neilhoskins77

Welsh sir. I don't want to be wearing those Three Lions haha. Hope you're well Mark.

English?! Bloody English! I think me and you should see other people Mr Wilson

This post should have been the latest installment covering the June of the summer as we attempted to improve the squad and bank balance ahead of our step up into the tenth tier and our imminent transition to a semi-professional club. Sadly, that isn't the case. The month went really well, four wins out of four in the bookies , helped largely by the superb early season form of Brazilian club Gremio who we successfully backed twice alongside a win each for St Pats Athletic in Ireland and reigning MLS Champions in the United States of the New York Red Bulls. That run of seven wins from eight bets had us well up over the £1.5m mark. We were also doing well with our recruitment, as a string of teenage players released by clubs higher up the pyramid were intrigued enough to pledge their footballing future to our unique project down on the Cornish Coast. The most recognisable name was that of an 18 year old midfielder by the name of Kemar Roofe. However in late June, the save threw up a fatal error as it attempted to push itself into the new season. seemingly caused by errors as it tried to reorganise some of the lower leagues. It's a bitter blow, of my current active saves I think this was the one I was enjoying the most due to it's unique angle. 'The Gambler' is over for now, but you can be assured it will be back at some point in the future. Thank you for reading and interacting with this story.

Saturday 2nd April 2016 April is always a big month, as matters start to be settled in the football season, while other nations start to get theirs underway. For Cardiff City dropping any points now is an issue, and a trip to Blackpool proved to be just that on the opening weekend of the month. A goal in each half from firstly Andrea Orlandi and then Nathan Delfouneso would mean the points would stay in the North West as Blackpool took another step towards persevering their Sky Bet Championship status. Former manager Steve McLaren has come back to haunt his former employers City today! Further North but on the opposite coast in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, it would be a double blow for the clubs we are following. Chelsea's hopes of the Barclays Premier League Title returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2010 suffered a major dent today. Diego Costa was booked early on, and then received his marching orders before the break for a second bookable offence. And Newcastle United wasted no time taking advantage after the break. Antonio Valencia, Siem de Jong and Yoan Gouffran all netted in a twenty minute spell that ruined their hopes of moving clear of Manchester City who lost to Liverpool in the early kick off. Sunday 3rd April Both Wales and Italy are keen spectators as the draw is made today for next years UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying. For the Welsh, it will be Group Six where France are the big favourites, but Wales will expect to be competitive against Gibraltar, Iceland and a more familiar foe, Scotland. For Italy their fate is Group Seven. They will hope for a fairly smooth passage as they will face minnows Andorra, as well as Armenia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Those games will start in August. Tuesday 5th April Cardiff City's start to April has got even worse tonight as they suffer a second successive 2-0 defeat within the space of a few days. This time they were beaten at the Cardiff City Stadium by a seemingly Playoff bound Leicester City team. Liam Moore struck early in the first half, and Paul McShane settled the matter late in the second half. Davide's twenty fifth starting appearance of the season in all competitions did not go the way he would have liked, and City now find themselves in 11th place and seven points outside of the party places with only four games remaining. Their chances look slim! Wednesday 6th April Chelsea have brushed off the disappointment of the weekend trip to the North-East, and tonight secured their place in the last four of the UEFA Champions League. Their German opponents Schalke 04 arrived in West London optimistic that they could take a semi-final berth. But after a tight first half, The Blues were irresistible in the second half, goals from Oscar, Eden Hazard and Loïc Rémy would send the Germans home with only a German Cup to target as they are well off the pace in the Bundesliga. For Danilo there was the frustration of seeing three youngsters included amongst the substitutes, one of them getting into the game late on to make his Senior Debut during a Champions League Quarter-Final. Friday 8th April With three English teams in the Semi-Final stages of the UEFA Champions League, it is a guarantee that at least one will make it to the Final this season, as it is also a guarantee that two of them will face each other in the last four. Two drawn together are Manchester City and Liverpool, two of the clubs rivalling Chelsea for this seasons Barclays Premier League Title. For The Blues, they will need to find a way past another German club to reach the Final, the current Budesliga Champions and five times European Champions from Bayern Munich. Saturday 9th April In South London it's a big day for Cardiff City as they attempt to remain in the hunt for a Playoff spot with games running out. A pair of goals from Danny Graham inside the opening half hour have them comfortably ahead at The Valley against a Charlton Athletic side that are trying to climb out of the relegation zone. Oliver Norwood was sent off for the hosts just seven minutes into the second half for a second bookable offence, but Charlton still made a fight of it when Callum Harriott pulled a goal back in the final ten minutes. City would hold on though, and move up into ninth place, now five points away from the top six with only three games remaining. Wednesday 13th April During a North London downpour, are Chelsea's hopes of winning the Barclays Premier League Title disappearing as the finish line approaches? They make the trip across the capital to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, and are behind quickly through a Javier Hernández goal. Brazilian centre back Dante was already booked by then, and he received another in the 25th minute to reduce The Blues down to ten men, and Theo Walcott quickly made it two-nil moments later. André Schürrle pulled one back, but Walcott quickly