retired_sandra

Fifth Update - Tension Mounting

Bloody hell, there's more tension here than on an episode of ER. The Conference became a two horse race between rivals Aldershot Town and Billericay Town. Halifax Town hijacked our private contest at the top with a great run, only to fall away again and they now have a mountain to climb.

C18 - Billericay 1 Southport 0 (2696) Record league crowd beaten again. A young emerging AM RC scores vital goal and his first for the club.
C19 - Dagenham 2 Billericay 5 (3935) Scot scores his first hatrick. Dagenham play most of the second half with ten men.
I apply for the vacant post at Stoke City, my local league club and the team I support.
Pundits predict the season will end in glory for Billericay Town.
I turn down the offer to become Stoke's new manager for the FIRST ever time.
C24 - Billericay 2 Huddersfield 3 (2832) TV match. Despite awful weather (wet and windy) the fans flock in. Ironically, I've not won in four games since turning down the Stoke job and Stoke have moved up into the Division 1 play off spots. Bloody typical. An ex Leeds manager is then appointed manager of Stoke for the second time.
Two Conference teams reached the FA Cup 3rd Round. Grays lost to a single goal by First Division Peterborough at London Road. Halesowen got the best draw they could have, a home game with Premier League leaders Fulham. They did well, but lost 3-0.
I buy an English based Norweigan D C for £22,000. Yes, I have some money to spend thanks to our friends at Sky!
FAT3 - Stockport 1 Billericay 2 (3991) A deserved victory.
C26 - Doncaster 4 Billericay 3 (4085) A 3-1 lead is thrown away, and Norweigan is voted man of the match. 15 goals have been scored in the 2 league matches this season.
C27 - Billericay 3 Aldershot 0 (3275) Valey and Scot with 2 give us a vital win against our rivals and keeps us in contention, 6 points behind them.
Norweigan has so far averaged 8.50 from 4 games. A bargain at £22,000!
C28 - Hastings 1 Billericay 5 (3539) Why can we only score five away from home?!
Sign a S C from Guiseley for a club record £30,000. Scot is dropped, despite his good contribution so far, he can't match Valey's scoring record.
FAT4 - Grantham 1 Billericay 2 (266) A nervous last 15 minutes, but we avenge last season's FA Cup defeat.
C29 - Hayes 0 Billericay 1 (1553) Club record signing scores his first goal.
C31 - Billericay 2 Halifax 2 (2042) TV match. We throw away a two goal lead.
C34 - Basingstoke 1 Billericay 1 (1256) We fail to capitalise on Aldershot losing at Hayes. The gap is now 5 points.
C35 - Billericay 3 Carlisle 1 (2336) Both strikers score. Halifax score a last minute winner at Aldershot so we're now just 2 points behind.
C36 - Stockport 4 Billericay 4 (5162) An injury time equaliser from my M L rescues a point, but Aldershot win.
WCQ - Northern Ireland 0 Azerbaijan 1 (18,496) We weren't even in the match. It took 83 minutes just to have a shot.
WCQ - Northern Ireland 1 Malta 0 (18496) We were no better in this one, we can barely beat Malta!
C37 - Billericay 1 Altrincham 0 (2361) TV match. My record signing scores, giving him six goals in his first ten matches. Aldershot win and Altrincham now join Weymouth back in the non league next season.

