a lot of goals, but we’ve missed a lot of opportunities and wherever we could, we’ve made it hard for ourselves.



14.6.05

The players are all off now. But two of them have still be transferred out. Jamie Tolley, frozen out these last few matches, has gone to Whitby for £6k, and flawed attacking midfielder Adriano Rigoglosio has signed for Rochdale for £3k. Sad to see Tolley go, as he’s been here since he was a kid, and was long expected to move up the divisions. Sadly, it wasn’t to be.

Adriano hasn’t done a lot for us. We brought him as back up when he preferred to be the centre of the universe. Not going to happen. He’ll do ok there, as long as they play him. Personally, I always found him hard to get on with, especially when out of the team, and putting him in the team was hard, because although I like talent, which he had, he either never seemed to use it, or wasn’t sure of which position to use it. He didn’t work hard enough to be a midfield player, and wasn’t quick enough to be a forward.



Time for a review of the season.



This season, we played in 56 competitive matches, of which we won 26, drew 13, and lost 17. In those games we scored 113 goals, and conceded 83.



Our League Two record, stands like this: Played 46, won 22, Drawn 10, Lost 14, Scored 103, conceded 73, Goal Difference +30, leaving us with 76 points and a 4th placed finish. I’m pretty happy with that, although the goals against is way too high. Mansfield and Macclesfield, both relegated, only let in 7 and 10 goals more than that respectively.



In terms of league stats, we did well. Our average attendance was 2nd best in the league at 6002, we scored the most from corners by a huge margin, 27, 5 goals from IFK’s, and only 2 from direct efforts. Unfortunately, we also came second in yellow cards, with 119, and 7th in red cards, with 8. Macclesfield got a incredible 18!

Our players also achieved things on the league stage. Danny Bolt was rated the highest average rated player, at 8.35, and Gavin Bassinder and Chris Todd also made it into the top 5, with 7.55 and 7.54 respectively. Scott Howie was 3rd in the relevant league with 47 appearances, but the highest we could manage in goals was 14th for Gavin Bassinder’s 16. A tribute to my always on about getting the ball wide was the assist stats, Bolt top on 25 assists, and Fotheringham second on 19. Unfortunately Bolt also claimed another record, with 20 yellow cards, which will see him miss the first game of next season.



Club statistics:

Appearances: Scott Howie 54, Lee Briscoe 53, Danny Bolt 47, Chris Todd 43 and George Fotheringham 41.

Goals: Scott Fitzgerald 18, Gavin Bassinder, 16, Danny Bolt, 12 Simon Parke 11 and Chris Todd 11. Two centre halves and no one over 20!



As far as player of the year is concerned, I can see it being only one man. Danny Bolt, having arrived on a free transfer, is now one of our biggest assets. There hasn’t been a full back he hasn’t made a fool of, and while he’s not all he could be with his skill (which is why he’s playing in this league), he does the job I want him to excellently, which is what I said I wanted at the start of the season. He’s scored goals, although not as many as he could have.

There have been a few players like him, Chris Todd came in on a free transfer, and has captained us to this promotion, being our best defender as he has. Lee Briscoe has been steady, and I know how lucky we were to find a player of his class to play more than 40 games for us. In these last few games Jamie Ingledow has done it for us, as has George Fotheringham, as good a player as League Two has ever seen probably, despite arriving on a free transfer. I have naused some things up. I should probably have played the far more talented Dave McEwen when I kept sticking with Weatherson and Parke, and I should have acted to replace Chris O’Brien, Keith Andrews and Jamie Tolley.

In the end I’ve been lucky, and I know it. We let too many goals in, and generally weren’t good enough to go up automatically, although looking back, it wouldn’t have needed too many results to go differently. I’ve been lucky with players. I sold off a lot of proven League Two type players and replaced them with free transfers or worse, and its only just worked. People like Lee Marshall and Jamie Ingledow were no better (and probably a bit worse) than the people they replaced, but I took the gamble to try and bring wages down and it has worked to a certain extent. Whilst I never actually sad I wanted to go up, it was my private goal for the team and I knew that we just needed to scrape it through. Now we’re up I have the money and the clout to turn this club into what I want it to be, rather than always scrapping about in the bottom division. I’ve rode my luck and I’m glad for it.

I need new players and I know that too. Lots of this bargain squad will have to go be replaced by more talented individuals. The harsh reality of football.



At the end of the season, more than a week ago now I suppose, I did as I did at Ludlow, and had a individual meeting with my first team to go over their contribution this year, and what, if anything is happening for next season. Its all below.



Scott Howie: Big Scott has been good for us this year. He’s a solid keeper at this level, but with his clock ticking past 34 soon, he knows he isn’t going to be behind my defense for long this coming season. I have plans (and permission to) bring in Derby’s Andy Oakes, so we tell Scott we may be looking for a new club for him. He’s ok with that.



