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2005/6
So, after a brief dalliance in the EPL to adjust to FM06, I start a new game with all the home nations loaded and start as my local team, Weston-super-Mare in the Conference South.
The board's goal is to rebuild the team, and with no left back and no strikers capable of getting the banjo in the right field, let alone picking out the correct cow's arse, it seems to be a reasonable assessment.
A grey U-18 left back fancies the £40 pw put before him, and a week later another DL signs on a free. I pick up a couple of other free signings, but have to resort to getting a striker in on loan from Bristol Rovers.
An indifferent start to the league and an early exit from the cups leave me satisfied with mid-table obscurity by mid-November. I have to sell our best player for £50k to help keep the books balanced. In the league we get ourselves on a long unbeaten run that sees us surge into the playoff positions. I manage to get another striker in on loan in February, and we finish the season in second place with 86pts, 14 behind champions Weymouth.
Two 1-0 wins against Eastbourne Boro set up a playoff final against Cambridge City. A massive crowd of 2,200 attends the final at the Ricoh Arena to see us turn them over 3-0. Promotion to the Conference secured, the board offer me a new 3 year contract, though try to cut my wages to £80 pw. I manage to negotiate them back up to £100, the cheeky gits.
So, the new season gets off to a cracking start as Grays are spanked 5-0, to see Weston-super-Mare top of the conference after 1 game. Win one, lose one, throw in the odd draw sees us comfortably mid-table by the end of November, with the playoffs an outside possibility.
Then it happens; my crap physio takes an eternity to get players back from minor injuries and we take one point from 24 in December. Fortunately, reinforcements in the transfer window spark us back into something approaching form, and we end the season thus:
Pos 14th P46 W16 D12 L18 F69 A61 Pts60
A good return considering we were to battle bravely against relegation. Out in the first round of the FA cup and the FA trophy. Annoyingly, we landed the biggest fish in the FA Cup - Nottingham Forest, but we played at home. Nevertheless, we made money this season, thanks to the £100k TV money.
Reinforcements brought in throughout the team leave me hoping for an improvement on last season; upper mid-table is what I am looking for. The board still want a brave battle against relegation, which keeps the pressure off somewhat.
In the end, we have to settle for a worse finish than last year:
Pos 17th P46 W14 D17 L15 F74 A70 Pts59
Though, with an average of more than 3 goals a game the fans can't complain about being short changed. A spell of aquaplaning in February & March meant every game was a ridiculously high scoring draw.
In the end we were only 10 pts from the playoffs, but overall I was disappointed. Next year is the final season of my current contract, and we're going to have to do a bit better for me to re-sign.
Top scorer was a young striker "Bosman"ed in from Plymouth.
FA Cup - out in QualR2
FA Trophy - 5th Round, lost to Weymouth 5-4 in a replay.
Woodspring (Pray Like Aretha Franklin) 
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