The all important league table...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> ************************************************** ********************************************** English Conference - Monday 8th April 2013********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2012/3 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Aldershot 38 14 2 3 44 23 11 4 4 27 16 81 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Billericay ******** 38 14 3 2 39 14 9 5 5 39 24 77 3rd Halifax 38 10 3 6 38 27 11 6 2 41 19 72 4th Huddersfield 38 11 4 4 30 18 10 3 6 35 29 70 5th Southport 38 10 7 2 39 30 7 5 7 31 25 63 6th Dagenham 38 9 4 6 38 31 9 5 5 28 26 63 7th Doncaster 38 10 2 7 33 32 9 3 7 40 36 62 8th Southend 38 6 8 5 21 19 9 6 4 39 26 59 9th Hastings 38 8 4 7 28 31 9 3 7 30 28 58 10th Stockport 38 5 8 6 31 36 9 5 5 32 25 55 11th Grays 38 9 5 5 29 19 6 4 9 16 27 54 12th Crawley 38 8 3 8 33 31 6 8 5 25 26 53 13th Halesowen 38 7 8 5 29 26 5 7 6 26 27 51 14th Telford 38 9 4 5 32 23 5 5 10 25 36 51 15th Carlisle 38 8 5 6 33 27 5 5 9 23 27 49 16th Hayes 38 8 4 7 34 31 6 3 10 33 36 49 17th Kidderminster 38 6 5 7 26 23 5 6 9 25 29 44 18th Vauxhall Motors 38 7 2 11 20 26 5 6 7 21 24 44 19th Basingstoke 38 6 4 9 20 29 4 3 12 15 31 37 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20th Sheffield United 38 2 6 11 14 33 6 4 9 28 41 34 21st R Altrincham 38 2 9 8 17 26 1 1 17 11 40 19 22nd R Weymouth 38 1 1 17 12 44 0 4 15 9 42 8 </pre>


Four games to play, four points behind.
Aldershot to play...
Altrincham (home)
Stockport (away)
Carlisle (home)
Southport (away)
Billericay to play...
Dagenham (home)
Hayes (away - FA Trophy semi final 1st leg)
Crawley (away)
Hayes (home - FA Trophy semi final 2nd leg)
Grays (home)
Kidderminster (away)

It's all to play for!

retired_sandra

Sixth Update - Who Wins Promotion?

Four games to play and I'm four points behind Aldershot.

C39 - Billericay 3 Dagenham 0 (2181) Ex Valey scores two whilst Aldershot fall to a shock defeat at home to relegated Altrincham.
FATSF1 - Hayes 0 Billercay 3 (2632) Scot gets a brace, playing instead of rested Valey. In the league, Aldershot win 4-1 at Stockport, restoring their 4 point lead.
C40 - Crawley 0 Billericay 0 (3098) Our rearranged game ends in a frustrating draw.
FATSF2 - Billericay 2 Hayes 1 (1660) Despite taking it easy, we still comfortably reach the final.
F - Northern Ireland 2 Wales 1 (10,749) A break from serious action see the Irish come from behind.
C41 - Billericay 3 Grays 2 (2206) We nearly throw away a three goal lead. Aldershot draw at home to Carlise. We are one point behind going into the final game and have a superior goal difference.
C42 - Kidderminster 3 Billericay 6 (4342) Valey nets four and our keeper gets sent off on 69 with the score at 2-4. We've done our bit, so it's over to Haig Avenue...

...

...

... (oh, the suspense...)

...

...


Southport 2 Aldershot 4
Aldershot win the Conference. A superb season, only to be pipped at the post.
Sheffield United become the first real life league team to be relegated to non league obscurity, thereby having the biggest non league ground by far.
Weymouth narrowly beat Loughborough's (game date) 113 year league record of 8 points. Loughborough only played 34 games. And only got two points for a win.
My season isn't over though. There is still two more games...

FATF - Billericay 3 Hastings 2 (12,510) Valey scores two more as we leave Pride Park with the FA Trophy as some consolation for our season.
WCQ - Greece 4 Northern Ireland 2 (65,672) Played the second half with 10 men. Now cannot qualify for the finals.

Elsewhere...
Champions Cup - Leeds defeat Arsenal 2-1 in Brussels. Feyenoord are the only non English in the semis.
UEFA Cup - Inter Milan beat Fiorentina 2-1 at Wembley. Rosenborg are the only non Italian in the semis.
FA Cup - Manchester United beat Aston Villa on penalties after a boring scoreless game.
League Cup - Bolton win 3-1 against First Division side West Ham.
Vans Trophy - Watford beat Burnley 3-1.
Premier League - Fulham are champions on goal difference from Arsenal. Aston Villa, Derby and Wolves are relegated.
Division 1 - Southampton champions, Charlton & Norwich promoted. Scunthorpe, Cardiff & Leicester go down.
Division 2 - Colchester champions with Plymouth & Oxford going up. Wrexham, Tranmere, Macclesfield & Woking are relegated.
Division 3 - Bristol Rovers champions with Yeovil, Swansea & Barnsley joining them in Division 2 next season. Cheltenham slip to the Conference.