Petter Bjorkli: I suppose he’ll go down in history as the man who stopped those two pens for us, and while Petter is talented I feel he’s not instinctively happy here. I tell him we’re more than happy with him, but if his problems should continue, we won’t have a problem helping him out.



Gavin Bassinder: Ahh big Gavin, a refreshing change from a world where defenders have to be midfielders. Get the boot behind the ball or use your head. At either end. He has 16 goals from 29 games, which is actually a better record than my centre forwards! His contract has another year to run, and while we can’t guarantee him first team football every week, we suggest he sticks around.



Joe Dolan: At this level, Joe should be about as good as it gets, but when he’s played for us, I’ve usually been disappointed. We tell him that central defense is a hugely important position next season, and that while he will get his chance, he has to make the most of it to stay in the team. He nods. We’ll see.



Christopher Todd: 23 year old Chris has been one of my better signings. He’s been solid for us whenever he’s played, and led the side well into the bargain. There is potential for him to develop, and his contract has 2 years to run, so he’s going nowhere. We thank him for his contribution this year.



Lee Briscoe: 29 year old Lee has been very consistent in an inconsistent team. Not spectacular, he’s been solid, and that’s good. The other defenders have been able to take a bearing off him and we’ve also benefited going forward from his intelligent use of the ball. Unless someone seriously better comes along, he’ll keep his spot for next year.



Trevor Challis: Despite being part of the squad when I arrived, I’ve had no problems with Trevor this season. Whenever he’s played, he’s done fine. Many moons ago, he played in England U21’s at the same time as Briscoe. Lee has since spent time in the first division whilst Trevor dropped down here. The difference? I think it’s a little bit of composure and use of the ball. All that said, I tell Trev that at his age (29) he needs to get that last decent contract somewhere, so we’ll be looking for a club for him.



Sergei Baltacha: When big Sergei has played, he’s done ok, but unfortunately for him, that hasn’t been enough. His contract is up, and we’re going to release him we tell him. He doesn’t look too worried, he was big mates with Chris O’Brien, and that bust up soured him significantly.



Jamie Ingledow: Another who’s contract is up, Jamie has actually done quite well for us in the games he’s played this year. Unfortunatly, the quality of player coming in will see him released. It’s a genuine disappointment, but he bears it well. He was magnificent in the play-off final, and to be in pro football for such a brief time and then to ditch him is harsh, but I have to be ruthless. I am confident though, he’ll find another league club. The attitude is there.



Dave Edwards: Dave is the main reason I can be so sure about releasing Jamie. The lad, played sporadically this season, can become a great lower league midfield player if he carries on. Whenever he’s played this season he’s impressed and if he carries on, then we’ll have a useful player.



George Fotheringham: I think bringing George to the club was a masterstroke. He’s been class all year, and his ability to put the ball on a sixpence should have been used more by our wasteful forwards. He’ll keep his place.



Ross Clarke: Looked good whenever the 18 year old has played, so I have high hopes of him continuing to impress next year.



Danny Bolt: What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Player of the year for definite. Thing is though, he has to carry on. He has to be the same effective player for us in League One. He assures me that’s no problem.



Kevin Street: Yet another relic of the Quinn era I’ve been quite happy to keep. He’s done a excellent job for us whenever and wherever he’s played. His contract is also up, and with the quality of players I’m bringing in, I think we’ll lose Kevin, but it’s a huge thanks for the job he’s done. He’s a higher class of League Two midfielder.



Dave McEwen: Dave sits down rightly a bit annoyed. He’s a class player and he’s hardly played. I concur, and explain that when he has played a few not-missed-by-much chances converted would have seen him in the team for a far longer period. He is quality player, and while he’ll still be backup, we tell him we want him here for next year.



Simon Parke: Another free transfer, Simon has done very well for us this year I feel. He’s scored some good goals, including that memorable 4 in one match, and been a very useful bloke to have around. He ends the meeting abruptly by telling us he’s retiring. He’s 33 and he’s calling it a day. He thanks us for a pleasant twilight to his career and a nice medal to take home, and we thank him in turn for being such a good pro and making the most of this season.



Peter Weatherson: Peter should be everything at this level. Big, strong, quick, he has the lot, but has a strange problem actually finishing. In a way going up won’t be good for him, because he’ll have to adapt to another set of defenders, but if he can do it, play 35 games and finish on 15/20 goals, he’ll have done fine.



