[FM10] Ello, ello, ello! What's all this football going on here then?

FM version: 2010 with 10.1 patch.

Editor Files: Uncle Ron's England to tier 8.

Leagues Loaded: England (to tier 8), Scotland (3rd Div and above), Wales (PWP only).

CAREER SO FAR

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|SEASON  |CLUB                 |LEAGUE                        |FINAL POSITION  |OTHER            |
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|2009-10 |Metropolitan Police  |Isthmian Div1 South           |18th	       |                 |
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|2010-11 |Metropolitan Police  |Isthmian Div1 South           |5th (P/O P)     |                 |
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|2011-12 |Metropolitan Police  |Southern League Premier       |16th            |                 |
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|2012-13 |Metropolitan Police  |Southern League Premier       |5th (P/O P)     |                 |
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|2013-14 |The New Saints       |Principality Welsh Premier    |1st             |Won Welsh Cup    |
|        |                     |                              |                |and Loosemore Cup|
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|2014-15 |Middlesbrough        |Coca-Cola Championship        |2nd (P)         |                 |
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|2015-16 |Middlesbrough        |English Premier League        |n/a             |                 |
|        |Fulham               |English Premier League        |17th            |                 |
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|2016-17 |Fulham               |English Premier League        |12th            |                 |
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But it all started at:

Club History

Formed in 1919, Met Police first played in only friendly matches, before joining the Spartan League in 1928. Apart from the war years ('39-'45), the club remained in that competition until 1960. During that time, The Blues - as they are affectionately known - were League Champions 8 times, and runners-up once.

After spells in the Metropolitan League, and the Southern League, Met Police moved to the Isthmian League in 1977, becoming one of the founder members of the restructured Division Two. In recent years they have been up and down a couple of times, and have found themselves in the Isthmian Division 1 South since FA restructuring in 2006.

Metropolitan Police FC currently play their home games at Metropolitan Police Sports Ground, East Molesey.

2009-2010 ====METROPOLITAN POLICE==== ISTHMIAN DIV 1 SOUTH

Media: 8th

Board: Respectable finish.

SEASON SUMMARY

Not the best start to my managerial career. In fact, this bunch almost ended up going down for a stretch. There was no real flair on the pitch, and the club finances meant I couldn't do as much squad building as I would have liked.

Lost more than we won, leaked goals like no tomorrow. We were adept at giving away 2 goal leads, and finished in a very poor 18th place. Next season has to be better, if the police want to keep me.

Final League Table

Season Progress

CUPS

FA Cup: (2nd Qual Rnd Replay) Met Police 0-0p Maidenhead (lost 6-5 on pens).

FA Carlsberg Trophy: (3rd Qual Rnd) Buxton 1-0 Met Police.

Isthmian League Cup: (2nd Rnd) Wealdstone 1-0 Met Police.

SQUAD

Not in the best of shape. A lot of old and overweight players strutting around the locker room. Managed to get 3 signings in the door, before the Board started whining on about wage budgets. One signing in particular was very impressive.

Peter Holsgrove - got him on a free, and he banged in 14 goals - which was enough for him to win the award for Top Goalscorer in the division.

Transfer Activity

NEW CLUB RECORDS

Lowest League Position: 18th in Isthmian Division 1 South.

Highest Attendance: 173 vs Maidenhead (FAC2Q).

Highest Gate Receipts: £2000 vs Maidenhead (FAC2Q).

Lowest Attendance: 54 vs Chatham (League).

Top Scorer: 14 - Peter Holsgrove.

Youngest Player: 16 years 178 days - Sam Joyce.

Oldest Player: 37 years 171 days - Christian Moore.

Sounds very interesting. Best of luck

2009-2010 Ups & Downs

PREMIER DIVISION

Winners: Man United.

Champs Lg Q: Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal.

Europa Lg Q: Liverpool, Man City.

Relegated: Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic, Stoke City.

COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

Winners: Middlesbrough

Promoted: West Bromwich Albion, Reading.

Europa Lg Q: Sheffield Wednesday (as FA Cup runners-up).

Relegated: Sheffield Wednesday, Swansea City, Blackpool.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 1

Winners: Millwall.

Promoted: Charlton Athletic, MK Dons.

Relegated: Yeovil Town, Stockport County, Carlisle, Wycombe Wanderers.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 2

Winners: Notts County.

Promoted: Rotherham, Northampton Town, Bury.

Relegated: Macclesfield Town, Barnet.

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER

Winners: Luton Town.

Promoted: Oxford United.

Relegated: Hayes & Yeading United, Salisbury City, Chester City, Eastbourne Boro.

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Winners: Southport.

Promoted: Northwich Victoria.

Relegated: Harrogate Town, Farsley Celtic, Hyde United.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH

Winners: Basingstoke.

Promoted; Lewes.

Relegated: Weymouth, Dorchester Town, Havant & Waterlooville.