Speaking of which...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> ************************************************** ********************************************** English Conference - Monday 27th May 2013********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2012/3 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C Aldershot 42 14 3 4 46 26 13 4 4 35 19 88 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Billericay ******** 42 16 3 2 45 16 10 6 5 45 27 87 3rd Halifax 42 10 4 7 39 30 12 6 3 44 23 76 4th Huddersfield 42 12 5 4 34 20 10 3 8 35 32 74 5th Southport 42 11 7 3 45 34 8 5 8 34 29 69 6th Doncaster 42 10 3 8 34 34 11 3 7 46 37 69 7th Southend 42 7 8 6 23 20 11 6 4 44 28 68 8th Dagenham 42 9 4 8 41 37 10 5 6 31 29 66 9th Hastings 42 9 4 8 32 34 10 3 8 33 31 64 10th Stockport 42 6 8 7 35 40 10 5 6 34 28 61 11th Telford 42 12 4 5 40 26 5 5 11 26 38 60 12th Crawley 42 8 5 8 33 31 7 9 5 28 28 59 13th Halesowen 42 8 8 5 32 27 6 8 7 32 32 58 14th Grays 42 10 5 6 31 21 6 5 10 19 31 58 15th Carlisle 42 9 5 7 35 30 6 6 9 25 28 56 16th Hayes 42 9 4 8 36 32 6 5 10 35 38 54 17th Kidderminster 42 7 6 8 32 31 5 6 10 25 31 48 18th Vauxhall Motors 42 7 3 11 23 29 6 6 9 25 30 48 19th Basingstoke 42 7 4 10 23 31 5 4 12 16 31 44 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20th R Sheffield United 42 3 6 12 18 37 6 4 11 28 47 37 21st R Altrincham 42 2 10 9 18 30 2 1 18 15 44 23 22nd R Weymouth 42 1 1 19 12 48 0 5 16 9 46 9 </pre>


Close season news...
Valey is top scorer with 35 in 42 games. Top rated of 8.00, so obviously is voted Fans Player of the Year.
Forced to accept an offer of £250,000 from Charlton for my Swede as it meets his minimum fee release. He joins in early June and I sign a replacement who was released by Third Division Walsall.
The board agree to improve the training facilities, spending £175,000 to make them good. A nice jump there.
Hendon, Hereford & Margate have been promoted to the Conference.
The board expect me to stay clear of relegation. I'm happy with that!
My manager ranking is 34th fair in England and 299th poor in the World.
Billericay have £672,606 with a £350,000 transfer kitty. This has been achieved with no board injection since the one in the first update, and the only worthwhile sale has been the Swede.

Looking forward to next season. I've got hopes of promotion even if the board don't...

retired_sandra

Seventh Update - FA Cup 1st Round!