Scott Fitzgerald: Scott has done ok this season, but at the same time has managed to underachieve. He’s a good player at this level, a 15 goal certainty, and when you have other players around him who are scoring as well that’s fine. On the down side, I don’t feel his overall contribution is what it could be, and while he’s scored some blinding goals, he’s also been the main culprit in missing far more than he converts. There are good players in his position coming in we tell him. He will have to score serious goals to stay in the team.



There you are then, a mottly crew, and not good enough for League One. The rebuilding must begin!







20.6.05

The new season is upon us for the professional clubs! Our fixtures were announced today, and we start with a winnable tie at home to Oldham, before playing Plymouth, who came down, at home again.

Also, I had a meeting with the board this morning, during which we discussed how best to take the club forward. They said it needed to stay in the league and be on a even footing, and I said that the training facilites were looking a bit worn, and with the quality of the young players I’m bringing in, it would be worth the money in investment. They concurred.

They then did me a big favor by not taking all the Liverpool money, instead giving me £700,000 to spend this year. While I won’t need that, it does give me a license to bring in whoever I need without worrying.



In the evening, it’s the awards dinner, where Danny Bolt wins the whole lot. Except best defender which goes to Todd.



Although the players are home, they won’t begin training for another week or so.



21.6.05

My first signing of the new season. Adam Proudlock has signed for us from Sheffield Wednesday for a bargain £10k. He’s primarily a wide right midfield player, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind reverting to forward if we needed him.

Pleased to have him, and the fans seem happy to. He’s a name they know from Wolves, and they see it as a sign of the times I think.



23.6.05

2 players out today, with Sergei Baltacha released, and Lee Marshall sold to Layton Orient for £4000. He’ll do a good solid job.



25.6.05

Sorted out some friendly’s today, and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of Championship clubs willing to take us on.



Also, two more players sold. Trevor Challis has gone to Tamworth for £2000, and Stuart Whitehead has gone to Northwich for free.



Negotiations are under way with a number of class players. If most of my targets come off, we’re going to have a useful side here.



27.6.05

Big news today. I received a call this morning from , the manager of Swindon Town. It’s a huge bid for Danny Bolt, in excess of £250,000. There is no way we can turn it down, and I ring Danny immediately. His response is while he’s not hankering after leaving, he wouldn’t say no. My position is identical. Losing him would put a hole in the side, but with the money, we could bring in another class player or two.

retired_carlos.jango71

Congrats on getting promotion dude :thup: I'm surprised you're considering selling Bolt though :eek:

retired_jagades

Thanks :thup: So am i to be honest, but i'm greedy for the money. Don't get offered that every day.

1.7.05
The day clubs go into overdrive. Today is the reopening of the International transfer window, and with it the time that any players hoping to utilize the bosman system get released.
We’ve not been idle, and we’ve signed a host of class players, which were presented to the media today.

Andy Oakes: Goalkeeper was a position I felt I needed to reinforce, and the 28 year old fills it perfectly. He’s a big, tough, and very competent professional goalkeeper. Just who we need playing behind our back 4. It’s a free transfer.

Alaeddine Yahia: We’ve paid Southampton £50k for the 23 year old Tunisian international. He’s a quick and uncompromising DRC, who will do us a very solid job at this level.

Tomas Backman: Tomas is a absolutely class Swedish DLC we’ve signed for Djurgarden’s IF on a free transfer. The 25 year old is a thinking mans defender, with the ability to appear suddenly and clear the ball. He reads the game excellently and has excellent distribution. Unfortunately, he’s maybe not as tough as he could be, so full back is probably a better position for him. We’ve paid £20k for his services.

Joachim Lantz: I think paying £4k for the 28 year old Swedish DC’s services has been a neat move. He was going nowhere at Kalmar, so I’ve brought him in. His main asset is one we’ve missed a little bit in the centre of defense, and that’s pace.

Scott Wilson: Another great signing. 28 year old Scott, formerly a Scottish U21 international, has joined us from Dunfermline for £8000. He’s a man mountain of a player, but also reasonably good on the ball. He’s a powerful presence, who knows how to defend and does so without compromise. Pleased to have him.

Keith Andrews: We had Keith on loan last year, and while not setting the world on fire, I feel he did enough to convince me he’s a very useful player at this level. The 23 year old Irishman may not play every game, but I still think he’ll be a decent chap to have around, especially as we got him on a free transfer from Wolves.

Kenny Lunt: A real masterstroke this one. Lots of clubs were interested in the dynamic and skilful midfield player as his Crewe contract ran out, but the 25 year old signed for us instead. He can play anywhere across midfield, take corners, and basically cause general havoc among opposition players. He’s a big coup, and should do excellently for us this season.

Keith Kelly: Another bargain deal. A scout of mine picked up 22 year old Keith’s name while on holiday in Jamaica, where he was playing for Arnett Gardens. He went to watch the wide right midfielder, and recommended him. He’s come in on a free transfer, after his 6 international caps got him a work permit. Good prospect.

