Rising to the challenge - Northern Irish Progress

iajafer · 01-10-2006, 01:44 PM

Nobby's quite right in his assertion about NI PL.

The reason BoroPhil fits within the LLM scheme of things is that Wales have one division, the highest is the lowest.

NI have the Premier and the First, so by the Forum Guidelines (and name) anyone starting in NI and posting here should be in the 1st division.

However, because NI are so shyte, even shyter than Scotland, I'll turn a blind eye to the fact you've started in the NI PL.

Carry on.

bigsamstheman · 01-10-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by iajafer:
NI have the Premier and the First, so by the Forum Guidelines (and name) anyone starting in NI and posting here should be in the 1st division.
Carry on.

I beg to differ. I have just spent many a gruelling season in NI Div 2- unless that's been taken out for FM06?

donald · 01-10-2006, 01:49 PM

Ian in pwned shocker!!

Hogie · 01-10-2006, 01:55 PM

Indeed; NI do have a 2nd division (according to frank).

mmhsports · 01-10-2006, 02:07 PM

2006-07

The summer began with a huge clearout, 17 players all but two leaving on free transfers. The two that didnt were young players i'd brought in the prevous summer. Both moved to scotland, one for £120k the other for £210k. Coming into the club 15 players with a max age of 19 and many with the word 'promising' in their description and a keeper called the 'next English International Keeper' - all players brought in were english.

My title odds were now down to 25-1 and expectation were safe mid table position.

Competition Progress

UEFA Cup -

1st round Q Nistu Otaci (Moldova) 1-1 and 4-0
2nd round Q Krylja Sovetov (Russia) 0-0(h) 1-1(a)

1st Round Brondby, a valiant effort away and a 91st minute equaliser. 1-1 The home leg was a backs against the wall effort and a centre back sent off - finised 0-0, progress to the groups woohoo - drawn with Aston Villa, AEK, Valencia and FC Kobenhavn lost all matches but still proud of my boys making the groups and some handy money too

CIS League Cup topped group of Limavady, Ballymena and Glenavon, beat Limavady again in quarters, cliftonville in the semis 3-1 and glentoran in the final 2-0. Before the league had even kicked off I was aiming for europe again, my youngsters were already attracting premiership attention but was refusing to speak to any of them (for now!)

County Antrim Shield - winners with a 1-0 win over Linfield in the final

NI Cup - Winners again, great performances in some rounds, luck in others.

5th round 3-3 draw Linfield (H) win 5-3 on pens
6th round 2-0 win Limavady Utd (H)
1/4 Final 1-1 draw Institute (A) win on pens 3-2
1/2 Final 3-1 win Distillery (N)
The Final Larne 2 Linfield 0

NI Premier League - what a season in the league, which came down to the final day of the season. Larne and Linfield, trailing by two points to them I went in with home advantage in front of just 356 supporters?! My 16 yr old startlet grabbed a 20th minute winner. Jubilant scenes as Larne did the unthinkable. Nail bitting stuff though for the other 70 minutes!

All Ireland Cup - Drawn in group B with Cork, Shelbourne and Limavady. Poor performances here meant i finished 3rd in group behind the two Southern Irish clubs.

Never expected this season to go how it did, a lot of luck but the youth team did wonders. Definately my policy from now on. The summer would see another large turnover of players but unthinkable profits as Larne practically became a feeder club to Middlesbrough's Youth set up!

A great first season, luck in places but the summer would see a huge clearout and basically a youth team take to the field in the UEFA Cup...

iajafer · 01-10-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigsamstheman:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by iajafer:
NI have the Premier and the First, so by the Forum Guidelines (and name) anyone starting in NI and posting here should be in the 1st division.
Carry on.

I beg to differ. I have just spent many a gruelling season in NI Div 2- unless that's been taken out for FM06? </BLOCKQUOTE>

That's even worse! There's three levels and you're starting in the top one?

There's NO excuse for that, bud.

mmhsports · 01-10-2006, 02:12 PM

ok, point taken about the NI leagues. i overlooked the fact that Wales only had the one division - i was simply looking at how the two leagues standards are almost identical.

On another point... the County Antrim Shield is a regional competition within Northern Ireland, one of many that exist and whilst Ive been pusing SI to have the others included, this still remains the only. This season we got it coded correct for the 1st time which took ages! Qualification for Prem clubs is automatic if they fall in the correct region. The other qualifiers depends on lower league clubs progress in the Steel & Sons Cup. Quarter finals in this competition will see qualify for the first round of the Co. Antrim Shield