Pre season was a non event. Three new signings on Bosmans, three retirements, which included a veteran D/DM RC who served 12 years playing 485 games (427 in league, club record) and scoring 22 goals. Sir, I salute you! He didn't want a coaching job.
First up was a match against a newly promoted team. How I was rubbing my hands at the prospect of a good start.
C1 - Billericay 2 Hendon 0 (2106) And true enough we showed Hendon the ways of the Conference, who were lucky not to concede at least six. Two new signings made their debut, M C scored and ex Walsall M R got MOM.
Our home form started solid (as it has stayed), but my early away form was bad.
C5 - Billericay 3 Doncaster 0 (2308) The new midfielders both scored, whilst Valey only has 1 in 5! :eek:
WCQ - Belgium 3 Northern Ireland 0 (49,970) At least we've made Belgium get closer to Germany.
C6 - Halesowen 0 Billericay 1 (1800) First away win of season. S C is sent off on 36 yet we go on to record what is turning out to be a vital win. Climb to 5th with this one.
WCQ - Northern Ireland 0 Germany 2 (18,475) Germany qualify for Switzerland 2014.
C7 - Billericay 5 Cheltenham 0 (2929) Valey's back, scoring 4 as we hammer the relegated side.
C8 - Carlisle 1 Billericay 6 (6800) Valey bags another hatrick to make his recent tally seven goals in just two games. He only scores once in the next match, a 3-1 win at Grays which puts us top.
WCQ - Azerbaijan 1 Northern Ireland 3 (19,051) This win means we finish 4th out of 6.
FACQ - No fixture. We've reached the 1st Round!
C15 - Huddersfield 0 Billericay 1 (5020) M L secures victory in top of the table clash.
C16 - Billericay 1 Kidderminster 1 (2414) First TV game of the season is drawn despite a Kiddy red card.
FAC1 - Billericay 1 Kidderminster 0 (3665) Record attendance & receipts of £21,990. We've broken the FA Cup jinx! Now on a club record unbeaten run of 13.
F - Northern Ireland 2 Latvia 2 (12,551) Latvians equalise twice.
I then resign as manager of Northern Ireland... to take over as manager of Republic of Ireland! Death threats start to arrive at Irish FA headquarters, but only because the Micks can't spell Billericay properly! :p
FAT2 - Worcester 1 Billericay 1 (649) Valey misses a penalty before Worcester's star striker equalises.
FAT2R - Billericay 2 Worcester 0 (196) I rest half my first team. Worcester's star striker is injured after just 6 minutes before Valey returns to the scoresheet, regaining his confidence again.
FAC2 - Billericay 1 Chesterfield 0 (3640) Play last 20 minutes with ten men due to an injury but we hold on against the Third Division side.
The excitement of the Third Round draw. Seven non league teams are in the hat, though some lose their replays. Stafford of the Southern League get drawn at Premier League QPR. Telford land the plum tie of English champions Fulham at home. Billericay come out... who is coming to New Lodge..? It's Chelsea!
VTS1 - Billericay 0 Dagenham 1 (661) Captain gets injured after 4, out for a month with a twisted ankle. Young D C gets sent off on his debut and Dagenham score resulting penalty. Unbeaten run ends at 17.
C18 - Hendon 1 Billericay 5 (1211) We dominate Hendon again and Valey celebrates having the captaincy by scoring a hatrick that takes his club total to 51 goals. Other S C gets two himself.
C19 - Southend 1 Billericay 3 (4869) TV. Southend DM R equalises twice but namesake D C scores a late winner.

So here's how it looks on Christmas Day 2013...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> ************************************************** ********************************************** English Conference - Thursday 26th December 2013********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2013/4 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Halesowen 20 7 1 1 19 9 7 2 2 22 14 45 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Kidderminster 21 7 2 1 20 9 6 3 2 16 9 44 3rd Billericay ******** 19 6 3 0 17 2 7 1 2 24 10 43 4th Huddersfield 20 5 3 2 14 8 6 2 2 19 12 38 5th Stockport 21 6 1 2 16 10 6 1 5 22 17 38 6th Hereford 20 7 2 2 18 9 3 5 1 12 10 37 7th Carlisle 20 5 1 5 20 25 4 4 1 17 12 32 8th Dagenham 20 5 5 1 25 17 3 2 4 15 15 31 9th Halifax 19 5 1 4 14 16 4 3 2 16 16 31 10th Doncaster 20 3 4 2 18 16 4 3 4 16 20 28 11th Hayes 21 2 5 2 11 13 4 4 4 25 21 27 12th Southend 20 7 0 4 19 14 1 3 5 9 18 27 13th Telford 20 5 3 3 18 16 2 2 5 12 16 26 14th Southport 19 4 4 2 14 7 3 0 6 12 19 25 15th Cheltenham 20 2 6 1 17 14 3 3 5 19 22 24 16th Hendon 21 4 5 3 23 24 1 3 5 9 21 23 17th Crawley 20 4 2 5 13 15 0 4 5 6 13 18 18th Basingstoke 20 2 1 6 12 16 3 2 6 6 16 18 19th Hastings 19 2 4 4 16 17 1 3 5 10 16 16 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20th Margate 21 2 3 4 10 15 1 2 9 10 27 14 21st Vauxhall Motors 21 2 2 8 10 17 0 2 7 6 17 10 22nd Grays 20 0 1 8 11 21 1 5 5 7 14 9 </pre>