Gary Dempsey: The 24 year old AMC cost us £16k from Dunfermline. He was a Irish U21 before falling away slightly. Nevertheless, he’s a classy player, and his left foot is as good as any. He can pick a pass excellently, or score goals from free kicks and long distance positions. A hard worker into the bargain.

Stephen Simmons: 23 year old AMC has cost us £20,000 from Hearts in Scotland. He’s a right footed version of Dempsey, although his qualities differ in that he’s much more about hard work than classy passing. A good player though, and one I hope can really push on and improve while with us. Normally, we wouldn’t have had the money for him, but our recent ahem windfall has allowed us to fill one position with two players.

Tom McManus: I chased long and hard to get the 24 year old former Scottish U21 international from Hibs. Playing for Boston last season he scored nearly 20 goals, including two against us while playing wide right midfield. Tom, who can either play there, through the middle, or up front, has joined us for £7000.

Babis Stefanidis: Welcome to our record signing! 24 year old Babis has signed for us from Brondby for a record £80k. He’s a Swedish wide right attacking midfielder/forward with terrific skill and technique who has played numerous times for Sweden U21’s and scored quite a few goals. I’m so pleased to have Babis, especially after the wrangling I had getting him here. He’s a terrific player though, and I think his signing will be a key one.

George Ndah: 30 year old George has signed for us on a free transfer from Wolves. Unfortunately, he has a injury which will keep him out until at least the new year, which is a shame because he’s a proven Championship standard player with a lovely left foot.

Paul Di Giacomo: This 23 year old Scottish AM/F has cost us only £7k from Kilmarnock. He’s a lovely little player, with two great feet and a eye for both a pass and a goal. I think we’ll see good things from Paul.

Eirik Hoseth: Another Scandinavian import, 28 year old Norwegian SC Hoseth has been brought in from Aalesund. He’s a great player, with terrific skill, good physical abilities and a good finish to boot. He has a bit of everything, and if we can maximize his skills, he’ll be good for us.

There’s the new lads then, some of them quality, some of them less so, but all of them able to do the job I will assign them. In general, they’re good signings, and will do well for us.

Also today, I said goodbye to all the old staff of the club. All their contracts ran out today, and we’re not keeping on with them. I’ll bring in my own people, and make the club completely cosford-ised. Of course, this means that we’re low on staff, but all through last season I’ve been sniffing out potential young coaches, so I have plans for a replacement.
Also on the agenda was meeting the lads from our centre of excellence who have done well enough to get onto the next step of the ladder, which is our youth team. A couple of them, striker Gavin Johnson in particular, look excellent.

2.7.05
Another new signing today, with Spanish striker Ramon Pereira coming in on a free from Hearts in Scotland. The 26 year old is a class act, being good with the ball at his feet and with it in the air. He jumps well, isn’t slow and has good shooting technique.

Our first friendly, with Welsh non-league team Ton Petre away.

After only 12 minutes, Scott Wilson is back off down the tunnel having been sent off for dissent and then a silly trip. I’m livid, and follow him off down the tunnel to give him a good rollocking. By half time, we’re 2-0 down.
I rescue it, and send on Danny Bolt to work his magic, and it has results as he scores one and rolls Weatherson in to score with a delightful cheeky chip.

5.7.05
Welshpool in our next friendly.

It finishes an interesting 4-4 draw. Tom McManus scores a hattrick and Bolt a penalty to cancel out some very dodgy goals from our points of view. This defense would appear to need some work.

7.7.05
Another new player today, with us paying £6000 to bring in Crewe’s left back Anthony Tonkin. He’s a very competent 25 year old who can play orthodox left back or higher up if need be. He’s quite skillful and good on the ball, but a useful defender also.

retired_jagades

8.7.05
Porthmadoc away for our next friendly.

This is an easy 5-1 win, with Dempsey, Lantz, Giacomo, Pereira and Tonkin scoring the goals.

9.7.05
My coaching staff was overhauled today, with new faces coming in! 37 year old Steve Palmer has been signed on first team duties. The superb 36 year old former Northern Ireland international Mark O’Neill is brought in for the youth team, as has 33 year old Scott Middlemass. Also for the youth side, as Mark O’Neill will also be doing first team duties, recently retired Ipswich town midfielder Jim Magilton has signed on. Also, we’ve taken a slight gamble on 24 year old former welsh internatial Matthew Jones, who had to retire through injury. I suspect because he’s not much older, he gets on well with most of our youth team players. Also in is Dean Blackwell, another recently retired player at only 35. Another on who’ll be working with both first and youth team.

Finally for coaches is Shaun Bartlett. The former Charlton player retired last year, and has since signed for us as our new goalkeeping coach.