ISTHMIAN PREMIER

Winners: Carshalton.

Promoted: Sutton United.

Relegated: Tooting & Mitcham United, Hendon, Aveley, Waltham Abbey.

SOUTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Farnborough Town.

Promoted: Oxford City.

Relegated: Clevedon, Bashley, Stourbridge Swifts, Evesham.

NORTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Bradford Park Avenue.

Promoted: Guiseley.

Relegated: Burscough, Hucknall Town, Ossett Town, Durham City.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 NORTH

Winners: Enfield Town.

Promoted: Lowestoft.

Relegated: Heybridge Swifts, Leyton.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 SOUTH

Winners: Sittingbourne.

Promoted: Leatherhead.

Relegated: Godalming, Eastbourne Town.

NORTHERN PREMIER D1N

Winners: Chorley.

Promoted: Leigh Genesis.

Relegated: Woodley Sports, Trafford.

NORTHERN PREMIER D1S

Winners: Cammell Laird.

Promoted: Witton Albion.

Relegated: Quorn, Kidsgrove.

SOUTHERN D1N

Winners: Bromsgrove.

Promoted: Stourport.

Relegated: Atherstone, Leighton.

SOUTHERN D1SW

Winners: Taunton Town.

Promoted: Cinderford Town.

Relegated: Thatcham, Bedfont Green.

--------------------------------------

FA Cup: Sheffield Wed 0-3 Chelsea @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

League Cup: Spurs 0-2 Man City @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

JPT: Tranmere 0-1 Leyton Orient @ Wembley. Att: 39286.

FA Trophy: Cambridge 4-2 Rushden & Diamonds @ Wembley. Att: 15047.

Isthmian League Cup: Wealdstone 2-0 Dartford @ Brisbane Road, London. Att: 3397.

Champions League: Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus @ Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. Att: 75328.

Europa League: Genoa 1-2 Olympique de Marseille @ HSH-Nordbank-Arena, Hamburg. Att: 46500.

World Cup 2010

Hosts: South Africa.

Holders: Italy.

Group Stage Exits: Uruguay, Algeria, Czech Republic, North Korea, South Africa, Greece, France, Japan, Switzerland, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Holland, Ghana, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia.

=2nd Round=

Italy 1-1p Paraguay

Slovakia 0-1 Germany

Spain 3-0 Chile

Nigeria 2-1 USA

Brazil 2-0 Denmark

Ivory Coast 3-1 Australia

Hungary 0-5 England

Croatia 1-3 Argentina

=Quarter Finals=

Paraguay 3-4 Nigeria

Germany 1-0 Spain

Brazil 1-2e Argentina

Ivory Coast 4-3 England

=Semi Finals=

Nigeria 1-2 Ivory Coast

Germany 2-2p Argentina

=Third Place=

Nigeria 0-2 Germany

=FINAL=

Ivory Coast 1-2 Argentina

@Soccer City, Johannesburg

Att: 87600.

That's a pretty poor season tbh. And we had to get past Met Police (lovingly known as Not Plod and other names by some non-league fans) in the play-off final last season irl. Good luck next season though.

I hope all new signings take up jobs or already have jobs with the Met Police.

I hope all new signings take up jobs or already have jobs with the Met Police.

Yes. They put in requests with their sergeant to transfer to us

2010-2011 ====Metropolitan Police==== Isthmian Division 1 South

Season Summary

The board and the fans wanted to forget the disappointment of the previous season, and the team set their minds on the task ahead.

I wanted a vast improvement, and that's what my players gave me. Although there were a few nerve jangling moments along the way. Especially at the end of the season. With 1 game left, we needed a win or a draw to secure a playoff place. We looked dead and buried, until an equaliser in the 82nd minute booked our place. We finished the league campaign in 5th, just 1 point ahead of Worthing - who would have beaten us on goal difference had we lost our final match.

Into the playoff semis then, and I wasn't too confident about our chances against Folkestone Invicta. They'd beaten us heavily in both league meetings. However, the lads pulled out an amazing performance, and we won 2-0. Met Croydon Athletic in the Final, and managed to scrape a 1-0 win. Met Police are going up

Final Table

Season progress

Cups

FA Cup: Not entered (for some bizarre reason).

FA Trophy: 2nd Qual Rnd vs Whitley Bay. Lost 1-0.

Isthmian League Cup: 1st Rnd vs Hastings Utd. Lost 4-3 on pens after 0-0 draw.

Squad

More players went out than came in. Signings weren't too hot this year. Existing squad members seemed to gel extremely well, and put in a lot of good perfomances. However, our top scorer was a winger - looks like I'll be signing a striker in the Summer.

Top Scorer: 9 - Neil Lampton

Fans Player of the Year: Tom Neil

All Transfer Activity

Finances

Terrible. We are £271,652 in debt, and the board keep stumping up money. If crowds don't pick up next season we could go into administration. There's no money for extra wages, or transfers.