netted another and while Mourinho's men would steady the ship, they could find no way back into the game. They are now third, two points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand, and a point behind Manchester City who also have that game in hand too. Liverpool are fourth, level on points with Chelsea but having played a game more. Five left to play for City and Chelsea. Saturday 16th April Swansea City travel to West London today, and put in a superb first half performance to keep out a dominant Chelsea side. But they couldn't keep it up, and Oscar broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart, with André Schürrle and Xherdan Shaqiri adding further goals later on. With City winning the Manchester Derby in the early kick off, and Liverpool winning too, it's the two teams with the game in hand who are now leading the way as the games tick down till the end of the season. Back in South Wales, there is a resurgence in form for Cardiff City that might be too little too late, and they would probably wish they had started the month with. They dish out a 3-0 thumping to Leyton Orient today, who drop into the relegation zone as a result of the game at the Cardiff City Stadium. A pair of goals came from Aron Gunnarsson, with Joe Mason also scoring in between. The Bluebirds are three points outside the Playoffs with just two games remaining now. Monday 18th April Davide played in that game, his 31st appearance in all competitions this season, and potentially his last. This morning the 19 year old defender suffered a twisted knee in training that will keep him out for the next three weeks. Unless Cardiff make it to the Playoffs, his domestic season is now over, which will be very frustrating in a season where he has really asserted himself as a First Team regular for The Bluebirds. Wednesday 20th April And speaking of frustrating, that takes us to Chelsea and their UEFA Champions League Semi-Final First Leg tonight at Stamford Bridge against Bayern Munich. There were enough chances created by The Blues to win several games, but they took none of them, and saw Polish International striker Robert Lewandowski score with one of the few chances Bayern created in the 18th minute. Reversing that scoreline in the return in Germany is going to be a big ask for José Mourinho and his team! Friday 22nd April Despite being advised from several quarters that he shouldn't be included, Chris Coleman appears set to select Danilo for his Preliminary Squad ahead of this summers UEFA European Championship Finals. He is a month away from naming his 23 man squad ahead of Wales' first major Championship Finals since 1958. Luigi Di Biagio will name his Italy squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Finals a little earlier than that, and Davide is certainly hoping to be involved and add to the fourteen caps he has earned so far at that level. Saturday 23rd April The Barclays Premier League Title Race is going right to the wire, but today it's advantage Chelsea! After watching Manchester City slip up at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the early game, Chelsea win 3-1 at Elland Road against a Leeds United side that have already safely ensured their mid table spot. Diego Costa scored early to give The Blues the advantage, but Austrian International forward Andi Weimann levelled things up before the break. But after a nervous period early in the second half, Costa put Chelsea back in front and Mohamed Salah scored his fifth goal of the season to clinch the points in the 77th minute. Liverpool also win away from home in the late game with victory at Norwich City. That leaves The Reds level on points with Chelsea but with only two games remaining compared to Chelsea's three fixtures. Manchester City are now two points behind with three game remaining also, Manchester United a further point behind with two games to play. At Ewood Park, a goal with just twelve minutes remaining by Joe Mason to finally break the deadlock for Cardiff City against Blackburn Rovers earned them another win in their penultimate game of the season. It's an absolutely vital result, as it means Blackburn are out of the running for automatic promotion on the final day and can now only reach the Playoffs at best. City are now eighth with the win, two points outside the Playoffs, but knowing that a win on the final day of the campaign could still see them reach the top six. They will need to do so without another defender though, Brazilian full back Fábio has suffered a damaged achilles tendon, which comes with three months in the treatment room. Tuesday 26th April Chelsea have their focus diverted away from the Title Race this evening, as they travel to Germany to try and reverse the result from the First Leg of their UEFA Champions League Semi-Final against Bayern Munich. Despite enjoying the lions share of the possession and creating the best chances, just like the first game they were picked off when they over committed, and Serbian International striker Aleksandar Mitrovic came off the bench as he so often does and ended the tie at the Allianz-Arena. Saturday 30th April On a dramatic final day of the Sky Bet Championship, the automatic promotion and the Playoff spots would be decided. Cardiff City would host Bolton Wanderers, who despite being in the lower reaches of the table were safe from relegation and had nothing to play for. It showed too, as City tore them to bits twice in the first half through Joe Mason, and once more just after the hour mark with an Anthony Pilkington goal. They were absolutely going to be relying on results elsewhere though. Leicester City were the club they were looking to move past and pinch their Playoff spot, and they had gone ahead early on only to see Blackburn come from behind and score twice to take the lead in a game where a set of circumstances could see them lose their own spot too. The other factor for City was Wolverhampton Wanderers, who started the day in seventh and were ahead of City in the queue if they could win today. But they would fail in that attempt, losing 2-1 at West Ham United. So City sneak in through the back door, and will now face Crystal Palace in the Playoff Semi-Finals after The Eagles lost at relegated Barnsley today, and missed out on the second automatic promotion spot to the Premier League as Derby County instead secure their future at the top table. So now Davide has to try and get fit for the Playoffs, and make sure he stays fit for a potential summer in Greece with the Italy Under-21 side.

