I’ve been a long time watcher of this forum and have played to LLM rules since my Amiga days, but I felt it was time I made the final commitment and contribute. Normally I do a LLM save on release of each version, then a Plymouth Argyle save (with LLM morals) on patch 1, with 07 I decided that when patch 2 is released I would make that leap into sharing my woes!
So frank who have you got for me?….Worksop Town …..The Tigers.
My goodness this team is shocking, I’ll just have to hope there’s 3 worse teams and I need to get my scout busy I haven’t got a single left sided player! There is not one player I’m considering giving a full time contract to. It’s gonna be a long season. Eye of the tiger grrrrrrrrrrr!
Season 2006/2007
Conference North
Capacity = 3000
Facilities = Basic Training and Minimal Youth
Budget = 0
Balance = -£1427
Start of Season
Team = Worksop Town
Media Prediction= 18th
Board and Fans expect = Relegation Battle
Avrg Squad Age = 21!!!
Season
Final Position = 6th missing play-offs by a point
Played 42 - Won 20 - Drew 8 - Lost 14 = 68 pts
Overall
Played - 46
Scored - 88
Conceded - 67
Avrg Atten - 971
Cups
FA Cup – 3rd qualifying round losing 3-0 to Eastbourne Boro
FA Trophy – 3rd qualifying round losing 3-2 to Barton Rovers (who?)
Transfers
2 in for 0 – DC and AML
Loanees in 3 – GK, DL and ST
5 out for 5k
Low Point = Probably the FA Trophy defeat, we were flying at the time.
High point = My 18 yr old ST who banged in 34 goals in 40 games, his stats are rubbish!
In Short = Mid-table till the New Year and then went on a run which took me to 4th by the end of Feb. Had a sticky March and with 3 games left I was poised in 6th a point off the play-offs and 3 points off 3rd. I won my last three games but sods law so did the 3 teams I could catch. I think ultimately we overachieved but making the play-offs would have been nice. We were the divisions overachievers and my striker was top scorer.
Next Season = Signed a new 3 year contract at £100 a week and I’ll probably have to make do with what I’ve got. My youngsters should only get better though so I’m hoping for a play-off place.
Season 2007/2008
Conference North
Capacity = 3000
Facilities = Basic Training and Minimal Youth
Budget = £4k
Balance = £36k
Start of Season
Team = Worksop Town
Media Prediction= 7th
Board and Fans expect = Mid table respectability
Avrg Squad Age = 24
Season
Sacked - After a nine game league losing streak I was sacked.
Position = 22nd
Played 24 - Won 5 - Drew 4 - Lost 15 = 19 pts
Cups
FA Cup – 2rd qualifying round losing 1-3 to Altrincham
FA Trophy – 2nd round and still batting when sacked
Transfers
5 in for 0 – DL, 2XDM, AMC and ST
Loanees in – GK
6 out for 1k
Low Point = Er…..No brainer, getting the push
High point = Seeing Worksop relegated. I think I would have avoided it!!
In Short = Had a great pre-season followed by a poor start. With hindsight I made too many tactical changes too soon and also lost my star striker to injury after he had banged in 14 goals in 12 games. Started conceding goals at an alarming rate and got the sack just as I was beginning to turn things round.
Next Season = GET A JOB!! No offers came, although I was linked with Harrogate, Cambridge City, Stalybridge and Dorchester. Hopefully a newly promoted team will give me my second chance.
After much deliberation I applied for, and got the job at Billericay Town, the main reason for applying for this job is that they are a full time operation.
Season 2008/2009
Conference South
Capacity = 3500
Facilities = Fairly Basic Training and Minimal Youth
Budget = 5k
Balance = £54k
Start of Season
Team = Billericay Town
Media Prediction= 21st
Board and Fans expect = Relegation Battle
Avrg Squad Age = 24
Season
Final Position = 1st Champions!!!!
Played 42 - Won 27 - Drew 8 - Lost 7 = 89 pts
Overall
Played - 50
Scored - 102
Conceded - 43
Avrg Atten - 1528
Cups
FA Cup – 1st round losing 1-0 to Notts County
FA Trophy – 3rd round losing 2-0 to Woking
Transfers
8 in for 5k – GK, DL, DC, DM, AMC, ST x3 (Including my striker from Worksop for the 5k)
Loanees in – 1 ST as injury cover
2 out for 50k
Low Point = After a good pre season I lost my first game 5-0 at home to Fisher and thought here we go again, however didn’t lose again till October.
High point = Winning 9 consecutive games to take us to the top of the league at the end of March, we didn’t look back and won by 7 points.
In Short = When I took over I had the basis of a good team, my old Worksop striker scored 19 goals but wasn’t my top scorer. The majority of my signings were made over the new year to bolster my squad as I thought we had a play off chance.
Next Season = I think it will be a lot tougher, but I have the nucleus of a good team, we’re losing money though so any signings will have to be free unless I get a good offer for a player. My target is to keep us in the Conference and maybe get us in the black. There are 2 premiership clubs and several championship ones sniffing round the DL I got on a free so here’s hoping!
As a footnote my club/player loyalty stat is steadily dropping at 7 while all the other are up at 13. I’ve never even looked at another club, so what else effects this? If this counts as tipping please disregard!
Hope to have next update over the weekend as i'm (working) nights!!