I introduce them to the press, and then take them up to my office. Later, I’ll introduce them to the players, but first, we have a long meeting and go through both their duties and their ideas for the club. We agree that Shaun Bartlett, who is quite good at the old PR thing will do a bit for the community side as well, him being a big name.

Also in today are former Bournemouth centre back Karl Broadhurst and Wrexham winger Carlos Edwards, both on trial, although the chances of them getting contracts are quite slim.

10.7.05
A bit of news to send a shudder through every Shrewsbury town fan, and provoke scathing reaction in the press. Today a transfer was completed, that of Danny Bolt to our league one rivals Swindon Town.
I think I have the best part of the deal. For this last year Danny has been on about £200 a week, the 2nd lowest in our first team. So we’ve spent what, £10,000 on his wages and nothing on bringing him to the club. We’ve made a quarter of a million pounds profit. He was hankering after a new contract, and much more money than I was prepared to pay him. In 6 months time, he’ll turn 30 years old, if he was 18, I wouldn’t have done it.
Ok, he was the main reason we got up last year. He all but won us the final by himself, and certainly his corners will be well missed, as will his incredible skill. His ability to beat people is Premiership standard, its just other parts of his game that are lacking. He’ll go to Swindon and do fantastically for a few years, before dropping out the game. We’ve made a stinking profit and written off all this years transfer spending to boot.
Of course the fans see this as a massive mistake, and it may well be in the short term, but there is no way I was turning this deal down.

Also today, we have Newtown away in a friendly.

We win 3-1, a dodgy defensive performance made up for by goals from Hoseth, McEwen and Pereira.

11.7.05
I think I upset the fans again. Today I completed the outward transfer of 18 goal top scorer Scott Fitzgerald to Brentford for £50k. Once again, we make a huge profit on our initial outlay. I can understand people saying about him being a good player and all, but he’s not that good, and with us bringing in McManus, Hoseth, Pereira, Stefanidis and others he wasn’t going to play many games. I feel it’s a good deal.

retired_jagades

16.7.05
Our first home friendly, with Preston tonight. A chance for us to get some practice against a useful team and for our fans to see some of our new signings.

We lose 2-1 and despite it only being a friendly, I’m not happy. Their first goal is a swift move, but Lantz is completely asleep to block out the space their striker uses to score, and then he’s completely oblivious to the threat of a through ball as their striker runs onto it and scores again.
Our goal is good, Lunt sprays it out to Fotheringham, who is playing on the left, and he crosses for Hoseth to score.
We played some nice stuff, but all the 50 yard passes in the world won’t win you games. We have to tighten up and become a real team.

Two bits of bad news today, with both Scott Wilson and Tomas Backman being ruled out for just under a month with various injuries. Damn!

20.7.05
Bognor Regis away today, in a game designed to improve organization and team play.

It’s a good 3-0 win, and whilst defensive problems are still there we seem to have a good attacking thing going. The very classy Pereira, who scored with a lovely curling finish, seems to be the target man with good feet I’ve been hoping for, whilst Stefanidis’ driving runs from the right cause havoc. He’s a bit of a kick and run player, but he has pace and his cross for Kenny Lunt’s second goal (the first a Ajax like move started and finished by himself), was excellent.

26.7.05
A new player, and possibly a Bolt replacement. Ivar Valo is a 22 year old left sided Norweigan forward we’ve signed from Rorvik for £4k. He’s not a brilliant player, but its what he can do that interests me. Like Bolt he has a good left foot and the ability to go by people. He’s actually two footed, can take corners well, and for the money we’ve paid, he’s a good buy.
Also today, a transfer out, as we sold Kevin Street, who could have gone on a free, to Cambridge for £3k. He’s a good player at this level, but there’s too many ahead of him this year. He did excellently last year though.

30.7.05
Our final friendly, at home to Championship side West Ham.

It’s a really good end to end game, with some excellent football played. Its improved still further by us winning it 3-1, with goals from Hoseth, Pereira and Lantz. We looked a bit shaky at the back again, but did pretty well.

One big blow though, as new signing Ivar Valo has been ruled out for 3 weeks with a shoulder injury. Is that fair?

retired_jagades

6.8.05
Today, we cease messing about, and begin the real work of League One. We’ve been given odds of 50-1 for the title, have a tenner? I would.

The game is at home to Oldham, and the entire place will be crammed full to see us play in the old second division for the first time since 1995. It’s a tense day. The team, which I decided on midweek, is thus: Andy Oakes is in goal, with a injury ravaged back 4 of Danny Smith, Yahia, Lantz and Tonkin in front of him. In midfield, right to left, are George Fotheringham, Kenny Lunt, who will be club captain this year, Keith Andrews and on the left, an unfamiliar position, George Fotheringham. Up front will be Ramon Pereira and Erick Hoseth. The team we face is a good one, but these players can deal with them, even though we’re probably 4 players off where I’d like to be. It’ll mostly go down the right today, with Stefanidis, who’ll try and cross for the two strikers and the forward running Lunt to get onto.

