[FM22] If at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again. Untill you get that game going...

[Constantine]

So, yeah, that headline is pretty much my FM22 experience so far. I've started about 8 or 9 games, played through December of the first season, gave up and fired up another game. This is an attempt to "shame" me into going further than that. I don't know, I guess I thought writing about it would push me to get rolling.

It's gonna be a journeyman. My second start as unemployed in FM22, as a matter of fact. Only now, I plan to let the game get ahead a bit, I won't apply for jobs straight outta gate, I'm gonna wait out a bit, till September, October, November, whenever axing season begin.

Since my PC is literally a bucket of bolts, held together by insane amount of duct tape, I'm not gonna go crazy with database. Large, with England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Serbia loaded. I'm aware it'll run slowly at first but I plan to remove leagues down the line if it becomes unbearable. First transfer window will be disabled. That's just how I play. Attributes will be masked.

And that's about it for now. I'll leave you with a screenshot of my avatar.

Here goes nothing.

[SteinkelssonFM]

Fingers crossed this one sticks for you, I have had a similar experience with this edition. However, I seem to have hit a sticking point with my Danube save.

[Constantine]

Darlington F.C.

It took them awhile but third time was the charm. After two rejections by a club from Spain and Serbian lower league side, the offer finally landed on my table.

First stop: Darlington, Durham County, England.

 

Stolen from Wikipedia, obviously.

Quote

 

Darlington Football Club is an association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, England. The team competes in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football.

The club was founded in 1883, and played its matches at Feethams. The club originally played in regionally organised leagues, and was one of the founding members of the Northern League in 1889. They were first admitted to the Football League when the Third Division North was formed in 1921. They won the Third Division North title in 1925, and their 15th place in the Second Division in 1926 remains their highest ever league finish. After their admission to the League, they spent most of their history in the bottom tier. They won the Third Division North Cup in 1934, their first victory in nationally organised cup competition. They reached the last 16 of the FA Cup twice, and the quarter-final of the League Cup once, in 1968. In the early 1990s they won successive titles, in the Conference National in 1990 and the Fourth Division in 1991. In 2011 they won the FA Trophy, defeating Mansfield Town 1–0 at Wembley Stadium.

Darlington moved to the all-seater, 25,000-capacity Darlington Arena in 2003. The cost of the stadium was a major factor in driving the club into administration in 2003, 2009, and 2012.[1] As the fan owned club was unable to agree a Creditors Voluntary Agreement (CVA) it was expelled from the Football Association (FA). A new club was immediately formed and moved to Blackwell Meadows stadium but the FA ruled that, as a new club, it must have a different playing name from the expelled club. The name chosen was Darlington 1883, and that club was placed in the Northern League Division One, the ninth tier of English football, for the 2012–13 season. They won three promotions in four seasons before the FA approved their request to change to the traditional Darlington FC name.

The club have at times worn strips of black and white shirts, black shorts and black and white socks. The club's crest depicts Locomotion No. 1, referring to the town's railway history; as well as a stylised Quaker hat, referring to the religious movement that had a historic influence on the town, and which was the source of the team's nickname, the Quakers. The club's main rival historically has been Hartlepool United.

 

The Quakers have a fascinating history and their tale was, of course, one of administration. Such a occurrence for lower league sides. But their triumphant revival is another one for the books. Pure fan love brought them back. I'm not that knowledgeable about all intricacies of English football but this felt like such feel good story when I was reading up on them. For more detailed resume of events, click here.

 

Finances are on point. After what I've read about them, with how much money their own fans raised to help the club, I'm not even bit surprised about this.

 

Currently sitting dead last but there's enough time left for a turnaround. Board requirements are just to avoid relegation which is fine, I guess. It's not like we're 20 points behind. I've had it worse in Italy FM or two ago.

 

That's one pretty large squad, for one Conference side. And quite few names that I recognize from my previous dabblings in English lower leagues.

Standout players, at first glance:

 

Not far from League 2 standard.

 

Experienced midfielder with quite few tricks in his bag.

 

Great all around player and so good for this level, it's ridiculous.

 

As for our setup, I'm not exactly one to experiment. Usually I stick with what I know and tweak stuff accordingly.

We'll see how it goes. First game, away at Chester. Let's see what these boys are capable of...

 

[Constantine]

16 hours ago, MattyLewis11 said:

Fingers crossed this one sticks for you, I have had a similar experience with this edition. However, I seem to have hit a sticking point with my Danube save.

I was actually just reading your thread today. Great idea for a save and I hope you have a great time once you decide to move to Serbia. Quite few interesting choices over here.

And you mentioned this bit in your topic, different names for the river across countries. For us, it's Dunav.

Edited March 21, 2022 by Constantine

[Constantine]

Darlington F.C.

November 2021

 

Vanarama National League North

Six points, two clean sheets, great escape from the bottom... Couldn't have wished for a better start to life in Darlington.

Long may it continue...

 

Buildbase FA Trophy

Easy draw. On paper. Which mean it'll probably be a lot harder for us than it should been.