New Club Records

Highest Attendance: 201 - vs Dulwich Hamlet (I1N).

Average Attendance: 157.

Most Games Without Losing: 6 - 9.4.2011 to 3.5.2011.

Most League Appearances: 84 - Will Packham, GK.

Youngest Player: 16 years 29 days - Nicky Whyte, ST.

Youngest Scorer: 16 years 57 days - Nicky Whyte, ST.

Fastest Goal: 21 seconds - Byron Brown (I1N).

2010-2011 Ups & Downs

PREMIER DIVISION

Winners: Arsenal.

Champs Lg Q: Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United.

Europa Lg Q: Aston Villa, Everton, Liverpool.

Relegated: Burnely, Middlesbrough, Reading.

COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

Winners: Stoke City.

Promoted: Crystal Palace, QPR.

Relegated: Derby County, MK Dons, Doncaster Rovers.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 1

Winners: Leeds United.

Promoted: Southampton, Brighton & Hove Albion.

Relegated: Rotherham United, Bristol Rovers, Exeter City, Tranmere Rovers.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 2

Winners: Carlisle United.

Promoted: Port Vale, Crewe Alexandria, Bradford City.

Relegated: Darlington, Hereford United.

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER

Winners: Mansfield Town.

Promoted: Kettering Town.

Relegated: Southport, Tamworth, Barrow, Forest Green Rovers.

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Winners: Corby Town.

Promoted: Stafford Rangers.

Relegated: Worcester City, Vauxhall Motors, Braintree Town.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH

Winners: Woking.

Promoted: Bishop's Stortford.

Relegated: Maidenhead, Gloucester City, Eastleigh.

ISTHMIAN PREMIER

Winners: Dartford.

Promoted: Horsham.

Relegated: Enfield Town, Billericay, Leatherhead, Lowestoft.

SOUTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Weymouth.

Promoted: Havant & Waterlooville.

Relegated: Tiverton, Bedford, Halesowen, Cinderford Town.

NORTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Kendal.

Promoted: FC United of Manchester.

Relegated: Worksop Town, Cammell Laird, Frickley Athletic, Retford.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 NORTH

Winners: Arlesey.

Promoted: Harlow.

Relegated: Romford, Wivenhoe.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 SOUTH

Winners: Uxbridge.

Promoted: METROPOLITAN POLICE

Relegated: Ashford Town, Bracknell.

NORTHERN PREMIER DIV 1 N

Winners: Burscough.

Promoted: Mossley.

Relegated: Whitley Bay, Bishop Auckland.

NORTHERN PREMIER DIV 1 S

Winners: Redbridge.

Promoted: Hucknall Town.

Relegated: Carlton, Newcastle Town.

SOUTHERN DIV 1 M

Winners: Chesham United.

Promoted: Hitchin Town.

Relegated: Dunstable, Coalville.

SOUTHERN DIV 1 SW

Winners: Frome.

Promoted: Clevedon.

Relegated: Pool Town, Winchester City.

----------------------------------------------

FA Cup: Manchester United 0-1 Chelsea @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

League Cup: Arsenal 2-3e Manchester United @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

Johnstone's Paint Trophy: Sheffield Wednesday 3-4 Norwich City @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

FA Trophy: Cambridge United 1-3 Stevenage Borough @ Wembley. Att: 17257.

Isthmian League Cup: Margate 2-1 Bognor Regis Town @ Cams Alders, Fareham. Att: 2503.

Champions League: Chelsea 2-0 A.C. Milan @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

Europa League: CFR Cluj 0-3 Olympique Lyonnais @ Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Att: 50000.

Interesting read.

KUTGW and good luck with your finances

There'sa reason why we call them Not Plod, hardly any of their players are in the police anymore. sounds a little bit like our game against Met last year, you relationship with Folkestone. Beaten twice, won in playoffs. KUTGW, good luck next season, how Cray are still up in your game I'll never know.

Yes, Cray are still in the Regional Premier level. And we'll be playing them at least twice this coming season.

There seems to have been a bit of FA restructuring during the close season. Strangely, we are now in the Southern League Premier - I'd thought we were headed for the Isthmian Premier. Strangely Truro and Dorchester are in the Isthmian, where geography suggests they'd be in the Southern - wouldn't want to foot their petrol bill for the journey to Canvey Island.

So there won't be any Cray - Not Plod games next season then.

So there won't be any Cray - Not Plod games next season then.

No, because the other 20 teams in the division are going to help us relegate Cray

So Cray are in the Southern League too?

Yes, league restructuring. 6 games in, and Cray are sitting 3rd.

Yay!!!! Keep it up Cray!

We should start a thread where everybody just says how Cray are doing in their game

Go on then.

If I had a faster computer I would do season by season updates of my save with Cray (which is a bit all over the place in terms of form atm). But it's not going to happen. I'll think about doing one with updates every few matches or something.