We are sitting nicely just a couple of points behind with a game or two in hand. With formidable home form too, unlike Grays at the bottom. Hendon aren't doing too badly despite being hopelessly outclassed twice by ourselves this season.
I'm glad we're out of the Vans Trophy as that will help to ease possible fixture backlog towards the end of the season.
We're getting richer too. We now have £724,176 in the bank, with £350,000 to spend. Squad wages only come to £8,250 a week, so when you get at least £10,000 for every home game, you can see why I'm not having to sell my best players.
My ranking has dipped a bit, probably because I swapped the Irelands. I'm now 40th average in England and 302nd poor in World.
Chelsea soon... I won't be leaving for Stevenage though

retired_amymic23

You're knocking at the door.

I'm unfamiliar with this Chelsea side you speak of. Are they one who get promoted into the Conference eventually?

KUTGW!

retired_sandra

They are the sods who Stoke have drawn in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. Come on you Potters!

Trying to negotiate time off work to go... though it would mean working Valentine's Day instead...

retired_sandra

Eighth Update - Broken Backs and Breaking Hearts

A smaller session today due to restricted time. A healthy position in the league and a lucrative cup time soon looked to a bright future.

C22 - Southport 1 Billericay 3 (2448) I'm without my first FOUR choices of centre back for this game but we still win to move to the top, and with a game in hand.
Then it's the big one. With two centre backs injured and two suspended, it's going to be an even bigger task. Then on the eve of the match a FIFTH centre back becomes unavailable, picking up a thigh strain. This leaves me with my last two - a 36 year old player coach and a 16 year old kid who will make his debut and hasn't been playing well for the reserves (when they actually have a fixture). One of my injured centre backs is on the bench, but he's only 80% fit, recovering from a twisted ankle.
FAC3 - Billericay 0 Chelsea 4 (3632) So it's no surprise at all that Chelsea have no problems finding the net.
Elsewhere in the 3rd Round, Stafford of the Southern League lost 2-1 at Premier League side QPR. Halifax earned a replay, drawing at Vale Park whilst Telford lost at home to Liverpool 1-0, though I'm sure I'd seen they had drawn Fulham!
FAT3 - Aylesbury 1 Billericay 3 (198) More cup action as we sink the Ducks with a defence that now looks normal!
C25 - Doncaster 1 Billericay 0 (3943) Our 20 match unbeaten league run comes to an end as we hit the woodwork three times and lose to a controversial penalty. Ever felt it's not your day?
Halifax beat Port Vale of Division Two 2-0 in their replay, before losing by the same score at home to First Division Portsmouth in Round 4.
C27 - Telford 4 Billericay 0 (3401) Three defeats in a row and no goals. To add more misery, two players were sent off in this drubbing. What's happening? :o
Things turn from bad to worse. My goalie (not fat) gets injured in training, damaging his spine and is out for TEN months. I sign a goalie on loan from Blackburn. Three days later my goalie announces his retirement on doctor's advice. He had served ten years and played 396 games. Over the next five games, I discover the Blackburn keeper, despite being better than the other two I have on my books, is a big pile of dross.
C28 - Cheltenham 2 Billericay 4 (4917) Luckily, we rediscover the ability to score. Valey is a scorer, taking his season total to 20.
FAT4 - Billericay 5 Southend 2 (666) Two from my record signing (Valey's strike partner) as we easily reach the semi finals.
C30 - Billericay 1 Grays 1 (2524) Valey scores his 50th league goal for Billericay but we fail to capitalise on the top two both losing.
C32 - Billericay 5 Margate 1 (3283) Record league crowd see Valey score 4 to take his tally to 26 for the season.

