retired_hgagnon

Hi to all LMM'ers. This is my first LLM story so I'm prepared for critism wherever it's needed.

After many hours playing FM 2005 with much higher profile teams in England I decided it was time for me to show people what I can do in the world of football management with a team that is relatively unknown. With this newly found desire to succeed on FM 2005, I browsed through the LLM forum looking to find my ideal setting. I thought it would be best for me to stay in England as I do enjoy the set up in my home country plus when I try a game in country I always get homesick after a few games. So looked at the Conference North teams and pondered who to take
to glory, well in theory. My decision wasn't long in coming and I choose my local non-league side Bradford PA. Although being a Bradford City fan I like to see Park Avenue do well IRL so with that in mind I thought I'd give it a go and manage them.

Let the fun start...

I settled down in my new hotseat at the Horsfall Stadium fairly quickly and began my search for new players and backroom staff. With no assistant manager I felt that I needed a right hand man to advise me through the various challenges ahead. An assistant arrived and also two new coaching staff to help him out as well as my other coach.

With the having no transfer budget to splash out on players, like many other managers in my league, I had to use the alternative of loan signings. A goalkeeper was on the top of my list and the bidding war began. Then I asked my assistant to advise me who's also available on loan and I placed my bids for 4 other players, 2 strikers, another 'keeper, a DMC and a DC. Mainly to bolster my team up.

The friendly games then began to roll up and here are my results (my team's score first just like in the game).

2-0 Hayes (H)
1-1 Aldershot (H)
3-1 Woking (H)
3-2 Hendon (H)
1-1 Stevenage (H)
2-0 Halifax (H)

I'm pretty impressed with the results from my new team, hopefully it's not a false dawn for the up coming season.

retired_kswansonwoolf

Friendlies may be the only thing that sucks more than FA Trophy replays.

GL at BPA.

creative36

Aye, good luck, but please... don't tell us about every result.

Crucial, funny or embarrassing ones: perhaps
Everything else: no

And Good Luck again.

retired_google

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kfoolmoon:
Friendlies may be the only thing that sucks more than FA Trophy replays. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Kostis has made a valid point.

retired_hgagnon

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by turnip:
Aye, good luck, but please... don't tell us about every result.

Crucial, funny or embarrassing ones: perhaps
Everything else: no

And Good Luck again. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Cheers mate. I promise I won't mention every result. I posted this thread then I thought it'd be a good idea to read other peoples reports and get a better feel for it.

retired_mekeesha

There's an ever-expanding group of us posting here who are loving the challenge of managing BPA - welcome aboard.

I'm into Jan 2007 now and my greatest moment was drawing your Bradford City in the FA Cup 2nd round - went to a replay and my little guys came out on top - so sweet and top brass for 2 big gates too!

Good luck with yours, but be patient - and very very thrifty; as a Yorkshireman you will anyway

retired_fabricodalacosta

I'm a fellow BPA manager - good look with them. I got promotion to the Conference in my 2nd season, and I'm on my way to establishing them there - with a view to pushing for promotion to League 2, next season.

retired_hgagnon

Cheers andyinkat and Big Geordie. GL with yours too.

Season 2004/05 Review

League:
P: 6th, W: 18, D: 9, L: 15, F: 61, A: 53, PTS: 63

Cups:
FA Cup: Fourth Round Qual. 0-1 Woking
FA Trophy: 1st Round 0-3 Worcester

Rather impressed with the way the season went but not the way it ended. Was 6th with a the last game to go and level on points with Hucknall. They began to lose the game and on goal difference I went fifth. All looked good until Southport who I were playing scored and it stayed 1-0 to them. 6th I stayed but all in all I can build for next season.

I had two nice compliments of job offers from Carlisle and Wycombe. But I'm loyal enough to finish the job I started at Park Avenue to take them as far as possible. Not even a tempting offer from Chelsea could prize me away, well maybe it would.

retired_sandra

Much more like it. :thup:

Who are you again? I think I missed it somewhere...

retired_ktwahl

What is it about PA. I'm a southerner who has just started with them!