October 2011 - Cray have slipped to 10th - only 7 places above us. See you've put too much pressure on them, tipping them for the title in post #18

Fantastic...They release a new patch 2 days after I start a career. Seems they have fixed the "goalkeeper lobs a ball to forward in opposition penalty area resulting in goal" bug

Fantastic...They release a new patch 2 days after I start a career. Seems they have fixed the "goalkeeper lobs a ball to forward in opposition penalty area resulting in goal" bug

Its save compatible.

We should start a thread where everybody just says how Cray are doing in their game

He hasn't even asked me yet.. The nerve of some people

Its save compatible.

Yes - but I was looking forward to my keeper sending my forwards through on goal

Progress so far...

Season	    |Club		      |League			   |Final Position                 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009-2010   |Metropolitan Police      |Isthmian Division 1 South   |18th		           |
2010-2011   |Metropolitan Police      |Isthmian Division 1 South   |5th (promoted via play-offs)   |
2011-2012   |Metropolitan Police      |Southern League Premier	   |?                              |

2011-2012 ====Metropolitan Police==== Southern League Premier Division

Board: Respecatable mid-table finish.

Media: 20th.

Season Summary

A long, hard slog. I really had fears about going straight back down, and at times it was touch-and-go. The gulf in quality between the teams in the top half and bottom half of the table was evident. We did string together a few good runs, but had a nervy end to the season, and struggled to keep out of the relegation places in the last few weeks of the season. Somehow, we managed to survive, finishing 16th. I'm happy that we're going to have another crack at this division. Time to strengthen, and hopefully push for a higher finish next season.

Final Table

Season Progress

Cups

FA Cup: 2nd Qual Rnd. Lost 1-0 vs Weymouth.

FA Trophy: 3rd Qual Rnd. Lost 1-0 vs Dorchester Town.

Southern League Cup: 3rd Rnd. Lost 1-0 vs Hemel Hempstead Town.

Squad

With club finances being what they are, any new players came in on frees and loans. The squad performed as best they could, although I would have liked the strikers to have been more precise with their finishing - need to review their training, and see if I need to replace one of my coaches.

Top Goalscorer: 8 - James Evans (AMC).

Fans Player of the Year: Tom Neil (D/WB R).

All Transfer Activity.

New Club Records

Highest League Position: 16th in Southern Premier League.

Worst Discipline: Lee Gledhill - 13 yellows/ 1 red.

Most League Apps: Tom Neil - 120.

Most League Goals: Peter Holsgrove - 24.

Progress So Far

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Season	    |Club		  |League		       |Final Position                 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009-2010   |Metropolitan Police  |Isthmian Division 1 South   |18th		               |
2010-2011   |Metropolitan Police  |Isthmian Division 1 South   |5th (promoted via play-offs)   |
2011-2012   |Metropolitan Police  |Southern League Premier Div |16th                           |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2011-2012 Ups & Downs

PREMIER DIVISION

Winners: Arsenal.

Champs Lg Q: Manchester United (2nd), Manchester City (3rd), West Ham United (4th).

Europa Lg Q: Liverpool (5th), Tottenham Hotspur (6th), Stoke City (FA Cup runners up).

Relegated: Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, QPR.

COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

Winners: Portsmouth.

Promoted: Middlesbrough, Burnley.

Relegated: Peterborough United, Scunthorpe United, Brighton & Hove Albion.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 1

Winners: Huddersfield Town.

Promoted: Leyton Orient, Sheffield Wednesday.

Relegated: Northampton Town, Brentford, Bury, Port Vale.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 2

Winners: Stockport County.

Promoted: Dagenham & Redbridge, Rotherham United, Morecambe.

Relegated: Kettering Town, Accrington Stanley.

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER

Winners: Rushden & Diamonds.

Promoted: Stevenage Borough.

Relegated: Stafford Rangers, Woking, Northwich Victoria, Lewes.

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Winners: AFC Telford United.

Promoted: Barrow.

Relegated: FC United of Manchester, Workington Reds, Redditch United.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH

Winners: Eastbourne Boro.

Promoted: Chelmsford City.

Relegated: Bromley, Weymouth, Horsham.

ISTHMIAN PREMIER

Winners: Bromsgrove Rovers.

Promoted: Braintree.

Relegated: Hastings United, Redbridge, Taunton, Arlesey.

SOUTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Ashford (Middlx).

Promoted: Merthyr Tydfil.

Relegated: Clevedon, Boreham Wood, Chesham United, Swindon Supermarine.

NORTHEN PREMIER

Winners: Nuneaton Town.

Promoted: Nantwich.

Relegated: Buxton, Mossley, Stocksbridge Park Steels, North Ferriby.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 NORTH

Winners: Hendon.

Promoted: Wingate & Finchley.

Relegated: Potters Bar, Heybridge Swifts.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 SOUTH

Winners: Ramsgate.

Promoted: Windsor & Eton.

Relegated: Thamesmead, Merstham.