We've slipped down the league a little...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> ************************************************** ********************************************** English Conference - Saturday 8th March 2014********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2013/4 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Kidderminster 32 11 3 1 31 14 10 4 3 26 13 70 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Halesowen 32 11 1 4 33 22 9 3 4 30 24 64 3rd Billericay ******** 32 9 6 1 27 7 9 3 4 36 23 63 4th Huddersfield 32 9 3 4 27 15 8 4 4 28 21 58 5th Stockport 32 9 3 3 25 17 7 3 7 29 26 54 6th Telford 32 10 3 4 31 19 5 5 5 23 24 53 7th Dagenham 32 7 9 1 35 25 6 3 6 27 24 51 8th Hereford 32 8 5 3 26 16 5 6 5 16 17 50 9th Doncaster 32 8 5 3 30 21 5 6 5 31 35 50 10th Carlisle 32 8 1 8 25 31 6 5 4 24 18 48 11th Halifax 32 6 5 5 22 23 6 4 6 19 21 45 12th Southport 32 7 4 5 24 20 6 1 9 21 29 44 13th Southend 33 9 1 7 24 22 3 5 8 17 27 42 14th Hayes 32 5 6 4 27 25 5 5 7 32 31 41 15th Hendon 32 6 6 5 29 29 4 5 6 21 26 41 16th Crawley 32 9 3 5 23 18 0 6 9 14 25 36 17th Cheltenham 32 4 8 4 27 28 4 4 8 25 33 36 18th Hastings 33 4 6 7 25 30 5 3 8 21 27 36 19th Basingstoke 32 4 2 9 16 21 3 3 11 8 29 26 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20th Margate 32 3 4 8 16 28 3 2 12 15 36 24 21st Grays 32 1 3 11 19 31 2 7 8 10 19 19 22nd Vauxhall Motors 32 4 3 9 14 20 0 3 13 9 28 18 </pre>

We still have a chance of promotion, but where we were a dozen games ago means I'm a bit disappointed with how things have gone.
I've had enough of my goalie from Blackburn. So I break my transfer record and by a goalie from Watford for £50,000. Then, considering my cover is terrible, I break it again and sign a better goalie (judging by his stats & scout reports) from Walsall for £60,000. These are the first players I have bought since my S C who was my previous record signing around a year ago.
Now I have a good keeper again (hopefully, they've yet to debut) then I want to make a final push for the championship. Here's hoping...

retired_holden

Good luck in the title run in Nobby

KUTGW!!

retired_scrappysim

good luck bud! doing well!

retired_sandra

I do still have to play Kidderminster. We've drawn them in the FA Trophy semi finals.
If I remember right, I won at Halesowen and they won at our place, and we've had two league draws with Kiddy. I don't think we have to play them again, assuming my memory isn't playing tricks. Then again, I could have sworn that Telford had drawn Fulham in the Cup! :cool:

None of the top three are playing consistantly well, so maybe the seven point gap isn't too great. But I am running out of games...

Anyway, will update in due course.

Playing pool for the first time in ages tonight.

retired_sandra

Ninth Update - Bridemaids Revisited?

My last session and the first games of this session saw us on a great run of form.
C33 - Basingstoke 0 Billericay 4 (1621) Both strikers score and Irish M C does twice. Kidderminster draw but Halesowen win.
The Euro 2020 qualifiers are drawn. Ireland are in Group 3 with Albania, Belarus, England and Sweden. Toughie as Belarus are no longer an easy team.
C34 - Billericay 4 Hayes 0 (2673) Amazing what a new keeper can do! Valey bags a brace. Kidderminster win and Halesowen draw.
C35 - Vauxhall Motors 0 Billericay 3 (2450) 16 goals in last 4 games, with both strikers scoring again though we pick up to injuries. Halesowen lose and are dropping out of the race.
C36 - Billericay 1 Huddersfield 1 (2429) TV match. Valey equalises, Kidderminster win to open up a 7 point gap.
F - Russia 0 Republic of Ireland 1 (36,865) Debut goal from D RC.
Then it turns out I do still have to play Kidderminster in the lague...
C37 - Kidderminster 2 Billericay 0 (5774) Surely too much to do now...
C38 - Billericay 2 Hereford 0 (2087) Kidderminster lose at threatened Margate, so maybe not?
C39 - Hastings 3 Billericay 2 (3933) We throw away a two goal lead. Kidderminster beat Stockport at Aggborough to win the Conference. Twice the bridesmaid...
FATSF1 - Kidderminster 3 Billericay 1 (5683) Valey scores a last minute consolation.
FATSF2 - Billericay 1 Kidderminster 0 (1945) An early goal, total domination but we go out.
F - Switzerland 1 Republic of Ireland 0 (9977) The World Cup hosts beat us with a penalty.
C42 - Billericay 2 Southend 0 (1765) At least we finish the season with a victory.