Friday 5th August 2016 New season eve, and we're all set to head to Cliftonville for our return to the Premier Division, and my first ever game as manager of a top tier club. It's been a long time coming! The bookies don't expect us to make a winning return, with Cliftonville the odds on favourites to take the three points on offer in the opening day clash. Our scout advises that Cliftonville like to play counter attacking football and that wide players will struggle to make an impact on a narrow park. I disregard the last part of the advice, every park in this country would probably be considered as narrow. What we have done to get us to the Premier Division party is worth a shot, and good players will always find space. Saturday 6th August Northern Irish Premier Division Solitude, Belfast Cliftonville v Coleraine Attendance :- 486. Weather :- Dry, 19c. Liam McLeary gets the nod to start the season in goal, with three more debutants joining him in my team selection today. Ryan Nelthorpe and Craig Dobson are joined by Frank Nouble, the striker I'm pinning my hopes on as having the X-Factor to help us stay out of trouble this season. It is certainly a bit of a gamble including him from the start when he has had an injury in pre-season and is a little under cooked ahead of the new campaign. Immediately from kick off we were given a lesson in being sharper at this level, the ball stolen right from us and Gavin McDowell twisted inside and out to earn space for a shot that debutant keeper Liam McLeary pushed to safety. A rare trek forward saw Gerry Nixon send a dipping shot over the bar, a spell of play that was more notable for Frank Nouble taking a knock that ended his afternoon and made our gamble a quick bust, Nixon had just come on as his replacement. McDowell sent a shot over the bar and Neil Fotheringham powered a header wide as Cliftonville started to gain control, and Fotheringham would quickly get another chance. Ten minutes before the break Harry Baker was sent into space down their right with a ball over the defence, and with time to look at his options, he picked out Fotheringham arriving late between our defenders, and he met the cross with a half volley that he steered beyond McLeary to put the hosts ahead. A goal behind at the break, I wasn't hugely concerned about the score but more worried about the amount of ball that Cliftonville were having and the dangerous positions they were getting into. I made the decision to funnel us back a little and setup to counter attack, removing wide players Craig Dobson and Matty Robson and bringing on Andy Dickinson to send us to five at the back, and Lee Ward to help clog up the centre of the park and try and give us a foothold there. It failed miserably. Baker received the ball back from Fotheringham and again from the right he whipped in a quick cross this time, sending it all the way to the back post where Tony Jones was caught on his heels as Stephen Connolly arrived to get in front of him and meet the ball with a flying diving header that found the net inside McLeary's near post. That left me feeling pretty deflated, though we did almost hit right back, Nixon managing to hold his run and stay onside for a through ball, but Luke O'Neill got enough of a block on his shot to deflect it onto the base of the upright before it was cleared. Sub midfielder Ward took a late knock on his debut which will need to be checked upon, but unfortunately we were largely second best today on our return to the top table. Cliftonville (1) 2 - Neil Fotheringham (35), Stephen Connolly (54) Coleraine (0) 0 Liam McLeary; Tony Jones, Declan O'Hara, Ryan Young, Stewart Devine; Ryan Nelthorpe, Gavin Whelan ©; Craig Dobson (Lee Ward 45 (inj 88), Matty Robson (Andy Dickinson 45); Frank Nouble (inj - Gerry Nixon 16), Andy McMillan. Unused Substitutes :- Michael Haswell, Dean Britton. Bookings :- None Possession :- 50% - 50%. Man of the Match :- Stephen Connolly (Cliftonville). We feared today would be a tough start to the season, and so it proved. We were really pulled apart for large sections of the game, and while Cliftonville are not a club we expect to be battling in the lower part of the table, we will need to be far more competitive and showing an ability to take points, which never looked likely today. Frank Nouble is okay, apart from possibly being made of glass. But another new arrival Lee Ward has suffered a groin strain, and he will sit out the next month or so of action. In good news however, our third League game, scheduled for ten days from now away to Linfield has been postponed due to them having a Cup game. That game has been rescheduled for Thursday 1st September, and means that we will now round out August with three successive home League games, and we have to take some points from them. We'll start that run with Newry City at home next Saturday. Friday 12th August A significantly improved attendance from last seasons figures is expected tomorrow afternoon at The Showgrounds as we make our home return to top flight football. While the bookies are making Newry City the favourites for the game, there is a quiet confidence at the club that we can earn a result against a team we have generally split success with over the course of the save, nine wins apiece from twenty contests. But we won the last one and the only time we've faced them during my tenure, a Northern Irish Cup victory last season. I will be making some changes for this game too. Local rivals and First Division side Limavady United have asked to take young left winger Scott Francis on loan for the season. I've agreed in principle, on the basis that Francis can be recalled should we feel we need him. 18 year old Scott spent last season on loan in the third tier with Ballymoney United, so the move would represent a step up for him this season. He played 26 League games for them, returning two goals and eight assists. Saturday 13th August Northern Irish Premier Division The Showgrounds, Coleraine Coleraine v Newry City Attendance :- 456. Weather :- Dry, 28c. It's a beautiful warm day near the north coast of Ulster as we welcome a healthy crowd for our home return to Premier Division football. Four changes are made to the starting lineup as Michael Haswell replaces Stewart Devine at left back, Dean Britton comes in on the left wing in place of Matty Robson, and the striker pairing is also changed as Pat McIlroy and John Green are partnered together in place of Andy McMillan and Frank Nouble. The latter is on the bench along with Robson, while there are potential club debutants with Dean Jones and Alan Dallas also named amongst the substitute options. Those changes helped us get off to a flying start. In the seventh minute Gavin Whelan played the ball around the corner to set Craig Dobson off in space down the right, and he beat Richard Keegan before sending in a cross that was aimed for John Green, but never reached him as Harry Morris panicked on the edge of his own six yard box and headed the ball only to see it loop over his own keeper Darren Hardman and hand us the lead. Just under ten minutes later and we struck again, Whelan with an inswinging corner that Green couldn't quite connect with, but Pat McIlroy did, just getting enough on the header to divert it away from the defenders and into the far corner! We were flying, but City went into an attacking setup to try and get back into it, Graeme Eaglesham lucky to escape a booking after chasing the referee down the park when he believed Ryan Young had tripped him in the penalty box. A lot of the good work we were doing was going through Dobson, but Michael Haswell and Dean Britton on debut were linking nicely down the left too, and Haswell made an overlapping run that then produced a superb cross, McIlroy arriving unmarked but failing to keep his header down when it was easier to score than miss! But ten minutes before the break a third goal would duly arrive, Dobson overhitting his cross that was aimed at Britton, but watched on as it flew over Hardman's head, hit the far post and then rolled behind the keeper and in off the inside of the other post. An absolute fluke, but we'll take it for a three nil half time advantage. I begged my players to keep the tempo high and not let the performance level drop after the break, and while City came out fired up, Eaglsham's looping header off the bar was all they produced from a series of corners that Liam McLeary largely dealt with comfortably. Dobson produced an outrageous piece of skill to move away from three players after receiving the ball in an unenviable position and won us a free kick when Chris Mills kicked him out of pure frustration. They were creeping back into the game though, Richard Clarke thumping a shot from range that smashed back off the bar before being claimed from the air by McLeary. Our luck ran out though in the 63rd minute when Clarke sent in a corner not unlike Whelan's earlier, Richard Street was being manhandled by both Ryan Nelthorpe and Declan O'Hara, managing to get his head to the ball from a yard out and knock it over the line to keep the game alive as a contest. I changed my midfield pairing and introduced Frank Nouble with around a quarter of an hour left as we looked to close things up, Eaglesham sending a good chance high and wide when Dobson made a rare mistake, but largely opting for deep crosses that McLeary excelled under. Big day for us, as we're off the mark! Coleraine (3) 3 - Harry Morris (7 og), Pat McIlroy (16), Craig Dobson (35) Newry City (0) 1 - Richard Street (63) Liam McLeary; Tony Jones, Declan O'Hara, Ryan Young, Michael Haswell; Ryan Nelthorpe (Alan Dallas 76), Gavin Whelan © (Dean Jones 76); Craig Dobson, Dean Britton; John Green (Frank Nouble 76), Pat McIlroy. Unused Substitutes :- Andy Dickinson, Matty Robson. Bookings :- None Possession :- 46% - 54%. Man of the Match :- Craig Dobson (Coleraine). Absolutely delighted would be my feelings after that performance. It was only one game, but after that Cliftonville outing I was a bit worried that we hadn't done enough to make sure we were going to be competitive. I'm far more optimistic after that one though, and a big shout out for man of the match Craig Dobson who was outstanding today, and capped his performance with his first goal for the club, which I'm sure he'll tell everyone he meant. With two more home League games to come to close out the month of August, we're hoping to put some more points on the board at The Showgrounds and show we can keep ourselves out of trouble on our return to the top tier of football in Ulster.