NORTHERN PREM DIV 1 NORTH

Winners: Lowestoft.

Promoted: FC Halifax.

Relegated: Rossendale, Goole.

NORTHERN PREM DIV 1 SOUTH

Winners: Worksop Town.

Promoted: Loughborough Dynamo.

Relegated: Lincoln United, Stamford.

SOUTHERN PREM DIV 1 M

Winners: Halesowen.

Promoted: Cinderford Town.

Relegated: Soham, AFC Hayes.

SOUTHERN PREM DIV 1 SW

Winners: Bashley.

Promoted: Slough.

Relegated: Burnham, Flackwell Heath.

--------------------------------------------

FA Cup: Stoke City 1 - 7 Manchester City @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

League Cup: Manchester United 4 - 0 Blackburn Rovers @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

Johnstone's Paint Tin: Sheffield Wednesday 2 - 3 Southend United @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

FA Trophy: Kidderminster Harriers 0 - 3 Rushden & Diamonds @ Wembley. Att: 10722.

Southern League Cup: Tiverton.

Champions League: A.C. Milan 3 - 1 Barcelona @ Allianz-Arena, Munich. Att: 56132.

Europa League: Bordeaux 2 - 2 Paris Saint-Germain. Bordeaux win 7-6 on pens @ Municipal, Brasov(ROM). Att: 35000.

EURO 2012

Hosts: Poland & Ukraine.

Holders: Spain.

Group Exits: Switzerland, Poland, Holland, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Belarus, Russia.

=Quarter Final=

Italy 3 - 0 Ukraine

Israel 1 - 3e Scotland

Germany 1 - 2e England

Belgium 1 - 2 France

=Semi Final=

Italy 1 - 0 France

Scotland 0 - 2 England

=FINAL=

Italy 0 England 1 (Ashley Young 81).

@ Stadion Slaski, Chorzow, Poland.

Att: 47202.

Final played at Stadion Slaski, Chorzow, Poland. Att: 47202.

Ooh, play-off heartache for Cray. Good Luck next year, maybe with a few improvements (stay away from Osborne ) you'll be looking at promotion next year.

Bromsgrove winning the Isthmian Premier? They shouldn't even be in that league.

Bromsgrove winning the Isthmian Premier? They shouldn't even be in that league.

I noticed that and thought it was odd. I'm still playing an LLM game but I like to read "dormant" LLM-ers' updates - is this a regular issue with editor files (teams playing in leagues they blatantly don't belong in)?

I noticed that and thought it was odd. I'm still playing an LLM game but I like to read "dormant" LLM-ers' updates - is this a regular issue with editor files (teams playing in leagues they blatantly don't belong in)?

I put it down to league restructuring decided the day after the FA Christmas party. Bromsgrove aren't the only ones in a strange league. I'd expected us to be in the Isthmian Premier, not the Southern.

I guess they decided to move the isthmus in the ISTHMIAN league to the one at the other end of the country in the restructure.

One for wandsfan93...The Met Police Christmas Party

No play-off this year

Met Police in the Southern League is at least feasible. Bromsgrove are nowhere near the Isthmian League area, being a few miles South of Birmingham.

Never gonna happen in my save.

Yeah, Cray will be in oblivion by 2012.

Yes, Cray are still in the Regional Premier level. And we'll be playing them at least twice this coming season.

There seems to have been a bit of FA restructuring during the close season. Strangely, we are now in the Southern League Premier - I'd thought we were headed for the Isthmian Premier. Strangely Truro and Dorchester are in the Isthmian, where geography suggests they'd be in the Southern - wouldn't want to foot their petrol bill for the journey to Canvey Island.

This is due to SI making coding changes to how the regional leagues are selected in the 10.2 patch, basically messing up the Southern and Isthmian Leagues when continuing a game started with the 10.1 database and mine and SBs file.

I will be releasing a new version of my file in the next day or 2, however it is NOT saved game compatible due to database changes

2012-2013 ===Metropolitan Police=== Southern League Premier Division

Media Prediction: 20th.

Board: Respectable league position.

Season Summary

Bloody brilliant! Talk about a turnaround in fortunes. The spectre of last season's brush with relegation was banished. I'd strengthened the team considerably during the summer, and it showed. Teams who sent us packing last season were sent packing by us. But it wasn't until March when things got really interesting.

Sitting in 7th, just behind Chippenham, I thought this would be us for the season. Losing two games in a row to the teams in 1st and 2nd put a real dent in our playoff hopes. However, the team were spurred on, 5th place Didcot slipped up big time, and we climbed above them and Chippenham. Last day of the regular season, Chippenham could have denied us the playoff spot had they beaten us by 28 goals. But they drew 0-0, and we snatched a coveted playoff place.

