dafuge's FM15 challenge

The Aim

For the tenth year running the aim is the same - to take a small club who were previously unplayable in an unedited game from the Vanarama N/S to Premier League and Champions League glory.

The Rules

Load a game with the English leagues only, with the Vanarama N/S selected. All of the boxed should be left unticked apart from 'do not add key staff' and 'prevent use of in-game editor'. It should look like this.

Just like previous years, the players for the newly playable clubs need to be added which can be done using a custom database. The players from the three feeder league have to be added, which looks like this. If people wish to add extra players, any players from continents may be loaded, but not from individual countries. This is hopefully to provide a challenging game later on, without making the lower leagues too easy with too many cheap talented players available.

The extra levels of detail that you can change while in the game are up to you, as they shouldn't make a difference.

Add yourself as an unemployed manager, the details are not important at all. I like to call mine 'Holiday Man'.

Go on holiday until 25th June, this shouldn't take too long, perhaps about an hour. Turning off autosaving during this time will speed things up. Saving on 24th June may give you a better choice of teams by reloading the game then going on holiday for one day, I would strongly recommend trying this.

Retire your 'Holiday Man' manager. He had one job, he has succeeded and as a result he is no longer needed.

Add a new manager, the personal details are completely up to you but I would expect people to use their own true nationalities and languages spoken. Coaching badges must be set to 'None', with past playing experience set as 'Sunday League Footballer'. The coaching attributes are completely up to you.

When adding a new manager, choose one of the new clubs promoted to the Vanarama North or South to manage. A quick way to check the new teams is to find the 'England Overview' team, then the 'season summary'. Just above the FA Cup summary you should find a list of six new teams.

They should appear in this list which shows the reputation of the possible clubs. The reputation should act as a difficulty level. The lower the reputation, the harder your game should be.

(reputations taken from FM14 as a guide, until FM15 values are available)

Ryman Football League Premier Division
AFC Hornchurch     1700
Billericay         1700
Bognor Regis       1600
Bury Town          1500
Canvey Island      1600
Dulwich Hamlet     1750
East Thurrock      1400
Enfield Town       1200
Grays              1450
Hampton & Richmond 1650
Harrow             1300
Hendon             1600
Kingstonian        1700     
Leatherhead        1250
Leiston            1250
Lewes              1600
Maidstone          1950
Margate            1950
Met Police         1350
Peacehaven         1050
Tonbridge          1700
VCD                1050
Wingate & Finchley 1250
Witham             1150

Calor Gas League Southern Premier Division
Arlesey            1200
Banbury            1000
Bideford           1100
Biggleswade Town   1150
Burnham            1150
Cambridge City     1600
Chesham            1450
Chippenham         1450
Cirencester        1250
Corby              1800
Dorchester         2100
Dunstable           950
Frome              1100
Hereford           2650
Histon             1650
Hitchin            1250
Hungerford         1000
Paulton            1150
Poole Town         1050
Redditch           1650
Slough             1300
St. Neots          1500
Truro              1500
Weymouth           1600

Evo-Stik League Northern Premier Division
Ashton Utd         1600
Barwell            1450
Belper             1400
Blyth              1650
Buxton             1550
Curzon Ashton      1400
FC United          1900
Frickley           1400
Grantham           1500
Halesowen          1450
Ilkeston           1550
King's Lynn        1550
Marine             1500
Matlock            1550
Nantwich           1500
Ramsbottom         1350
Rushall            1550
Skelmersdale       1550
Stamford           1500
Stourbridge        1450
Trafford           1400
Whitby             1500
Witton             1550
Workington         1700

It is now up to you to manage this club all the way to the Premier League title and UEFA Champions League crown.

You may not move clubs unless you are sacked.

If you get sacked, you can either take over a newly promoted club that satisfies the original criteria (check the club's league history), or just start again.

Any form of international management is not allowed, until you have completed the challenge.

Assigning parent clubs and loaning players is completely up to the player, although it should be noted that on occasions a parent club can lend players which will make the first season or two slightly less of a challenge. It is completely up to you how you play this one, but everyone knows real men don't use parent club loans. Personally, I like to assign a parent club for financial benefits but never take any players on loan from them.

To sign a player, you must be able to scout them, this doesn't mean you have to, just he must be accessible to your scouts. If you have a foreign player on a free transfer who is willing to come on trial, you do not need to be able to scout them, as long as you have them at the club on trial so you can get a coach report on him. If an agent offers you a player, you can sign him without scouting him.

No external utilities such as scouting programs should be used and the database should be unedited (with the exception of cosmetic changes which cannot be discussed here). Should SI release a data update, this would be allowed but any other data updates are not.