Elsewhere...
Champions Cup - Inter Milan beat Real Madrid on penalties in Berlin.
UEFA Cup - Fiorentina beat Levski Sofia 1-0 in Copenhagen.
FA Cup - Leeds 2 Arsenal 0.
League Cup - Bolton 0 Aston Villa (of Division 1) 2.
Vans Trophy - Watford beat Bradford on penalties.
FA Trophy - Kidderminster 1 Huddersfield 2 (after 2-2 draw).
Premier League - Manchester United champions and Manchester City runners up. Southampton, Hull & QPR relegated.
Division 1 - Stoke champions Portsmouth & Reading promoted. Birmingham, Wigan & Everton relegated.
Division 2 - Swansea champions, Nottingham Forest & Burnley go up. Brighton, Port Vale , Hartlepool & Bristol Rovers go down.
Division 3 - Walsall champions, Darlington, Rushden & Tranmere promoted. Bury are joining us in the Conference.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> ************************************************** ********************************************** English Conference - Saturday 3rd May 2014********************************************** ************************************************** ================================================== ============================================== 2013/4 Table============================================= ================================================== =Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st C Kidderminster 42 16 4 1 45 18 13 4 4 35 18 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Billericay ******** 42 13 7 1 38 9 12 3 6 48 30 85 3rd Halesowen 42 12 3 6 39 29 12 3 6 42 31 78 4th Stockport 42 13 3 5 37 24 8 5 8 33 30 71 5th Doncaster 42 9 7 5 39 32 10 6 5 44 39 70 6th Huddersfield 42 11 3 7 32 20 9 6 6 34 29 69 7th Carlisle 42 12 1 8 35 35 8 5 8 30 27 66 8th Telford 42 12 4 5 36 24 6 6 9 27 35 64 9th Southport 42 10 5 6 30 24 9 2 10 30 34 64 10th Hereford 42 11 5 5 34 23 5 8 8 18 24 61 11th Hastings 42 7 7 7 37 36 10 3 8 32 30 61 12th Halifax 42 8 7 6 28 28 7 6 8 28 32 58 13th Dagenham 42 7 9 5 39 33 7 6 8 32 31 57 14th Hendon 42 8 8 5 35 32 6 6 9 29 35 56 15th Crawley 42 10 4 7 28 22 3 8 10 24 35 51 16th Hayes 42 8 6 7 36 34 5 6 10 33 42 51 17th Southend 42 11 1 9 31 27 4 5 12 18 33 51 18th Cheltenham 42 7 9 5 36 33 4 5 12 29 43 47 19th Margate 42 5 5 11 23 39 5 2 14 21 43 37 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------20th R Basingstoke 42 6 3 12 22 31 3 4 14 10 41 34 21st R Vauxhall Motors 42 4 5 12 18 31 1 5 15 15 36 25 22nd R Grays 42 2 5 14 25 39 2 7 12 11 25 24 </pre>

Second again! I'm obviously pleased with how well I've done with Billericay in three seasons, but it's not nice being so close to promotion yet feeling so far away. What is also disappointing is that once we couldn't win the Conference, crowds dropped to below 2000.
As yet I've not checked how many Valey scored, but he is top scorer again. No Fans Player of the Year has been decided yet, the World Cup Switzerland 2014 has yet to kick off and I'm yet to know who is promoted to the Conference. I'll update that next time.