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...This Canuck lands himself in the balmy climate of Peterhead in Scotland.
** Warning - Long Thread **
Season 03/04
Peterhead's finances were £200K+ in the hole when I took over, and the wage bill was much higher than the budget could really handle, and soon the deficit was more than £350K. With this bank account, the board were offering a small transfer kitty, but I didn't really feel like dipping into it, after seeing that the quality in the squad would at least be good enough for a decent run, with both the board and supporters hoping for a mid-table position.
In all, three new players were signed, all on free transfers, with two of those players under 21 at the time of signing.
The beginning of the season sees the Blue Toon go nine league matches without a loss, and suffering only two league defeats by the new year. That blistering start sees Peterhead seize control of the first place, a position they would never relinquish as they cruise to a 23-6-7 record.
Perhaps the real delights of the initial season were the cups. (Yes Ian, I know!)
After going out to St. Mirren on penalties in the Challenge Cup's second round, is when our cup runs got interesting.
The League Cup saw us knock off Berwick, Morton and then Dunfermline on penalties before a football god seemed to shine down on us. Peterhead travel to Ibrox to face Rangers in the League Cup quarter final! A 2-0 loss sends us packing, but not before the prize and gate money send the club back to even in the bank account.
Our very next match was the start of the Scottish Cup, where the Blue Toon knock off Brora Rangers, Arbroath, Dundee (at Dens Park, a 4-3 thriller) and a 3-0 home rout over Hibs sent the Blue Toon to yet another Cup quarter final. The first two names pulled out of the draw are Celtic, then Peterhead. Another big payday, this time at Celtic Park, the 3-1 loss not a surprise, nor a disappointment, as the club is back in black.
Personal accomplishments were limited to the manager this season, as I was named Manager of the Year in the Third Division, something not unexpected after the championship.
Supporters player of the year was a 23 year old striker, well known by the LLaMa Clan, after scoring 23 goals and finishing 2nd in scoring in the division.
Season 04/05
The close season saw four players leave, three on frees, one sold to Carlisle for £60K (he remains our only transfer out for money) which helped out the wage bill, especially since the budget was actually decreased for the upcoming season.
The transfer market saw us buy two players (total value £4K) and bring another three in on frees, one of whom is a product of Celtic's youth program.
At the end of the preseason, the club, however, got a shock when last year's leading scorer and supporters player of the year went down with fractured ribs. As it turned out, he wouldn't quite hit the form he did in his first season at the club.
With the board just hoping to bravely battle relegation, and going 1-0-2 in our first three matches, I figured that our goal would just be to survive the drop. However, our next loss was surrounded by nine match and seven match unbeaten streaks, and the Blue Toon actually improved on their 75 point season with an 82 point season (26-4-6), and with it the Second Division championship.
Again, the Challenge Cup isn't so kind, as a second round exit at the hands of Queen of the South was our destiny in that competition.
The League Cup, on the other hand, seems to be treating us well. Convincing wins over Dumbarton and East Fife were followed by upsets of Hearts and Hibs (late winner by last season's star) sent Peterhead to the semi finals, where Peterhead faced Clyde. Hard tackling was the name of the game on this day, three injuries suffered by the Blue Toon players, but we remained resilient, and pulled out the 2-1 win, to send us to the final, facing, who else, Celtic in the final. Revenge, however, was had, and Celtic's dream of the domestic treble (also later eliminated by Juventus in the Champions League Semis) was ended with a shocking 3-0 win by the Blue Toon. Another good payday for the boys in blue.
The Scottish Cup saw Ayr knock Peterhead out in the 4th round, definitely a respectable showing.
Again, I was fortunate enough to be Manager of the Year, as well our other striker ended up leading the division in goals, assists, average rating and man of the match awards, with all of those remaining the highest totals in the division. Not surprisingly, this individual was also named supporters player of the year.
Season 05/06
The close season saw one of my free signings from the past season released on a free, after having not figured into my plans during the season at all. Another player was also released, after being a marginal member of the youth side.
Seven players arrived, the largest a £16K fee for a tough, but young, central midfielder at the end of the summer transfer window. We spent £21K in all, another 2 of that going to Rangers for a product of their youth program.
The board, again, were bravely hoping to battle relegation, and I, too, believed our luck had to run out. Not so, and 19 matches went by before the Blue Toon were handed their first loss, on January 18, 2006. An 80 point season was more than enough for our third successive championship, and promotion to the SPL, definitely an unexpected accomplishment.