Just as always, no extra leagues can be loaded for the extent of the challenge. Once the challenge is completed, you have the freedom to do what you want.

Use of save game editors is strictly banned, whatever the reason. Ticking that box at the start should see to this.

Rules for this Thread

Player naming is allowed.

General discussion on tactics is allowed, although people should not refer to downloaded tactics. They are not banned, but I would expect the majority of people to avoid them.

When you join the challenge, post a screenshot of your manager's profile on the 25th June like this.

Progress of your club should be documented using this thread, we want to hear the story of your club all the way through. Please keep us updated, even if you are doing really badly.

At the end of every season, could everyone post some kind of season review, including at least a screenshot of a league table and the clubs transfer page. If you give this a title in bold it makes it a bit easier to pick out.

How to Post a Screenshot

• While in FM, press Alt and F9
  
• A picture will be saved to a screenshots folder, in the FM15 folder in your documents
  
• Upload the image to an image hosting website such as imgur
  
• Post the direct Url to the image here.
  

How to Add Links

At the top of the forum, go to 'Settings' then 'General Settings' (on the left). At the bottom, select 'enhanced interface' and save the changes. This will give you access to the extra posting tools that make it easier to post links. Once you've done this, highlight the word you wish to turn into a link, then use the link button (looks like a little globe) to paste in the direct Url to your screenshot.

I'm immensely proud that this challenge has made it to its tenth year, here's to another great year of FM

Good luck everybody. If anyone gets Cirencester please post it up for me

I am diving in

Awesome Dafuge! And congrats on creating the 10th challenge!

For this year, I have chosen Skelmersdale!

Profile - Experience

Excellent! If someone can upload a save with Canvey Island it would be much appreciated.

Edit: Just holidayed again and got Canvey

GL all

Looking forward to seeing how the scouting changes work. I'm thinking the first season is going to be even harder than before as we wont even be able to sign on exact attributes. The quality of lower division scouts seems to have gone down as well.

Whats all this asking for saves already... Don't you people like reloading?

edit: the steam group from 2012 still exists! feel free to join and hang out with some of the other participants!

Sure thing....here they are:

[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/cncnm458kcbsbsd/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_1.fm"]Save 1[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, FC United, Margate, Hampton & Richmond, Buxton (6)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/25js4q7e84bpr9u/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_2.fm"]Save 2[/url]: FC United, Corby, Hereford, Kingstonian, AFC Hornchurch, King's Lynn (10)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/r1cdtbx93yqqz83/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_3.fm"]Save 3[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, AFC Hornchurch, Billericay, Rushall, Skelmersdale (13)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/pbbbqqefcsm02qj/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_4.fm"]Save 4[/url]: Hereford, Margate, FC United, Maidstone, Ashton Utd, Dorchester (15)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/79sl4tdwa94v5gl/Dafuge15_Setup_save_5.fm"]Save 5[/url]: Hereford, Maidstone, Histon, Hampton & Richmond, Nantwich, Grantham (18)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/97ukgk67emgwk51/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_6.fm"]Save 6[/url]: Hereford, FC United, Corby, Workington, AFC Hornchurch, Hampton & Richmond (19)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/nl3lrbkx2lr4itd/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_7.fm"]Save 7[/url]: Dorchester, Corby, Tonbridge, Maidstone, Ashton Utd, FC United (20)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/aaz7w0975428wlm/Dafuge15_Setup_save_8.fm"]Save 8[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, Blyth, Tonbridge, AFC Hornchurch, Skelmersdale (21)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/1a6ytlicba571tz/Dafuge15_Setup_save_9.fm"]Save 9[/url]: Hereford, Margate, Blyth, Rushall, Corby, Lewes (22)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/ckn1mmk8992fhx8/Dafuge15_Setup_save_10.fm"]Save 10[/url]: Dorchester, Hereford, FC United, AFC Hornchurch, Margate, Witton (23)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/bvjjz8bhf2bh84b/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_11.fm"]Save 11[/url]: Hereford, Margate, Matlock, Hapmton & Richmond, FC United, Corby (24)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/y9pxafy95gyp40d/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_12.fm"]Save 12[/url]: Hereford, Margate, Maidstone, FC United, Dorchester, Stamford (25)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/av67vmbh71r7kcx/Dafuge15_Setup_save_13.fm"]Save 13[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, Dulvich Hamlet, Tonbridge, Grantham, King's Lynn (26)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/6plianng4c4c15p/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_14.fm"]Save 14[/url]: Dorchester, Hereford, Workington, Canvey Island, Margate, Blyth (27)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/238p4ir2pgp42ar/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_15.fm"]Save 15[/url]: Hereford, Maidstone, FC United, Corby, Dulwich Hamlet, Marine (28)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/74d9oabb9xxa5o3/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_16.fm"]Save 16[/url]: Hereford, Corby, FC United, Billericay, Dulwich Hamlet, Ikeston (29)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/5bnruw6u86ayfeh/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_17.fm"]Save 17[/url]: Hereford, Margate, Histon, AFC Hornchurch, Grantham, Halesowen (30)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/4vstoudb813x4qy/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_18.fm"]Save 18[/url]: Hereford, Dulwich Hamlet, Billericay, Workington, Redditch, FC United (31)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/c5rz7yki6537i4u/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_19.fm"]Save 19[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, Margate, Tonbridge, Matlock, Whitby (32)
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/dyc416v4s7sts47/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_20.fm"]Save 20[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, FC United, Tonbridge, Bognor Regis, Nantwich (33)