We played Brackley in the playoff semis - and what a nerve jangler for the fans. Brackley were leading 1-0, we were into second half stoppage time. We won a corner, which was expertly floated into the box. There it met the head of one of our defenders. 1-1! We took the upper hand in first half of Extra Time, and looked like winning 2-1. But Brackley equalised on 118 minutes Penalties then - and we won 5-4.

The playoff final pitted our wits against Gloucester City. Stalemate after 90 minutes, in a pretty uneventful match. Same in extra time. Final score 0-0, and onto a shootout. When Gloucester missed their 6th penalty, we didn't. Joe Maxwell held his nerve to net the winner. Another 5-4 shootout win. Met Police are on the up (hopefully to BSS), and into new territory

Nursing a post party hangover, I got a call from the chairman of TNS. He offered me a job and £600 p/w...Tempting. Very tempting. But what will my decision be?

Final League Table

Season Progress

Cups

FA Cup: 3rd Qual. Rnd. Lost 3-1 vs Salisbury City.

FA Trophy: 3rd Rnd. Lost 4-1 vs Cambridge United.

Southern League Cup: 1st Rnd. Lost 2-1 a.e.t. vs Harlow.

Squad

Lots of rebuilding during the summer, and the introduction of improved tactics and a proper training regime made a vast difference. I was particularly impressed by the football skills shown by some of our younger players, and I think they'll have good futures ahead of them. Amazing what you can pick up for free sometimes too.

Top Scorer: 12 - Frazer Wilson & Andy Savage.

Fans Player of the Year: Steve Johnston.

All Transfer Activity

New Club Records

Highest League Position: 5th in the Southern League Premier Division.

Highest Attendance: 256 vs Slough (League).

Highest Gate Receipts: £3k vs Winchester (FACup 2ndQ).

Biggest Win: 6-0 vs Uxbridge (League).

Most Games Without Losing: 10 - 17.11.2012 to 29.12.2012.

Most Goals in a Match: 3 - Frazer Wilson vs Uxbridge (League).

Most Assists: 11 - Andy Ottley.

Highest Average Rating: 7.29 - Steve Johnston.

Oldest Player: 37 years 208 days - Tony Vaughn (vs Gloucester, Southern Prem Playoff Final).

2012-13 Ups & Downs

PREMIER DIVISION

Winners: Arsenal.

Champs Lg Q: Manchester United(2nd), Tottenham Hotspur(3rd), West Ham United(Champions League Winners)

Europa Lg Q: Aston Villa(5th), Liverpool(6th), Everton(FA Cup Winners).

Relegated: Portsmouth, Hull City, Stoke City.

COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

Winners: Reading.

Promoted: Plymouth Argyle, Nottingham Forest.

Relegated: Wigan Athletic, Charlton Athletic, Barnsley.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 1

Winners: Notts County.

Promoted: Gillingham, Peterborough United.

Relegated: Bradford City, Stockport County, Rotherham United, Dagenham & Redbridge.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 2

Winners: Northampton Town.

Promoted: Rochdale, Torquay United, Burton Albion.

Relegated: Aldershot Town, Stevenage Borough.

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER

Winners: Kettering Town.

Promoted: AFC Wimbledon.

Relegated: Barrow, AFC Telford United, Altrincham, Darlington.

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Winners: Chester City.

Promoted: Southport.

Relegated: Solihull Moors, Guiseley, Oxford City.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH

Winners: Carshalton Athletic.

Promoted: Woking.

Relegated: Newport County, Dartford, Lewes.

ISTHMIAN PREMIER

Winners: Weymouth.

Promoted: Eastleigh.

Relegated: Rugby Town, Truro City, Cambridge City, Sittingbourne.

NORTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Workington.

Promoted: Farsley Celtic.

Relegated: Marine, Ashton United, Whitby Town, Leigh Genesis.

SOUTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Harlow Town.

Promoted: METROPOLITAN POLICE

Relegated: Harrow Borough, Margate, Cinderford, Wingate & Finchley.

ISTHMIAN DIV1 NORTH

Winners: Boreham Wood.

Promoted: Enfield Town.

Relegated: Great Wakering, Wivenhoe.

ISTHMIAN DIV1 SOUTH

Winners: Godalming.

Promoted: Ashford Town.

Relegated: Corinthian-Casuals, Whyteleafe.

NORTHERN PREMIER DIV1 NORTH

Winners: Durham City.

Promoted: North Ferriby.

Relegated: Brigg, Harrogate Railway.

NORTHERN PREMIER DIV1 SOUTH

Winners: Retford.

Promoted: Newcastle Town.

Relegated: Mickleover Sports, Prescot Cables.

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIV1 M

Winners: Beaconsfield.

Promoted: Willenhall.

Relegated: Leighton, Malvern.

SOUTHERN PREMIER DIV1 SW

Winners: Clevedon.

Promoted: Taunton.

Relegated: North Leigh, Abingdon United.