Welcome Kenny, and best of luck with this piece. Certainly looks like an interesting project.

Friday 24th July 2009 The new season is here, and we kick off competitive action tomorrow afternoon with a home tie against Annan Athletic in the First Round of the Scottish League Challenge Cup. We're the short price favourites to roll over the Third Division side who we beat four times out of four in the League last season on our way to promotion up to the Second Division. Speaking of the Second Division, the pre-season Title odds have been released by Sky Bet. They make stark reading for us, as we are pegged at a price of 33/1 to win the ten club Second Division this season, making us eighth favourites and a club that will in their opinion do well to avoid relegation or the Playoff spot. Lets hope we can outperform those predictions and keep ourselves safe at the very least. Saturday 25th July Dumbarton v Annan Athletic Scottish League Challenge Cup, First Round Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton The domestic season is underway, and three of our new signings are in the starting lineup, with two more hoping to debut from the bench. Alan Lithgow impressed enough in pre-season to start at centre back, while we have a brand new striker pairing in Stephen McConalogue and Brian Carrigan. The trio would be joined by another within twenty minutes when Ross Clark was forced to leave the game with an injury, and Ross McCord would become the fourth debutant of the day. He could do nothing about us going behind around five minutes later though, Andy Haworth receiving the ball back following a throw in on the right, and his deep cross produced a mismatch as Connor Tinnion easily outjumped Gordon Lennon at the far post to head Athletic ahead. Fortunately we got our act together pretty quickly, Carrigan sending a shot high and wide after collecting Derek Carcary's low cross, before the winger produced another delivery that McConalogue headed downwards but just wide at the far stick. Stephen Murray would become the second player to leave the game, the left winger replaced by Marc Anthony. After Ryan McStay's curling shot was tipped over by Graeme Loughman, it was left to Mick Dunlop to show our strikers how it should be done, the centre back powering home a close range header from Darren Barnard's inswinging corner to level things up before the break with his first goal in Dumbarton colours. McStay and McCord both failed to test the visiting keeper before Lennon took a knock that would lead to Graham Alexander becoming the fifth debutant of the day. We still couldn't find a winner though, as McConalogue scuffed a chance well wide of the target. So our season would begin with extra time, Carrigan failing to hold his run when a chance presented itself, and McStay sent another effort weakly wide. Carrigan then smacked a long range free kick plum off the cross bar as the clock ran down and we moved into penalty kicks. I was genuinely worried about that prospect as our finishing had been so bad, but I need not have worried. Alexander, Barnard, Carrigan and McConalogue all scored, and while Athletic netted their first three, Stuart Hill sent his spot kick wide to hand us the advantage. McStay confidently picked out the corner to send us through, and with an extra half hour to work on our fitness under our belts too. Dumbarton (1) 1 - Mick Dunlop (42) Annan Athletic (1) 1 - Connor Tinnion (26) (After Extra Time - Dumbarton win 5-3 on penalties) Dave McEwan; Gordon Lennon (Graham Alexander 71), Mick Dunlop, Alan Lithgow, Darren Barnard; Derek Carcary, Ross Clark (inj - Ross McCord 19 (inj - 116), Ryan McStay, Stephen Murray (inj - Marc Anthony 36); Stephen McConalogue, Brian Carrigan. Attendance :- 466. That wasn't quite as straightforward as we would have liked, and advancing in the Challenge Cup, that is neither here nor there to anyone's season, would come at an early season cost. The midfield 'Ross's' will both have a spell on the sidelines with rib injuries, McCord suffering bruising late on which will keep him out for around ten days. But Clark has fractured his ribs and will miss two to three months and we will be without him for the early part of the season. So our midfield depth has taken a hit, as our defensive strength grows. Two arrivals are announced on Saturday night after the game. 32 year old former Scottish Under-21 International centre back Jim Lauchlan has signed for us after playing a dozen League games last season in the First Division for Dundee. With almost 300 League games under his belt, this will be the lowest level that the former Kilmarnock, Dundee United, Livingston, Ross County and Queen of the South man has ever operated at. He played eleven times at the highest age group level of International football too. He signs a two year deal at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium. Also arriving at the club on a two year deal is six foot Dutch defender Regillio Nooitmeer. The well travelled 26 year old who can play in the centre of defence or at right back spent last season in the First Division as well, playing twenty seven League games for Airdrie United. That was his first season in the UK, after starting his career in his homeland with three seasons at FC Dordrecht in a spell that saw him play almost thirty League games. He moved on to split a season in Switzerland with Luzern and then Germany with VfR Aalen, but failed to appear for either. He returned home to play for XeresDZB and Neptunus Rotterdam for a season each before getting the urge to move overseas again, and a season in Ireland's top tier with Galway United before ending up here in Scotland. The fans are delighted with both arrivals, and hopefully they can help shore up our defence ahead of what is expected to be a difficult season. Sunday 26th July The draw is made for the Second Round of the League Challenge Cup, and we will host a Hamilton Academical side that we defeated at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium in pre-season. An opportunity to try and overcome a First Division club at home is one we are hoping will see a bumper crowd show up for that game on Tuesday 11th August, meaning we host second tier sides in Cup football for two Tuesday evenings in a row to kick off August, with four home games in a two week period overall. Wednesday 29th July With new arrivals, Israeli defender Guy Melamed is told he no longer features as part of the First Team squad at the club, and is welcome to help the process by speaking to interested clubs. A dozen clubs all offer £1,000 by way of a transfer fee, but offers from Scottish clubs are rejected, so it looks like England or Israel for the likeable 29 year old former Israeli age group International. Friday 31st July Tomorrow we kick off our Second Division campaign with a home game against Livingston to start a busy early season period of games. We're considered very much the underdogs tomorrow against the bookies favourites for the Second Division Title. There were two divisions between us last season as they were relegated from the second tier, and they have done a lot of work to condense their squad ahead of this new season. As a result, it will be a compact but talented group that will arrive to play us tomorrow. They lost last weekend at home to Dunfermline Athletic in the League Challenge Cup. Saturday 1st August It's not just those new defenders who are available to make their debuts today against Livingston. Recently arrived Cypriot International midfielder Angelos Tsiaklis is back in training and available today as well. But that's not it either..... Today the identity of our new goalkeeper is revealed, a signing we completed in mid-May and have managed to keep under wraps ever since. That new goalie is 37 year old eighteen times capped Scottish International goalie Rab Douglas. He signs a two year deal for a very modest wage of £120 per week, delighted to have the chance to continue playing League football. Most famous for his time as keeper with Celtic between 2000 and 2005 and his time with Leicester City after that in the Coca-Cola Championship, he played for Dundee and today's opposition Livingston before heading to Celtic Park. Since leaving Leicester he has struggled for regular football, playing thirteen times in the League last season in a second spell with Dundee after less successful stints with Millwall, Wycombe Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle. He's delighted to be at the club, and the fans are delighted to have him here too.