edit: number in parenthesis at end of each line is total number of discrete teams saved as of that point,

All of these saves are available on mediafire----http://www.mediafire.com/download/cncnm458kcbsbsd/Dafuge15_Setup_Save 1.fm (Replace Save 1) with the appropriate save number for what you are looking for. I'll periodically run another holiday batch up and try for some missing teams

For those looking for teams with a larger number of starting players, I offer the following: (Only one new team separate from the initial batch--Ilkston). These saves have nearly 60K players (all national rep players on all continents).

[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/sb94pfkgra7799i/Dafuge15_Setup_Save1L.fm"]Save 1[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, Maidstone, AFC Hornchurch, King's Lynn, FC United (6)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/0gy4o7ah1hgojkq/Dafuge15_Setup_save2L.fm"]Save 2[/url]: Hereford, Maidstone, Kingstonian, Workington, Redditch, Buxton (10)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/9y6vada2az883z2/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_3L.fm"]Save [/url]3: Hereford, FC United, Margate, Workington, AFC Hornchurch, Dorchester (11)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/alglic8mf2z1aaz/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_4L.fm"]Save 4[/url]: Hereford, Maidstone, Kingstonian, Corby, Marine, Skelmersdale (14)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/2275z3pyuylsigg/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_5L.fm"]Save 5[/url]: FC United, Hereford, Corby, Kingstonian, Hampton & Richmond, Witton (16) [33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/vwij2taaq8v4tco/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_6L.fm"]Save 6[/url]: Dorchester, Hereford, Workington, Margate, Maidstone, Ashton Utd (17) [33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/8s4x1qbs95pbq8y/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_7L.fm"]Save 7[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, FC United, Maidstone, Ashton Utd, Canvey Island (18)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/jfz5axk0a5az5f4/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_8L.fm"]Save 8[/url]: Maidstone, Hereford, Dorchester, Billericay, Matlock, Rushall (20)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/cz4i6hho2y7cu1d/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_9L.fm"]Save 9[/url]: Maidstone, Hereford, Dorchester, FC United, Workington, Tonbridge (21)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/bend4mqodn74xug/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_10L.fm"]Save 10[/url]: Corby, Maidstone, Billericay, Dorchester, Workington, Blyth (22)[33]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/chsyy14bylgeo4t/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_11L.fm"]Save 11[/url]: Margate, Billericay, Corby, Hereford, Ahston Utd, Ilkeston (23)[34]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/mxh5adura9ah3ao/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_12L.fm"]Save 12[/url]: FC United, Hereford, Corby, Maidstone, Bognor Regis, Buxton (24)[34]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/dh1qjsdqn82oguj/Dafuge15_Setup_save_13L.fm"]Save 13[/url]: Hereford, Redditch, Maidstone, Lewes, Blyth, Ashton Utd (25)[34]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/91adalod73w7lt4/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_14L.fm"]Save 14[/url]: Hereford, Dulwich Hamlet, AFC Hornchurch, Corby, Ilkeston, Whitby (27)[34]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/91adalod73w7lt4/Dafuge15_Setup_Save_14L.fm"]Save 15[/url]: Hereford, Maidstone, Hendon, Weymouth, FC United, Stourbridge (30)[37]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/ne587f17bu6vq4b/Dafuge15_Setup_Save__16L.fm"]Save 16[/url]: Hereford, Dorchester, FC United, Tonbridge, Dulwich Hamlet, Matlock (31)[37]

As above, use the same format for save, appending an L (with no space) after the save number -- so loading the first save would look like: http://www.mediafire.com/download/cncnm458kcbsbsd/Dafuge15_Setup_Save 1L.fm