--------------------------------------------------

FA Cup: Everton 3 - 1 West Ham United @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

League Cup: Everton 1 - 2 West Ham United @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

Johnstone's Paint Can: Carlisle United 0 - 1 Norwich City @ Wembley. Att: 90000 (yeah, right!).

FA Trophy: AFC Wimbledon 2 - 0 Cambridge United @ Wembley. Att: 21321.

Southern League Cup: Harlow beat Tiverton 5-4 on pens, after 1-1 agg.

Champions League: Manchester United 1 - 3 West Ham United @ Artemio Franchi, Florence. Att: 47350.

Europa League: Real Madrid 2 - 1 Benfica @ Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Lisbon. Att: 65647. (A right kick in the nuts for Benfica!).

Hmm. Not Plod in the Blue Square Leagues, interesting.

Well, it'll be interesting to see how they get on. My mind is on other things, contract negotiations have been concluded.

21st May 2013

I resign from the managerial position of Metropolitan Police, and head for Wales...

Damn... just when I was going to say that with the bigger crowds it might not be just the referee who gets called a w@nker.

Oh, and Newcastle Town promoted.

In real life this season they have played 23 and won 23 in the North West Counties Premier Division. Might finally get promotion after years of being nearly men.

4 years with the police was long enough...Life at The New Saints is off to a flyer.

One statistic from last season. Wingate & Finchley set a new Southern League Premier, lowest attendance record...12. That's not including the tea lady.

To quote Jeff Stelling, they'll be dancing on the streets of The New Saints. No dancing on the streets of Metropolitan Police anymore though. You do have a habit of managing teams that don't actually have a place in their name.

Season Summary

Joining one of the top clubs in Wales was always going to mean an easy ride, and that's exactly what we had - although a couple of slip-ups early in the league season made things interesting for a while.

Llanelli were looking like a runaway train in the first half of the season, and left us with a lot of ground to cover. We pegged away, eventually drawing level on points with them, and just in time for a crunch tie with them. We stole a vital 1-0 away win, and never looked back from there. Llanelli looked like a man on the ropes, and dropped a lot of points in the last third of the season. We won the Championship, and are currently on a 28 game unbeaten run.

Final League Table

Season Progress

I won Manager of the Year, and entered the Wales Hall of Fame.

Cups

Never looked like losing either.

Welsh League Cup: TNS 3 - 1 Airbus @The Queensway International Stadium, Wrexham. Att: 1973.

Loosemores League Cup: TNS 2 - 1 Port Talbot @ The Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. Att: 2106.

Europe

My first foray into European club football this season. And what an introduction to the Champions League.

First Qualifying Phase: vs Differdange (LUX). Won 5-0 home, drew 0-0 away.

Second Qualifying Phase: vs Slavia Prague (CZE). Lost 1-0 away, won 2-0 home.

Third Qualifying Phase: vs St Pat's Athletic (IRL). Won 2-0 home, drew 2-2 away.

Easy-ish so far. Landed Slovan Bratislava (SVK) in the next round, and the pundits gave us no chance. Cue one of our finest nights in Europe:

Champions Playoff:

Coupled with a 0-0 scoreline away from home, TNS reached the holy ground of the group stages (and the £6M prize money cleared the club debt in one fell swoop!)

Less said about the group stage the better. We were in a Group of Death - well, that could have been any of them. With Arsenal, Vfb Stuttgart, and Olimpique Marseille as opponents, we ended up claiming the record for the most goals conceded in the Champions League.

Marseille: Lost 0-6H, 5-0A; Arsenal: Lost 7-0A, 3-0H; Stuttgart: Lost 4-1A, 0-2H.

Out we went...

Squad

Didn't need much tailoring. The squad was pretty strong, and the goals flew in all season. I did make some signings, just to cover injuries. One young striker we got on loan from Dundee United particularly impressed me - Jordan Elfverson. Sadly, he'd rather sign for Raith Rovers than make a move to TNS permanent

Fans Player of the Year: Luke Hyam. Finished with a 7.21 rating.

Top Scorer: 32 - Ben Wright. Also made the most assists - 20.

Other players who impressed this season:

Jim Forbes - a good, fast-paced young winger. Adept at finding the net when played in his striker position.

All Transfer Activity

New Club Records

Average Attendance: 470.

Biggest Defeat: 7-0 vs Arsenal (Champions League).

Highest Scoring Game: 7-0 vs Arsenal (Champions League).

Highest Scoring League Game: 6-1 vs Cefn Druids.

Most Games Won in a Row: 19 - 14.12.2013 to 15.3.2014.

Most Games Without Losing: 28 - 14.12.2013 to 3.5.2014.

Most Games Without Conceding: 6 - 20.12.2013 to 11.1.2014.

Total Transfer Spending: £65000.

2013-14 Ups & Downs

WALES:

Principality Welsh Premier:

Winners: TNS.

Europa League Q: Port Talbot, Llanelli, Airbus (as cup runners up).

Relegated: Haverfordwest, Welshpool.

