Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Hello and welcome to another Northernpilgrim Journeyman Adventure. In case you're wondering, the title comes from a book I read over the summer about hope and glory in non-league football The Manager I'm managing as myself, but I've given myself a Continental Pro Licence and regional professional footballer as past experience. Here I am The Challenge Beginning (appropriately enough, given the title of the thread and book), in the lowest playable league on FM20 (National League North/South), I'm going to work my way as far up the pyramid as possible before the FM21 Beta comes out (I pre-ordered it already). I'm hoping as a bare minimum to get a season in the Football League. The only rule is that I must manage in each league in sequence, and I can only move on once I've secured promotion with the current club. The Starting Point As already stated, the challenge begins in the National League North/South). I'll be in the North division, as I have become the manager of and this is the squad I've inherited. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 We had a busy, but perfect set of pre-season results Nine players have arrived since last season, but I'm only responsible for three of them Centre back Denzel Williams Who will be partnered by Jay McEveley and goalkeeper Will Henry, who will be backup to Russ Griffiths Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 We made an unbeaten start in what was a hectic August but should have beaten Blyth We ended the month top of the table and that earned me Manager of the Month Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 We had a perfect month in September and now sit 7 points clear at the top Meaning I secured Manager of the Month again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 October wasn't quite so good as we were eliminated from the FA Cup by lower division Radcliffe and failed to beat Farsley despite dominating We do end the month 9 points clear though, and on target to exceed the board demand of a playoff place Although it's early in the save, there are elections for the Chairmanship, with the incumbent not standing, so there will be a change And the new Chairman isn't pumping money in Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 November was better, one match from perfect but the defeat to York was painful, and slightly harsh We now sit 10 points clear at the top Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 December wasn't terrible, but there were still a couple of disappointments against Kings Lynn and Blyth which keeps our lead at 10 points Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 January was another decent month but we lost at Telford and drew at Brackley and our lead again remains at 10 points. Promotion not assured, but happy with where we are Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) February was a good month, as we dropped only 2 points in 5 league games extending our lead to 14 points, and securing at least a playoff spot already The bigger news was that the board agreed to my request to go pro, having refused earlier in the season. That has increased the chances of me sticking around to try and get Chester back in the Football League and these are the youth intake players I'm offering deals to Edited September 30, 2020 by Northernpilgrim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 Only four matches in March, with just 2 wins as we were beaten at Farsley and held at home by York It doesn't matter, as with only four games to go, we're 14 points clear. The title is ours, along with promotion to the National League Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 We finished the season in style, winning our last 4 matches ending the season 19 points clear of Kidderminster We have now turned professional I won another Manager of the Month award Our striker Akwasi Asante was player of the year and won the Golden Boot and I won Manager of the Year Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 (edited) I set up a difficult and arduous preseason, with a couple of easier friendlies thrown in to keep morale up, and we generally did well Five players have been released, with three of them retiring and we made four signings, with one youngster going out on loan Cummings is a centre back as is Jay Williams Orafu comes in as a defensive mid as does Nolan This is our squad for the new season, with a few youth team players ready to be promoted and they have joined the squad Edited September 30, 2020 by Northernpilgrim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted September 30, 2020 Author Share Posted September 30, 2020 We made an unbeaten start to the season, winning four of seven games in August and that is enough for us to hold a playoff spot, just a point off the leaders Barnet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitner Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Good Luck. Following! Cheers, Bitner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 In September, my first interview. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 Winless in September and we drop into mid table, still awaiting the outcome of the Halifax interview Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 Better in October but we threw away 3 points, and a 3-0 lead, at Maidstone leaving us in 10th position Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 Early November, I've been offered an interview that I can't take, as it's in League 2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 Also in November, another interview offer. This time from a club that was relegated from League 2 last season, so I'm attending Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 I didn't get the Morecambe job Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 And I turned down an interview at League 1 Accrington Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 November also saw the election for Chairman. No change Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 I applied for the Wrexham job, but didn't get an interview and AFC Wimbledon offered me one, but I can't do it as they're in League 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 An unbeaten November in the league, our only defeat coming in the FA Cup and we're up to 9th, 3 points off the playoffs, with a game in hand. Hopefully we won't be involved in the relegation battle that was predicted at the start of the season, although we're going to need a bit of luck, as Griffiths, our goalkeeper, suffered a broken leg in training after the Solihull Moors game Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 The same day as having