In order to get more variation from the Southern Premier Division teams, the following saves have been run for 2 years (That clears out the likes of Dorcester, FC United, and Hereford from the south in Year one). So, your start year will be 2016 instead of 2015:

[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/521ctfe3a23kllt/Dafuge_setupL2yr_Save_1.fm"]Save 1[/url]: Dulwich Hamlet, Cambridge City, Skelmersdale, King's Lynn, St. Neots, Grays (6)[39]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/fi8eby4byvqebi0/Dafuge_setupL2yr_Save_2.fm"]Save 2[/url]: Dorchester, AFC Hornchurch, Hendon, Bognor Regis, Ashton Utd (11)[39]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/1v1tiw787rsx17v/Dafuge_setupL2yr_Save_3.fm"]Save 3[/url]: Dulwich Hamlet, Workington, King's Lynn, Hendon, Chesham (14)[40]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/5fxkd4i9tto557d/Dafuge_setupL2y_Save_4.fm"]Save 4:[/url] Kingstonian, Blyth, Tonbridge, Bury Town (18) [41]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/ymyw4q29o1io864/Dafuge_setupL2ySave_5.fm"]Save 5[/url]: Maidstone, Truro, Dulwich Hamlet (19)[42]
[url="http://www.mediafire.com/download/v3l6oc8r8ctodl7/Dafuge_setupL2ySave_6.fm"]Save 6:[/url] Dorchester, Workington, Kingstonian, Bognor Regis, Chippenham (20)[43]

edit: I have deliberately not included the names of teams in year two not on the opening post -- these are teams either relegated from the N/S divisions in year one, or promoted from below the regional premier teams in year one...thus some of the year two saves may include fewer than 6 teams listed.

Cheers,

Galen

Hmm...I seem to have picked a team not listed on the above tables....!

Meet....me....completely unknown, just hired to guide also seemingly unknown Halesowen to glory!

I've already looked at the staff, and fired every one (I mean... a physio with a 3 in physio-ing?). Hired an AM, physio, and scout....about all I can manage.

Starting squad looks rather barren.....after the Jun 30 exodus (I think there were 5 or 6 I couldn't keep around, including both starting goalkeepers).

After a decent preseason, my squad looks like this.

So, now, off we go...to glory, or (more likely), doom!

I assume that as long we use Sunday League and no Coaching badges we can edit the points as we wish?

That's correct...will add an interesting twist to see how people run

Heres my profile.

Going back to my roots with a trip to Essex!!!

If someone could tell me how to do a better link I would be more than happy not to post giant pics every time!!

Congrats on 10 years dafuge! I'm going to try and stick with the challenge this time, hoping that Witham, who are about 10 minutes away from me, will be the team to keep me interested. Let's get holidaying!

So far I've been tempted to take Dulwich Hamlet or Maidstone. Still going to reload for another couple of hours to see if I can get a rarer team.

Hmm...I seem to have picked a team not listed on the above tables....!

Meet....me....completely unknown, just hired to guide also seemingly unknown Halesowen to glory

They are listed, they just don't have a reputation from FM14 since they were promoted last season. When the editor is available for FM15 I'll be able to fill in the gaps and update the rest of them.

I assume that as long we use Sunday League and no Coaching badges we can edit the points as we wish?

Absolutely

Im trying this challenge out for the 1st time. Reloading and hoping for Ilkeston FC.

They are listed, they just don't have a reputation from FM14 since they were promoted last season. When the editor is available for FM15 I'll be able to fill in the gaps and update the rest of them.

LoL --- I see them now. Must be blind!

Im trying this challenge out for the 1st time. Reloading and hoping for Ilkeston FC.

I'm starting as Ilkeston, saw it come up a couple of times so you should be in luck.

I had a bash with Maidstone yesterday, got sacked in first season. Lots of goals in games at the moment.

Might reload a few times and see who comes up, or give Maidstone another go as I lived down there for a few years.

Congrats on 10 years dafuge!

Thanks, I'm just glad that there have been so many people to join me along the way. Especially since this was just set up in the hope of getting me into a lower league game!

It has got me feeling all nostalgic, I'm even going to attempt to get my old 4-4-2 wide diamond working again.

I started this earlier, il post pictures later...I'm in September and I'm scoring loads, but also conceding a lot. I've won 4-3 twice and came from behind in both games. Is they a bug scoring loads of goals (not been through all the pages on the main site) or am I very good

Just installing the game now, and will be re-loading until the mighty Curzon Ashton are available! (for the first time ever for this challenge) :-)

Starting as Ilkeston as i liked their better facilities. Profile

Didn't change the manager points, left it as is. Wish i had changed it as the players are already moaning about the low training, as i was left to cover a few areas due to lack of coaches.