Welcome. Yes, he's correct. Have a read of the guidelines he posted for you, and let me know if you want me to move it. Otherwise I'll need to remove the screenshots etc that you've used here. Cheers

He is, and you should be able to just drop him a DM. I'll lock this up now Jon, it's not something that needs further posting etc, or a thread without a story or such like.

Evening, Because of the very points you've raised regarding copyright etc, I'd suggest it's something you should ask someone who would be able to give you a definitive answer, such as Neil Brock, rather than the community as a whole. It is worth pointing out that on the most famous of the video sharing sites, there are many people who video blog careers on Football Manager and rack up large numbers of views, with their videos including promotion and ads. It's worth asking if permission is required etc to cover your own back in the event that it is needed and you don't find yourself with a cease and desist or worse.

Appreciate the kind comment, and glad you're enjoying the story.

Sorry I couldn't make it last night folks, it's a very busy weekend here I'm afraid. Congratulations to all of those winning awards, and to those nominated. Special thanks as always to Mark for running the Awards once more. I look forward to the next year of reading and enjoying all of the work that keeps our little corner of the internet alive.

We have played three of the five games scheduled for our whistlestop Tour, with a win, draw and loss on the record. We were absolutely hoping to pick up wins from our two remaining stops, as we trekked north from Mexico. International Friendly (A) vs United States of America (4-3-3-) - Dibble; Bodin, Law, Melville, Van den Hauwe; Hall, Jackett, Speed; Allen, Roberts, Lovell. Dibble gets his debut in goal, while Bodin and Van den Hauwe replace Blackmore and Aizlewood at the back. Hall, Jackett and Speed all come in as an experimental midfield trio on our return to 4-3-3, with Allen and Lovell joining Roberts up top. It was a busy opening few minutes in goal for Dibble on his debut as the US disrupted our passes and turned us over high up the park, one such turnover leading to Gillan striking a low shot that Dibble had to turn around the post. As seems to be often the case, we took a while to get going. When we did a great chance fell to the wrong man from our point of view, Van den Hauwe driving his shot right at Dodd. We then lost Roberts to injury as Cogsville went too far to ensure the striker didn't get his shot away, and as Saunders prepared to replace him, Hall fired wide from a free kick routine. Still goalless at the break, I was encouraged by the domination we were starting to show, enough to move us into a more attacking mindset after Lovell fired twice within minutes of each other. Williams replaced Speed as I searched for more accuracy with our passing, and it would eventually pay off in the 70th minute with Allen scoring from a placed shot to open his account for his country!I thought we had a quick second too, but Williams effort from Bodin's cross was ruled out for offside. We did spend the last few minutes camped in our half under intense US pressure, but a Diffley shot wide of the target was all they would manage, and we had secured a narrow win. United States of America (0) 0 Wales (0) 1 - Allen (70) I very much doubt if any watching scouts from Czechoslovakia or the USSR will be quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing us in the near future, but we are starting to find our way a bit, and I'm confident that we will at the very least prove difficult to beat. That said, I was very much expecting a win as we headed north once more for the final stop of the Tour, and a fixture with Canada. International Friendly (A) vs Canada (4-3-3) - Dibble; Bodin, Slatter, Aizlewood, Van den Hauwe; Nicholas, James, Williams; Allen, Saunders, Lovell. Dibble retains his spot in goal having waited the longest for a game and not really having much to do against the US. Slatter and Aizlewood replace Law and Melville at the back, while Nicholas, James and Williams are the midfield trio this time. Saunders replaces the injured Roberts up front. This time I started with the attacking mindset, and it almost paid off early, keeper Dolan pushing Aizlewood's shot onto the post, Lovell only able to fire the loose ball wide. The best chance after that would fall to Sweeney, but he fired high and wide with only Dibble to beat. Then right on half time Saunders and Allen combined, the latter seeing his shot pushed onto the bar by Dolan, and as the ball dropped back to Williams he was fouled by Bridge. The ref deemed the foul to be just outside the box, and awarded a free kick that was pushed to the side and Nicholas fired into the bottom corner to give us a half time lead. Probably just as well we had snatched the lead too, as the second half was a largely tepid affair with limited chances in front of goal, Lenarduzzi missing the target with Canada's best chance as Dibble wasn't worked yet again. Blackmore and Speed came on for Slatter and James, and our chances to increase our lead came and went late on, Williams appeals for a penalty denied, before Bodin headed wide from a set piece, as Allen finished the game hobbling after injuring himself making a tackle. Canada (0) 0 Wales (1) 1 - Nicholas (44) We're hardly setting the world on fire, but three wins and a draw with just the one defeat which was not unexpected at all gives us some confidence heading into future fixtures. We have shown ourselves competent at playing a quick and direct game to get ourselves up the park and away from our goal at least, even if we are not creating a huge amount of chances from it. The acid test comes when we have to do that from a defensive mindset against much better technical teams. We'll now move into August of Year #1, and with other nations having Friendlies arranged, we'll start to see what they can do in the opening stages of this 1980's reboot........