to turn down an interview at League 1 Doncaster, I was offered one I could go for, at National League Yeovil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xray1324 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 26 minutes ago, Northernpilgrim said: The same day as having to turn down an interview at League 1 Doncaster, I was offered one I could go for, at National League Yeovil good luck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 I was only in charge for 1 more match as Yeovil have asked me to be their manager, and I've accepted leaving Chester with the table looking like this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 And this is the squad I've inherited, with a top half finish the minimum target for the board, I'm hoping we can make the playoffs 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 I lost the first two matches in charge, but ended the month 4 unbeaten, winning three which saw us move up 1 place in the table. I don't think we will make the playoffs, so we're probably targeting a top 10 finish now Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 Unbeaten in January, including a 4-0 thrashing of leaders Barrow and that sees us into the top half and 11th place. I still think we're too far behind to make the top 7, but we're going to give it a right good go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Blinkhorn Posted October 4, 2020 Share Posted October 4, 2020 A Harry Pearson reference in the Careers Forum. You have my axe. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 I've made one addition to the squad since arriving, signing Mohammed Buhari on loan from Charlton 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 5, 2020 Author Share Posted October 5, 2020 Not a great February and that leaves us 7 points off the playoffs, 11 games to go Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 We were unbeaten, and one game from perfect in March and with 7 games to go, we are in a playoff spot. Can we stay there? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Five players from the youth intake will get contracts 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 A disappointing final month of the season and we miss out on a playoff spot by 1 point. 1 point, after closing the gap so much Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 Review time, beginning with Yeovil's club awards and club stats Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 Not a bad preseason, and with the season proper kicking off in July as well, we got off to a winning start, despite having a man sent off which left the early league table looking like this, with the board demanding promotion Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 Four players have been released when their contracts ended and we've brought in 6 players, with 8 more leaving Left back Kyprianou Goalkeeper Rogerson Centre back Sowunmi returns to Yeovil Left winger Salam Centre back Vassell and striker Ponticelli Which leaves the squad looking like this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 8, 2020 Author Share Posted October 8, 2020 August started really well, but ended with successive defeats as we lost despite utterly dominating Torquay and should have had at least a point at Dover which left us third, a point off the top Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenzar Posted October 8, 2020 Share Posted October 8, 2020 Interesting. Managing a team from the Westcountry that play in green...and it isn't Argyle. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 8, 2020 Author Share Posted October 8, 2020 21 minutes ago, Lenzar said: Interesting. Managing a team from the Westcountry that play in green...and it isn't Argyle. As an Argyle fan and a Cornishman, I dispute the assertion that Somerset is in the Westcountry. Anybody from Cornwall knows that Somerset is in the midlands, and Bristol is in the north Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 9, 2020 Author Share Posted October 9, 2020 Our form wasn't great in September, as we failed to put two wins together all month which leaves us in the playoffs, but already getting cut adrift of the leaders Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 9, 2020 Author Share Posted October 9, 2020 October was disappointing and saw us fall out of the playoff spots Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 9, 2020 Author Share Posted October 9, 2020 We returned to form in November, winning four of our five games, and all three league games. The exception was an FA Cup draw away at Rochdale, meaning we'll face them at home next month, a place in round 3 awaiting the winners That lifted us to 5th place and a playoff spot, just 3 points off the top, with a game in hand Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lenzar Posted October 10, 2020 Share Posted October 10, 2020 On 08/10/2020 at 16:35, Northernpilgrim said: As an Argyle fan and a Cornishman, I dispute the assertion that Somerset is in the Westcountry. Anybody from Cornwall knows that Somerset is in the midlands, and Bristol is in the north Being from Somerset, I am compelled to angrily wave my pitchfork at you for such an insult. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 10, 2020 Author Share Posted October 10, 2020 We were also unbeaten in December and although we threw away 2 points against 10-man Macclesfield, we could have lost to Stockport and that has seen us reclaim top spot going into the new year and the transfer window 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 Not a great January, but we did pick up a couple of wins and that was enough to hold on to top spot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 11, 2020 Author Share Posted October 11, 2020 Unbeaten in February, but only 1 win and we remain top of the table, and look who is second Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northernpilgrim Posted October 12, 2020 Author Share Posted October 12, 2020 March had some good wins, but was a frustrating month as although Stockport deserved a draw, they only got it via a 94th minute penalty Boreham Wood nicked a draw with their only shot on target, a game we bossed from start to finish, only to give away a late penalty and we controlled most of the Dover game, but couldn't convert any of our chances, this time a first half goal ruined our day and we are now second in the table, three points behind relentless Chester, with a game in hand, but a worse goal difference. Whether the fact we still have to play them is a blessing or a curse, time will tell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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