Yes---a known issue is causing lots of high scoring games -- especially in the lower leagues. (Goalkeeper primarily responsible). Should be tuned in opening day patch.

Yes---a known issue is causing lots of high scoring games -- especially in the lower leagues. (Goalkeeper primarily responsible). Should be tuned in opening day patch.

Aww, and here i thought I was special

I dont know if im doing something wrong. But im getting the same group 9 teams over and over again after i reload. Has anyone else noticed this?

Aww, and here i thought I was special

Ha!

My first match, I went up 3-0 by half-time. Ended in a 4-4 draw. Have had at least one 4-3 as well. Don't think I've seen any 0-0 matches yet (have to look at the match scores and verify) -- currently playing 6th match of season.

First game of the season! I can finally say, for the first time, that I am undefeated in FM 2015

Just played the first game of the season, won 7-3 away from home

I dont know if im doing something wrong. But im getting the same group 9 teams over and over again after i reload. Has anyone else noticed this?

I had this, it almost seemed to get stuck. Had another save from the 20th to do the reloads.

I dont know if im doing something wrong. But im getting the same group 9 teams over and over again after i reload. Has anyone else noticed this?

What day did you save it on?

It seemed to update at midnight, so I need to make sure I have put the right date in the OP.

Ha!

My first match, I went up 3-0 by half-time. Ended in a 4-4 draw. Have had at least one 4-3 as well. Don't think I've seen any 0-0 matches yet (have to look at the match scores and verify) -- currently playing 6th match of season.

Funny you say that, my second game ended 4-4.

Had hoped, they would do something about this.

At least you didn't get fined! I always avoid even answering those media questions as inevitably if the commentators say they don't it was a foul, or say it was a dive, I end up being wrong and get fined for it.

What day did you save it on?

It seemed to update at midnight, so I need to make sure I have put the right date in the OP.

Saved it on the 24th of June. Holidayed 1 day to the 25th

It seems to come 'unstuck' now. I have had 2 different lots of 6 teams now. Only thing i did was install the new update and restart the game

At least you didn't get fined! I always avoid even answering those media questions as inevitably if the commentators say they don't it was a foul, or say it was a dive, I end up being wrong and get fined for it.

True, but was curious to see if something would be done in regards to the referees. Usually I complain, till I get the first fine

Starting again with Hendon. Looks a bit tricky.

EDIT: Well, this could end up being short lived or a lot easier!

Saved it on the 24th of June. Holidayed 1 day to the 25th

It seems to come 'unstuck' now. I have had 2 different lots of 6 teams now. Only thing i did was install the new update and restart the game

I had the same issue. Since the update im now seeing alot more teams I havent seen before

Did they remove the ability to bookmark a page or am I doing something wrong? I used to set a bookmark for the BSS league table so i could easily see if Chippenham had been promoted (I'm only looking for one side). I cant figure out how to do this anymore and am currently having to click through the World > Europe > England > VCS (boy that is going to take some getting used to). Is there a trick I've missed this year?

Edit: Tip for those of us that aren't English: Set your holiday man to be an English National. This will cause it to automatically start with England selected on the world screen and make it so all you have to do is click VCN/S instead of having to click through to England every reload

A new year, a new dafuge challenge.

Meet Cuddle Fish, manager of Bognor Regis Town FC aka "The Rocks".

Well this is taking some time... If anyone gets a save game with Curzon Ashton available and is happy to share it, please let me know.

Cheers

Holidaying as we speak!

Well this is taking some time... If anyone gets a save game with Curzon Ashton available and is happy to share it, please let me know.

Cheers

Likewise waiting for Ilkeston to come up.

Likewise waiting for Ilkeston to come up.

See GDK's post above - his game number 16 is available to download, and has Ilkeston on it.

See GDK's post above - his game number 16 is available to download, and has Ilkeston on it.

Ahh didnt see that. Could use that if i get tired of reloading. Thanks

GDK did you add any extra players from the different continents to your save?

Decided to give this a go as Dulwich Hamlet, who I have wanted to play as for a while now but never got around to before.

http://i.imgur.com/EZQQqap.png?1

Not a huge fan of the new interface but hopefully it will grow on me.

Hoping to get Bideford this year

See GDK's post above - his game number 16 is available to download, and has Ilkeston on it.

I tried to use this but wasn't able to download anything other than option 1, even after changing to the desired file name. Perhaps I was just doing it wrong...

Uh oh!!!Here we go again!I wonder how long it will take me to get in the Football League this time.............

Not looking good for Witham, 2 hours in!