Half time, and its 0-0. We’ve had the better of it, and could well be ahead, but their keeper has made some good saves. We’re doing fine, but we could be troubling them more, especially up front. The game is there for us to take, but we must ensure that we take it, rather than cock this up as we could well do.

It finishes 0-0. We nearly cock it up by giving them several chances and Keith Andrews’ big mouth nearly gets him sent off, but apart from that. We did ok going forward, but our strikers didn’t really put themselves about enough, and at times the delivery from Stefanidis was poor, but I feel we competed well and we could so easily have won today. On another day, we well might.

10.8.05
Another home game this Tuesday night. We’ve got Plymouth, a solid outfit relegated from the Championship last year. I make 2 changes in an effort to get my full and undiluted first team onto the park. The hitherto injured Scott Wilson and Tomas Backman are now fit, and replace Yahia and Tonkin respectively.
These home games are important, not only to pick up points, but also to please our supporters. With our increased wage bill this year, we need them, and they’re unbelievable fickle in these parts, in this stadium every week. Thus, I ensure we put ourselves well in the public image, signing autographs a bit before a match, having lots of banter with the crowd and mascots, and always appearing in the players bar after a match, whichever way 5 goals may have gone.
To this end as well, every month myself, the chairman, and whoever my captain is at the time have a forum with all the fans who can get in the bar, and answer their questions on the website. Although what most of them know about football could be written on the side of a eggcup, we need to keep them sweet, and sometimes they give us good ideas, and let us know of the little things that aggravate their S.T.F.C experience. The sort of things that before I arrived would have either not been noticed or considered irrelevant or too much bother. Of course, we have a general manager and things to deal with all this, but he’s a person I can’t sack, and as I don’t think he does his job well, it falls to me to lean on the groundsman to repaint the gents or other such things. More important than all of this, they pay my wages. For this season, we’ve glitzed up a bit. I demanded that some of the money was spent on basic stadium improvements. New paint everywhere, better catering (notoriously shocking here) and a brand new P.A system, as well as a new computer system in-house to ensure data is moved around quickly, and alleviates all the problems we have with ticket distribution sometimes. Common sense is in short supply around here. Our logo is splashed everywhere, the stewards have been given P.R training, the program is new and genuinely readable, and just things like hanging signs straight on walls has given the place a rather nicer image. Irrelevant? Maybe. Although Gay Meadow will probably have to be knocked down sooner rather than later, I want it nice while I’m here, and I can genuinely trot out the age old adage of ‘I’m a fan too!’, because I was, and I was always annoyed with how the place appeared to be run. We run out to the ubiquitous ‘thunderbirds’ theme, preceded by ‘The 1812 Overture’, and I’m telling ya, that sure ain’t Busted sonny! At a night match like tonight’s, with mist off the adjacent river low around the tall birch trees the enclose the ground on one side, the high technical collage and its grounds on the other, and a looming railway embankment behind one goal, it all creates quite an atmosphere.

Half time, and its 0-0. We’ve done ok, and this game could go either way.

We’ve won it! It’s a tough defensive battle for long periods, but on the break, which is where our two goals are scored, our quality shows. On 60 minutes, the impressive Wilson wins a header, which falls to Stefanidis. His 50 yard ball over the top is absolutely perfect, and Pereira runs onto it before slotting a lovely classy finish into the bottom corner.
Our second goal is a fantastic Ajax like effort. A quick interchange of passing from Lunt, Andrews, the irrepressibly classy Backman, Pereira and McManus combine in the centre of the park to put Briscoe, on for Fotheringham as sub, away up the left side. He cuts in, and clips a lovely cross to the far post where Stefanidis steams in to drive the ball home into the far corner. It’s a wonderfully worked goal, lovely slick passing, and reminds you why good footballers are the key, even if they don’t run about so much.
We should have a 3rd. McManus, on as a sub, picks up Lunts pass and drives into the area. His shot is palmed away by the keeper, but only to Briscoe, who somehow hits the post with the goal at his mercy.
We have to defend plenty, and they miss plenty of chances, but on the whole, I’m a very pleased man!


13.8.05
A tough first away game today, with us traveling down to Milton Keynes to play MK Dons. I make one change. Partly to be more defensive, and secondly to take pity on poor George Fotheringham, I’ve dropped him, and put Lee Briscoe wide on the left. He won’t beat many, but he’s a classy player. We can win this today, and I have an inkling we may just nick it. It also gives me a good chance to have a look at Chelsea midfielder Alexis Nicolas, who we may be making a bid for. He’s on loan here.