ENGLAND:

PREMIER DIVISION

Winners: Arsenal.

Champs Lg Q: Manchester United (2nd), Chelsea (3rd), West Ham United (4th).

Europa Lg Q: Tottenham Hotspur (5th), Manchester City (6th), Aston Villa (FA Cup runners up).

COCA-COLA CHAMPIONSHIP

Winners: Portsmouth.

Promoted: Bristol City, Coventry City.

Relegated: Ipswich Town, Huddersfield Town, Gillingham.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 1

Winners: Doncaster Rovers.

Promoted: Barnsley, Southend United.

Relegated: Torquay United, Oldham Athletic, Morecambe, Burton Albion.

COCA-COLA LEAGUE 2

Winners: Lincoln City.

Promoted: Bristol Rovers, Dagenham & Redbridge, Oxford United.

Relegated: Rotherham United, AFC Wimbledon.

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER

Winners: Cambridge United.

Promoted: Macclesfield Town.

Relegated: Corby, Chelmsford City, Ebbsfleet United, Grays.

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Winners: Darlington.

Promoted: Nuneaton Town.

Relegated: Fleetwood Town, Hinckley, Ilkeston Town.

BLUE SQUARE SOUTH

Winners: Dover.

Promoted: Farnborough Town.

Relegated: Metropolitan Police , Thurrock, Havant & Waterlooville.

ISTHMIAN PREMIER DIVISION

Winners: Hendon.

Promoted: Lewes.

Relegated: Willenhall, Tonbridge Angels, Ashford Town, AFC Hornchurch.

SOUTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Newport County.

Promoted: Chippenham Town.

Relegated: Beaconsfield, Frome, Didcot, Maidenhead.

NORTHERN PREMIER

Winners: Harrogate Town.

Promoted: Loughborough Dynamo.

Relegated: Burscough, Worksop Town, Chorley, Newcastle Town.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 N

Winners: Romford.

Promoted: Redbridge.

Relegated: Biggleswade Town, Brentwood.

ISTHMIAN DIV 1 S

Winners: Tooting & Mitcham United.

Promoted: Walton Casuals.

Relegated: Burgess Hill, VCD Athletic.

NORTHERN PREMIER DIV 1 N

Winners: Truro City.

Promoted: Lancaster City.

Relegated: AFC Hayed, Colwyn Bay.

NORTHERN PREMIER DIV 1 S

Winners: Belper.

Promoted: Curzon Ashton.

Relegated: Grantham, Shepshed Dynamo.

SOUTHERN DIV 1 M

Winners: Dunstable.

Promted: Rugby Town.

Relegated: Atherstone, Romulus.

SOUTHERN DIV 1 SW

Winners: Margate.

Promoted: Marlow.

Relegated: Thatcham, Gosport.

----------------------------------

FA Cup: Arsenal 3 - 2 Aston Villa @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

League Cup: Aston Villa 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion @ Wembley. Att: 90000.

JPT: Scunthorpe United 3 - 0 Swansea City @ Wembley.

FA Trophy: Chester City 1 - 0 Dover Athletic @ Wembley. Att: 10399.

----------------------------------

Champions League: A.C. Milan 2 - 0 Real Madrid @ St. James' Park, Newcastle. Att: 52387.

Europa League: Barcelona 1 - 0 Galatasaray @ Nuevo San Marnes, Bilbao. Att: 53000.

World Cup 2014

Hosts: Brazil.

Holders: Argentina.

Group Exits: Ireland, Senegal, Slovenia, Saudi Arabia, USA, UAE, Uruguay, Turkey, South Africa, Japan, Morocco, Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Portugal, South Korea.

=2nd Rnd=

Tunisia 0-2 Argentina

Honduras 0-3 France

Brazil 2-0 Australia

Italy 1-2 Belgium

Ukraine 1-0 Russia

England 0-1 Germany

Chile 2-4 Croatia

Paraguay p2-2 Spain

=QF=

Argentina p0-0 Belgium

France 2-1 Brazil

Ukriane 1-0 Paraguay

Germany 0-1 Croatia

=SF=

Argentina 3-0 Croatia

France 3-2 Ukraine

=3rd Place=

Croatia 0-3 Ukraine

=FINAL=

Argentina 0 - 2 France

@Maracana, Rio de Janeiro.

Att: 92000.

Wednesday 13th August 2014

The chairman of Middlesbrough approaches me, believing me to be the ideal replacement for Gareth Southgate.

It's a difficult decision. I've guided TNS to the Champions League Playoff again - two games away from the group stages again. We are due to face Wisla (POL) who I think we could beat. We'd scalped HB, Dinamo Minsk, and FC Timasoara so far.

But a bit of wage negotiation takes place, together with the realisation that there would be no real challenge in the Welsh league. I decide to end my brief tenure at TNS and head for The Riverside. Boro are currently in the Coca-Cola Championship, and the season is about to kick off as I arrive.