Sunday 8th May 2011 The season is now officially over for us, and the players head away for their summer break. They will report back for pre-season training on Monday 27th June. Wednesday 11th May The Board have rejected my request to find a parent club that we can use for loans and such like. They advise they don't see the point at this stage of creating such a link. I probably should have waited until our status moved to semi-professional. Friday 13th May -------------------- THE BET English Premier Division Blackburn Rovers v Blackpool - Home Win - 4/5 Single Odds - 4/5 Stake - £100,000 Balance After Bet - £1,060,868 Potential Returns Including Stake - £180,000 -------------------- The wisdom of picking bets on Friday the 13th might depend on how superstitious you are, though if this bet busts I might start waiting until Saturday morning in the future. While our season may be over, there is still plenty left to decide in the UK, and I couldn't leave this one with Rovers currently fourth in the Premier Division and hosting a Blackpool side that are very much involved in the relegation dogfight, though currently just the right side of the line as far as they're concerned. Surely Blackburn won't miss the chance to contribute to relegating a huge rival? Saturday 14th May BET RESULT Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Blackpool WON A quickfire double around the half hour mark from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Benjani had Rovers very much in control of this match, and while Blackpool rallied after the break with a goal from Elliot Grandin, the two goal advantage was reinstated just after the hour mark from Jason Roberts. The result confirms Blackburn will finish no lower than fourth and will be in the UEFA Champions League next season, which stage they'll enter at will depend on whether they can overhaul Manchester United in third next weekend. Blackburn Rovers in the Champions League! Don't these money teams make you sick! Fulham's home win over Everton means they climb above Blackpool and now The Seasiders have to get a result, and likely a win, at home to Tottenham Hotspur next weekend on the final day. I won't be betting on it, as it's on a Sunday. Friday 20th May -------------------- THE BET Isthmian League Premier Division Maidstone United v Tooting & Mitcham United - Home Win - Evens Single Odds - Evens Stake - £125,000 Balance After Bet - £1,126,553 Potential Returns Including Stake - £250,000 -------------------- It's the penultimate weekend of the Isthmian Premier, and tenth placed Maidstone United know dropping points will end their already precarious hopes of making the Playoffs. As well as winning both their games, they are going to need some other results to go their way. Tooting & Mitcham United need to win both their remaining games to stand any chance of getting out of the relegation zone, with AFC Hornchurch and Harrow already doomed. In this high stakes match, I'm going with the statistically better team with home advantage, and searching for three in a row for the first time at the bookies. Saturday 21st May BET RESULT Maidstone United 3-2 Tooting & Mitcham United WON Three goals in a quarter of an hour spell in the first half gave Maidstone the advantage, but the visitors came out fighting in the second half, scoring twice to make the last quarter of an hour a frantic one that Maidstone were delighted to get through. But to no avail ultimately anyway. Tooting & Mithcam United are relegated along with Croydon Athletic, and results didn't go Maidstone's way either, as they remain three points from the Playoffs with a game to play, plus a seventeen goal swing required. There was one winner though, us. £125,000 profit today, and a hatrick of bookmaker wins for the first time during this project. Friday 27th May -------------------- THE BET Isthmian League Premier Division Bury Town v Hastings United - Home Win - 6/5 Single Odds - 6/5 Stake - £150,000 Balance After Bet - £1,227,442 Potential Returns Including Stake - £330,000 -------------------- After the success last weekend with Maidstone United, I've returned to the Isthmian League Premier Division on the final day of their season. All there is left to play for here are the final two Playoff spots and the order in those spots. Bury Town are sixth in a League where the teams placed between second and fifth get a second chance at promotion. They need to better Margate and/or Sutton United's results to get above the dotted line. They are home to a Hastings United team who survived relegation thanks to last weekends results, and have nothing to play for. 6/5 represents good value at the bookies, and I've gone in heavy with a decent sized bet. I'm not concerned about whether they make the Playoffs or not, just as long as they get the result they need for us. Saturday 28th May BET RESULT Bury Town 1-2 Hastings United LOST Bury Town's Playoff ambitions are over, and so is our successful streak at the bookies. Despite having of nearly 500 Football League appearances striker James Scowcroft in their lineup, Bury went behind early and even though Scowcroft found the net to level it up once, he couldn't do anything about it when Hastings scored again, and they would have got the Playoff spot with a win too, as Margate were beaten. Sutton United and Concord Rangers take the remaining Playoff berths, and we take a hit at the bookies this weekend. Monday 30th May A long list of players is dropped on my desk and in an email today. It contains the names of a large group of talented young footballers who had been cut loose by their clubs over the weekend. Some of them big clubs, some small and not much further up the pyramid than ourselves. Some of these players wouldn't come to us if we paid them. Some would if we were paying them. Some would cheerfully join our project for free. Some of these players have received contract offers from us today. Others will receive offers in the future if they are still available at the point we find out the financial and status situation for the new season. Signing a few of these players would be a real coup for a club of our standing. There is potentially an opportunity to re-shape the clubs playing staff with a group of exciting, young, talented players who are keen to get into the clubs ambitious plans near the start of our project. The question is, will the Board act upon this opportunity?