I haven’t been looking at Nicolas, for the simple reason he’s injured. Sack that scout! This slight blow has been compensated for by leading 2-0. On only 4 minutes, Hoseth won us a free kick, which Kenny Lunt stepped up, and bent right footed around the wall, off the post and in.
We’ve been lucky. We’re giving the ball away far too much, they’ve hit the post, and the lively McLeod up front is keeping both slightly terrified centre halves occupied. Really, we need another goal, which we are capable of getting (Hoseth has had two great chances, one he shot straight at the keeper, the other a great save), but also need to remain solid at the back. Wilson appeals for more midfield help so he can concentrate on McLeod, and Pereira asks for better passes forward. I just tell them, whoever they pass to, make sure the ball gets there.

The second half is a very tense affair for us, which goes well in some areas, but in others disappoints me slightly. I am disappointed by the chances we miss, not just clear cut shots, but the times when we have a chance to really spread the play and get at what I think is a very negative MK side, we don’t, and overplay, before losing the ball. There were several times when, in their area, it needed a shot, but instead we tried to pass, and it was cleared. We pass the ball well, but not quick enough. It takes us longer to move the ball on than it does for them to catch us and win the ball. I’m disappointed by Hoseth, whose approach play is good, but in front of goal he seizes up, and misses chance after chance. This gets worse as the game goes on.
On the up side, I’m very, very pleased to win 1-0! It’s a very professional away performance, and it was just as I intended. Although they have a lot of the play, and miss chances like they’re copying us, they only actually muster one shot at Andy Oakes, who returns to the dressing room without a spot of mud on him and whistling ‘Its raining men’. Loneliness does things to a man. The back 4 was reasonably solid too. Wilson looks like the big, confident and intelligent defender we could have done with last year, Lantz knows how to get stuck in, whilst Danny Smith does his job with ever increasing efficiency, and Tomas Backman continues to demonstrate a sweet left foot, a engine tuned to BMW standards and a composure and time on the ball which steadies all around him.
Its not all rosy glow, but it’s a more than useful 3 points.

retired_jagades

20.8.05
Looking to continue a reasonable start to the season, we have Peterborough away this afternoon. I can finally put my preferred 11 out, with Ivar Valo coming onto the left side of midfield for the first time. We can win here today to, but we must ensure that we do the same things right as we did last weekend.

Half time, and we’re 2-1 down. They scored two goals in 4 minutes to stun us and put us on the back foot before we even started. Both their strikes were completely unstoppable to be honest, but as they’ve spent the rest of the half making us look incredible ordinary I don’t suppose I should moan. Our goal back was anything other than ordinary. Cutting across to the right, Valo stepped inside and belted a absolute screamer into the bottom corner from a full 25 yards. We have a chance, but we’re going to have to improve from this current position.
I make one half time change with Weatherson coming on for Pereira.

Who is the class manager! We score after only 30 seconds of the second half. Lunt sprays it out wide to Stefanidis, who fires in a perfect near post cross to Weatherson, who does what I bought him for, gets across the defender and heads into the corner. It’s a brilliant, text book goal, and just the sort Weatherson is in the side to score.
We then set about battering the heck out of them. Weatherson could have a hattrick within 5 minutes, and Hoseth scuffs a perfect, perfect chance.
Then, with ten minutes go, the clouds part, and a vision of beauty materializes. Lunt swings a corner in from the right, towards Hoseth. It gets headed away, but only as far as Valo, who catches it perfectly. It sweeps up over the defender and crashes into the top corner. It’s a fantastic debut brace, and if he can do that a bit more often, we have a player.

It’s a fantastic result, especially as we were 2-0 down! It puts us up to second, and I really can’t praise the players enough. Terrific result lads!

24.8.05
It’s the league cup tonight, and with Port Vale at home, we have a good chance to progress to the next round. No changes.

Half time, and we’re 1-0 up.
A great first half, when Pereira hit the bar after only 40 seconds, and we’ve spent the whole time playing some very stylish football indeed. Our goal was superb. Andrews to Lunt, Lunt down the line to Valo, Valo inside to Lunt, Lunt on the outside of the foot to Pereira, and Pereira with a lovely little dink over his shoulder and behind the defense to Hoseth, who cut back, burst past his man and shot into the net from the edge of the area. Class! I’ve enjoyed this half, and now we must make sure that we continue to play like this, get another goal, and keep them out at the back.