It's going to overtime, I'm calling it.

 

Transfers

No outgoings so far but truckload of players got to Durham County on trial. We were after left back and a better goalkeeper so it makes perfect sense for us to sign one central defender and another midfielder.

Right.

 

One for the future though one could make a case that Dylan should be starting right now. Tall, left footed, decent technique, great overall defender.

Mentals are an obvious flaw but it's something that will improve by itself over time.

Onto the bench he goes.

 

He was ridiculously good in my short lived York City save so of course I went again for him.

Will be thrown into fire from the get go. I promised him he'll be an important player for us and I plan on keeping that promise.

 

 

[Constantine]

Darlington F.C.

December 2021

 

Vanarama National League North

And just like that, we're brought down to earth... Painful reminder that there's a lot of work to be done. Hopefully that W versus Gateshead is a sign of things to come. Total U turn from beginning of the month where we had the lead and dropped it all in the second half.

 

Buildbase FA Trophy

Easier than I thought it'll be. Ebbsfleet is our equal so I guess everything's possible...

 

Youth Intake

Considering our facilities are just shy of bad, I have no faith we'll produce anyone good in years to come.

I'm willing to be proven wrong, SI. Come on, you can do it...

Edited March 25, 2022 by Constantine

[warlock]

On 20/03/2022 at 16:00, Constantine said:

First stop: Darlington

A most excellent choice 

[Sysiphus]

Following this, good luck! 

[Constantine]

On 25/03/2022 at 15:05, warlock said:

A most excellent choice 

 

22 hours ago, Sysiphus said:

Following this, good luck! 

Thanks a lot, folks, I appreciate it.

[Constantine]

Darlington F.C.

January 2022

 

Vanarama National League North

We're on a upward trajectory. Nearly perfect month, if only weren't for those meddling kids from Northamptonshire. Andrew Nelson was fantastic and earned himself a shiny, new contract. A player to build around, surely...

 

Buildbase FA Trophy

We really should've got the job done in the first match. Our attackers were on their days off and we were punished for our impotency. Or it was incompetency? Heck, in this case, both...

 

Transfers

Few of our loan deals were terminated, couple players sold or released but only one got in. And it's big news.

We've got ourselves a lower leagues FM legend, Man Utd academy graduate and still one for the future. I can't believe he's just 23 years old.

Anyhow, let's cut it short. Callum Gribbin, ladies and gents.

[Constantine]

Darlington F.C.

February 2022

 

Vanarama National League North

Terrific month. Almost perfect. One goal conceded, a draw versus league leaders, I really can't complain...

 

Transfers

Our little squad overhaul is nearly complete. We've added new #1 and finally got decent left back which might be one of the reasons for all those clean sheets.

All that remains is for us to fix... OK, not fix, upgrade a bit our right side. They're far from terrible but... We could always do better.

Anyhow, new boys.

 

Personally, my third choice but huge upgrade over Tommy Taylor nonetheless. Much better handling, better coming out with the ball. I'm pleased to welcome him into the fold.

 

Answer to my prayers. Complete fullback. And still young, so there's room for improvement.

[BristolCity1992]

Enjoyed that will keep an eye on it. I knew a Darlington fan and what happened to them under their chairman was really messed up. 

[Constantine]

Darlington F.C.

March 2022

 

Vanarama National League North

Another undefeated month though we did struggle a bit. Couple of players became distressed about their playing time, one of them was influential in our dressing room so overall morale suffered. Luckily, I solved that by releasing said troublemakers as their contracts were due to expire so it wasn't that expensive.

Board apparently just now noticed our great run of form and awarded me with a new contract. Thought it would come sooner...

 

Transfers

Deadline day signing and last one we'll be making this season.

With Conor, our defense is complete. Such a good player, long way from EFL football he's used to. Imagine my surprise when he wanted to negotiate. I've scrapped plans to sign David Titov almost instantly, despite chasing his stubborn ass for three months...

Edited March 28, 2022 by Constantine

[warlock]

Going well! Playoffs within reach if you can keep up the good form.

[Constantine]

20 hours ago, warlock said:

Going well! Playoffs within reach if you can keep up the good form.

We've definitively got the quality to go for it. If we stay injury-free, we're game for play offs, surely...

[Constantine]

Darlington F.C.

April 2022

 

Vanarama National League North

Third unbeaten month in a row and we're play off bound!! Chorley continues to implode so Fylde naturally overtook them. And I think they'll stay there, the Coasters have been ridiculous ever since we did a factory reset on them back in February and haven't lost since.

 

Youth Intake

Rubbish. I thought to sign three of them at least but in the end decided against it. Our facilities aren't even decent enough for player development so... Yeah, we're keeping our bills low.

 

Also, apologies for the lack of updates, I had a health related issue to take care of. Nothing serious, non COVID illness, just some seasonal allergies flaring the **** up so I really wasn't in the mood for anything aside from my bed and crapload of TV shows and anime.

Edited April 2, 2022 by Constantine