Tuesday 1st March 2016 Davide is starting to finally become a regular in the Cardiff City first team, and he is performing very impressively while he does it too. Jeff Hendrick of Derby County is voted as the EFL Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month for February, with Davide taking third spot behind Eunan O'Kane of Ipswich Town. But Davide does win the Young Player of the Month award, the first individual achievement of his career that has taken a big step forward this season. Wednesday 2nd March Chelsea's challenge for the Barclays Premier League Title has suffered an expected dent this evening, and one that didn't look likely when Diego Costa gave The Blues the lead in the 12th minute at Carrow Road against Norwich City. The hosts would equalise twenty minutes later through Austrian International forward Valentino Lazaro, and with just two minutes left on the clock in East Anglia, it was Czech International striker Libor Kozák who's placed shot settled the game less than five minutes after he had come off the substitutes bench. Incidentally, it was late in February when Costa had Chelsea a goal up at Leeds in the 12th minute, and they lost that game 2-1 as well! Saturday 5th March FA Cup Quarter-Finals day at the Emirates Stadium, and José Mourinho and Chelsea go with a very strong lineup against Arsenal to try and earn a spot in the last four. Diego Costa was left on the bench, possibly to avoid the 12th minute jinx. The early action this time centred around veteran goalkeeper Petr Cech being injured in the 8th minute and replaced by Thibaut Courtois. The opening goal wouldn't come until the 71st minute, a delicate finish from Eden Hazard. That goal looked like it would be the winner, until the last minute of the ninety when Ghanaian International midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah produced a stunning overhead kick finish to level things up and force a replay at Stamford Bridge. In South Wales, the Bluebirds were hosting a club that were surprisingly not featuring in the promotion race in the Sky Bet Championship. It was been a highly frustrating season at Aston Villa, and it didn't get a whole lot better today, particularly for those who were unfortunate enough to be in attendance at the Cardiff City Stadium. The two clubs produced just three shots on goal between them this afternoon in a goalless draw that doesn't really help either club a great deal. Monday 7th March The draw is made for the last four of the FA Cup this evening. The winner of the Arsenal and Chelsea replay will face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Semi-Final. That leaves Manchester United to face either Sheffield United or cross town rivals Manchester City in the other tie. Tuesday 8th March Cardiff City produced a superb performance tonight in the Welsh capital to show their detractors that they shouldn't yet be written off from reaching the Sky Bet Championship Playoffs. Should any of those 'detractors' have come from the 'Tractor Boys' of Ipswich Town (sorry, awful I know), they may well now be eating their words. Franci Listingi netted his first goal since arriving in the UK to give City a half time advantage as Davide and his defensive colleagues kept Ipswich at bay. Mats Møller Dæhli stretched the City lead just after half time, and while Ryan Dow scored to pull Ipswich back into the game, Danny Graham secured the points for the Welsh club in the last ten minutes. Wednesday 9th March Chelsea had done the hard work largely in the First Leg in Belgium of their UEFA Champions League First Knockout Round tie. Tonight they completed the job at Stamford Bridge in the Second Leg. It would be the Brazilian midfielders who would get the job done in a two-nil victory this evening, Oscar first, and then Willian after the break. That would complete a 5-0 aggregate victory that was largely as comfortable as it sounds. Now they await their fate in the draw for the next phase. Friday 11th March The draw is made at lunchtime today for the Quarter-Finals stage of the UEFA Champions League. The competition has three English clubs remaining, along with two German sides, and then one each from Spain, Italy and Portugal. When the draw is made, the English clubs are kept apart. Good for Chelsea who get Schalke 04, and for Manchester City who will play Benfica. It's not so good for Liverpool, who are drawn to face Barcelona. In the remaining tie, Bayern Munich will face Juventus. Saturday 12th March Davide makes his twentieth start in all competitions this afternoon for Cardiff City as they head north hoping to continue their improving form on an away day to a Barnsley team that are starting to become cut adrift with Bristol City in the relegation zone at the foot of the Sky Bet Championship. They received no favours from Sam Allardyce and his Bluebirds today, as Deadline Day arrival Hal Robson-Kanu picked up his first goal since arriving at the club midway through the second half to secure another win for Cardiff. Sunday 13th March While Davide is enjoying a stellar season, Danilo still can't get himself near the First Team at Chelsea. He wasn't involved again this afternoon as The Blues hosted near neighbours Fulham in their derby clash at Stamford Bridge. Reinstated to the starting lineup, Digeo Costa netted twice in a fifteen minute spell around the hour mark to take his goal tally in the Barclays Premier League this season to fifteen, and send Chelsea back to the top of the table after Liverpool had temporarily overtaken them after winning the early game yesterday. Wednesday 16th March It's all back to The Bridge, this time for the FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay with Arsenal. Seemingly in fairly comfortable control of proceedings in front of a capacity home crowd following Diego Costa's 49th minute header, fate would deal Chelsea a cruel blow.....twice! Midway through the second half, recalled goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was forced to leave the pitch with a knock. Petr Cech replaced him, well for just over ten minutes, before he then suffered an injury himself, and a more serious one that has likely finished his season early. Without another goalkeeper on the bench, Ryan Bertrand would come on to go into defence and Brazilian centre back Dante would go in goal. The last thing he probably wanted was a penalty shoot out. But that's what he got, saving none of the Arsenal spot kicks though Kwadwo Asamoah did send one wide. Meanwhile Wojciech Szczesny would save from Nathaniel Chaobah and César Azpilicueta. Football can be a cruel game, and The Blues are out ten months after missing a golden opportunity to win the FA Cup last season. Friday 18th March It would appear that Wales boss Chris Coleman is not an avid watcher of Fox Soccer in the United States. If he does tune in, he has elected to ignore their advice regarding leaving Danilo out of his Senior Squad due to his lack of First Team football. The 19 year old attacking member of the Di Cianni family will be hoping to earn his sixth cap for Wales in the upcoming Friendly International game away to Austria in Vienna this time next week. Saturday 19th March A good point for The Bluebirds, or have they dropped a pair of points they could ill afford? I guess it will take a few weeks to definitively answer that one. Cardiff City are held to a goalless draw away to Derby County this afternoon, Davide putting in another superb performance in the back four against a team that are very much involved in the race to avoid the Playoffs drama altogether by grabbing one of the two automatic promotion places up into the Barclays Premier League. For City, the problems are largely up front, they just need to be more clinical in front of goal. Monday 21st March Make that a pair of goalless draws for this matchday for our involved clubs. Chelsea return to the top of the Barclays Premier League this evening, but their lead has taken a hit. Liverpool beat Arsenal at Anfield yesterday, despite being down to ten men for all but five minutes of the game, and down to nine for the final five minutes or so. Tonight at Stamford Bridge, with Thibaut Courtois passed fit to play in goal, they were unable to break down a Manchester City side who's own Title hopes could do with a boost. Chelsea lead on goal difference from Liverpool but with a game in hand, City five points further back but also with that game in hand on The Reds. Another further two points back are Manchester United, three and four points ahead respectively of the seasons surprise packages, Hull City and Southampton. Tuesday 22nd March Another midweek game for Cardiff, they are coming thick and fast now as the end of the season approaches. They will be happy with this one too, as mid table Watford are swept aside at the Cardiff City Stadium. The opener went to Richard Smallwood around the half hour mark, and a pair in five minutes late on from Danny Graham and Joe Mason confirmed the points. There was a downside however, and it wasn't just Brazilian midfielder Jádson pulling one back. Deadline Day arrival Corry Evans may be done for the rest of the season after the Northern Irish International midfielder left the game late in the proceedings with a sprained ankle. Friday 25th March In Vienna it was a big night for Danilo. The Chelsea youngster not only started for Wales against Austria to earn his sixth Senior International cap, but he would notch his first International goal. The goal would come via a lob from outside the box, sending the effort over Austria Vienna keeper Heinz Lindner. Unfortunately the lead would only last five minutes before Cagliari forward Philipp Hosiner levelled things up with a close range volley. Danilo was replaced at the break by Crystal Palace forward Jonny Williams, and the game finished all square at 1-1. Fingers crossed that goal helps open some doors for Danilo regarding a future loan move at least. Monday 28th March While Danilo has probably had the best weekend of his career, if not his life after getting his first International goal, Davide has been preparing for a home Sky Bet Championship game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, a game between two Playoff hopefuls that was being shown live on Monday Night Football. Danny Graham put City in front in the 19th minute, but Wolves equalised before the break through Scottish midfielder Stuart Bannigan. By the early point of the second half, Wolves had turned the game right around after a goal from Mali International striker Nouha Dicko. In a second half played in stormy conditions, City couldn't find a way back, and with six games remaining The Bluebirds have to play catch up again in the race for a Playoff spot. Tuesday 29th March In mainland Europe, the month would end for Chelsea at the VELTINS-Arena in Gelsenkirchen against Schalke 04 in the First Leg of their Champions League Quarter-Final tie. After being forced to play part of the FA Cup Quarter-Final in goal, Dante would be forced to watch part of this tie from the dressing room after being sent off in the 39th minute for a second bookable offence. His countryman Ramires was sacrificed to allow Gary Cahill to come on, and Chelsea would hold on for a hard fought goalless draw in Germany. A win at The Bridge in the Second Leg will be enough to send them into the last four.