The Challenge Cup, yet again, was our nemesis, being ousted by the Hamilton side which gave us the most problems while in the Second Division.
The League Cup saw us eventually meet up with Celtic again, this time in the semis, where they avenged their loss with a 2-0 win. We were barely able to overcome that same Hamilton side in the first round, a 4-3 thriller the end result, followed by a third round upset of Dundee en route to the semi at Hampden.
The Scottish Cup again saw us ousted by Ayr, this time in the third round, our only match of the competition.
Yet again, I pulled in Manager of the Year, and my star striker from season one was leading scorer with an incredible 32 goals in the 36 league matches, while also leading the division in man of the match awards. Not surprisingly, he was named supporters player of the year. Last year's winner led the league in assists. Both players totals still stand as the highest in the division.
I'll call it quits here. I'll do my SPL seasons in the next day or two.
wow I wish I had ur luck!! I go on long unbeaten runs then peter out. 12 games unbeaten then loose several on trot then win loose type up and down graph. I even had 100% 4 1st 7 games and still diddnt get promoted!!!
So, the Blue Toon are off to the SPL. Not surprising, the 80-1 odds meant that everyone expected Peterhead to return immediately to the First Division. The board and supporters were no different. I, however, was setting the goal of survival.
Our arrival in the SPL means we have more money in the coffers, and as such more to spend on transfers, which I've started to do, spending about £100K in the close season, bringing in one striker, midfield and defender, in addition to two GKs, as I lacked confidence in the man who brought us here. Perhaps I should have given him a run out, but the new starter is a definite upgrade.
Then reality hit us. Our previously impermeable defence, and new GK signing, were hit for three late goals in our opener, blowing a lead to draw 3-3. Again blowing a lead in our second match, only to pull out a lucky goal to win late. This alarming trend continued in our third match, where, again, a 2 goal lead was given up late, and another 3-3 draw was had. A couple big losses to the Old Firm really welcomed us to the SPL, but after that the lads seemed to settle down. In January, three more players, one of whom appearing to be a steal on a free transfer from Stevenage, were brought in to solidify the first team. As a result, we slowly climbed the table, and with 5 matches to go, we had clinched at least a 6th place finish. (Scottish rule, not to do with points, incase people don't know) When all was said and done, the Blue Toon were sitting pretty. Fourth place, meaning a UEFA Cup berth after our first SPL season!
The League Cup saw us exit at the hands of our old nemesis Hamilton in the 3rd round, while Brechin knocked us out of the Scottish Cup in the 4th round.
For the first time, Manager of the Year honours were beyond my grasp, going to Rangers' manger after winning the SPL title on the second last matchday over Celtic. (Celtic fired their Northern Irish manager after that match, for "poor performances") I was fortunate enough to finish second in voting.
My star striker, however, won the scoring title with 27 goals, and was again named supporters player of the year. No luck for him in player of the year voting, though, which get awarded to strange players, to say the least.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Guinness79:
What luck? It's all tactical knowledge and man management. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I wish i had your tactical knowledge and man management + the luck
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Juanseba:
Quality showing so far! Did you not get a UEFA Cup spot for winning the league cup when in the second division? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Can't speak for Guinness79, of course, but I've had trouble in the past not getting European slots after winning a Cup while not being in the top Division.
Of course, it could just be that Scotland's UEFA coefficient is so low that winning the League Cup doesn't qualify a team.
I'm pretty sure that it's the coefficient (3 CL, 3 UEFA) that dictates no Europe for the League Cup. That was fine, though. I'll post the next season in a while, after I'm done with the clan game for the evening.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by turnip:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Juanseba:
Quality showing so far! Did you not get a UEFA Cup spot for winning the league cup when in the second division? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Can't speak for Guinness79, of course, but I've had trouble in the past not getting European slots after winning a Cup while not being in the top Division.
Of course, it could just be that Scotland's UEFA coefficient is so low that winning the League Cup doesn't qualify a team. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have had the same problem in Belgium, after I had won the Cup while in 2nd div.
Since I can't think of a witty line... 
Another big payday, this time at Celtic Park, the 3-1 loss not a surprise, nor a disappointment, as the club is back in black.
I'll post the next season in a while, after I'm done with the clan game for the evening.
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