It’s a great second half of football which I think everyone enjoys immensely. Except possibly Port Vale, who, despite pulling a save of the season out of Andy Oakes, go on to lose 2-0. It could have been much more, with the most notable chances going to Pereira and Hoseth. They set each other through one on one on the keeper, and both times, the first touches of the two men let them down, and keeper or defender is able to recover. Our second goal is also a little fortuitous. Weatherson, on as a sub for Pereira is set free by a lovely first time pass from Valo, and shoots towards the far corner. The keeper gets to it, and palms it away. It falls to Hoseth, who, off balance, shoots. It cracks off the ball, and comes back to Hoseth who recovers from a first touch which nearly takes it out to roll the ball into the net from the angle.

Very pleased tonight, with all positions doing the jobs assigned to them. Keith Andrews demonstrated a ball winning side I hoped he had but had never seen, and Scott Wilson and Lantz are becoming a useful partnership. Up front, Pereira is a classy exception to Hoseth’s pace and skill, whilst being able to bring on the colossal Peter Weatherson or the tough and fiery Tom McManus has been a big bonus.



27.8.05
Bad news today. Out on the training pitch, during a quick keep ball session, Dave Edwards slips over, and breaks his shoulder. Its 5 months out at least. Gutting for the lad.

Huge news today, as we complete the signing of a player that has got us onto national radio and the national press. How many Guatemalan’s are there in English football? Not many I would suspect, but we have one!
It’s a long story…
I have an uncle, and he runs a high-end hotel chain in major Spanish cities. One of these hotels is in Barcelona, and it also happens to be the one he manages personally. One day, about a month ago he rings me up at home, (he does it often, favorite nephew and all that) and we go through the usual family chat. Almost jovially he tells me ‘hey, I had a bunch of footballers in here the other week, a strange lot’. When, joining in the joke, I ask him who they were, he tells me it was CSD Comunicaciones, Guatemala’s biggest club. I heard about that, they were playing the two giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona to raise money for some children’s charity. ‘Anyway’, he continues, ‘I was serving in the bar that night, and there was this man in a suit ya know, on a mobile phone. You’ll never guess, he worked for a football team like you!’ Oh yes? ‘Yes my friend, Derby County he said, he had been in town looking at one of the players staying in my hotel! He asked me for their room numbers, well naturally I declined but…’ I interrupt; which player was the scout after? ‘Scout amigo? He had no badges!’ Yes good joke, fine, fine, but who was he after!?! ‘Let me think, he kept on about the name Thompson, William Thompson.’
The phone hits the cradle, and the pc is fired up. The Madrid/Comunicaciones game is in two days. There is a flight to Madrid in 8 hours, and Spencer Field, my chief scout, is on it.
It was a normal day at the office that day, and the Burgundy is slipping down nicely at home when, about 10:00, the phone goes. Its Spencer, his aussi tones unusually excited. ‘Gaffer, the lad is a cert, I don’t care who you buy for the next ten years, but get out and buy Thompson before someone else does, the place was crawling with scouts!’ On calming him down, I find out that Spencer’s trip to the Citadel wasn’t in vein. Thompson had played yes, and, it seems, played well. Well enough for my usually hesitant Chief Scout to ring me up from his (low-end) hotel room, and tell me to buy the player.
The next day, Spencer rolls up at Gay Meadow, bleary eyed in an airport taxi with a charity video of the game made on the spot. Thompson, whom the camera basically followed, played more than usefully, kicked Zidane twice, and passed the ball excellently.
I’m on the phone to my chairman, and he begins to set up a deal.

That was all completed a week ago, and two days ago, the DofE&E rang up. Nice of them. Guatemala’s hottest young property is Shrews bound.
Today, he turned up, I actually met him in the flesh for the first time, and showed him around. His English, and his French, are perfect, and he appears a complete gentleman. We introduced him to the slightly bewildered press. Keep em on their toes, sell your player of the year and replace him with an unheard of foreigner who at the same time becomes your record signing. Talk about putting oneself on a pedestal.
So what type of player is Fredy William Thompson? First of all, he’s a darn expensive one. It took pressure from both Comunicaciones and myself on my chairman to squeeze £200,000 out of him and into their bank account, and then I was able to launch a full scale assault on the player himself. We broke him surprisingly easily, in fact, he broke himself, admitting he wants to move to England, and that Shrewsbury were the only club in for him, and he didn’t care he hadn’t heard of it, he had no problems signing.
He’s a 23 year old left footed defensive midfield player. He has 18 caps and 4 goals for his country. He’s a tough tackling box to box type player, who can run for ever and pass and shoot with the ball excellently.
I’m incredibly pleased to have him, he’s signed a 5 year deal, and I’m confident that should we sell him, we could double our money tomorrow.
The fans are a bit wary, and also excited, I keep bringing these people in, and they seem to be trusting my judgment. I think once they see him play, he’ll quickly become a clut hero.