gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 As many people are aware, Fort William have had a rough time over the past... well, 25 years. Now its time to give the fans of Fort William something to sing about. Fort William have been relegated (finally) from the Highland League, and find themselves in the North Caley league. The board would like a top half finish, which is completely reasonable. And going forward, they are happy to stay in the top half of the North Caley league. We will be playing (short term) at the 1,800 capacity Claggan Park. What a stadium this is. Look at that view. Other facilities leave a lot to be improved, but luckily we are here for the long haul. This will be a youth only save, I love developing players and building squads of home-grown players, and that is the vision for Fort William. Lets do this. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 August Update We had a tough pre-season, whilst adjusting to tactics, but we hit our stride nicely against St Duthus. I'm not too bothered about going out of the North of Scotland Cup, it was always going to be tough against a Highland League outfit like Fraserburgh. The big thing this month is progress in the cup as we move into the Scottish Cup first round, and are rewarded with an away tie at Pollock, with a great chance of progression. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 Tactics My thoughts behind this are keeping things tight at the back, with a low block, and quick counters down the wings. Eventually, I would like to be playing 4-2-3-1 and more expansive football, however, this may be a step beyond the current crop of players. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 September 2022 We're out of two cups in the space of a week, which is frustrating but ultimately not our priority. Two good wins in the league, taking us to top of the table. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 October 2022 A fairly low key month. A couple of draws and an absolutely mad win against Orkney. We were 5-1 up at half time, and nearly managed to throw it away. Still top. Still unbeaten. Mad shout out to Golspie, who have seen 53 goals in their 9 games so far. Including two 5-4's, a 6-4 and a 7-1. Wild. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 November 2022 Two very good wins to keep our run going, followed by a home loss against Loch Ness. 10 games unbeaten was a VERY good way to start the season, and the save. Defeat against Loch Ness was frustrating, as we did shade it chance wise. We are still top of the league by 3 points. Its worth noting, that top doesn't mean automatic promotion. To gain promotion we would need to win a play off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 December 2022 December started with some interesting news... Not 100% sure how this will effect me, but any extra funding into the club would be extremely useful. Another two solid wins, which were very pleasing. A heavy loss against Clachnacuddin's second team, where we were very much second best. Our final game of the month was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Five points clear, however Alness do have a game in hand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 January 2023 A good, solid month for us. 7 points is a great return. We're doing well, 7 points clear currently, but a whole host of teams have a game in hand over us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoguPL Posted March 18, 2023 Share Posted March 18, 2023 Good Luck ! I remember watching Loki Doki playing Fort William few years ago and I did really enjoy that, I will also be following your save all the best ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 (edited) February 2023 Firstly, lets start February with some good news. A new contract offered, another year at Fort William. Now, for the bad news. Our first challenging month. Out of another cup in the first round (Don't care), two draws and a defeat in the league. We are now opening the door to others. 7 points is down to 3, and could be reduced to 2 if Invergordon win their game in hand. Four games to go. To quote a Sir Alex Ferguson phrase - "it's squeaky bum time". Edited March 18, 2023 by gowerNCFC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 4 minutes ago, RoguPL said: Good Luck ! I remember watching Loki Doki playing Fort William few years ago and I did really enjoy that, I will also be following your save all the best ! Thanks mate - appreciate it! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 Youth Intake 22/23 I didn't have high hopes for this youth intake, and I was right not to have. We haven't made any upgrades so far - but the intake did have two elite talents. Caillean will probably be our starting left back next season, and being from Fort William it's great to see. Another local lad that'll be around the first team squad is Connel. We are lacking in the CB position, and a couple of them are 30+, so we need to start getting some players through the academy in this position. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 March 2023 Just the two league games in March, but my word what a change of form. We bounced back from a poor February by winning both games. This leaves us 6 points clear. The only team that can catch us is Alness United. Next up... away at Alness, then away at Loch Ness. As tough as it gets. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 Mid April 2023 We managed to get the point we needed away at Alness to get us into the Regional Play Offs, and followed that up with a great win away at Loch Ness. We now face Broughty Athletic of the Midlands League - who lost one game all season, and Dufftown of the North Premier Division, who lost also lost one game all season. Winner gets promoted. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 Play Offs - Game One A Wynter-Coles goal sends us a point away from promotion at the first attempt. A game we had no right to win, but we fought hard and got the three points. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 Play Offs - Game Two We win the play off comfortably... And to my surprise, we have another game. This one is for promotion! Two legs against Strathspey Thistle. Lets do this! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 18, 2023 Author Share Posted March 18, 2023 Play Off Final First leg being at home always gives me the jitters... and I was right. A draw at home, not the best performance either. Never. In. Doubt. WE'RE BACK WHERE WE BELONG. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 End of Season One - Finances Finances aren't fantastic, but the end of season play offs pull us back into the black. Our wage budget was around £500 per week, so a jump to over £3k is nice as allows us to keep hold of a few players who were going out of contract. The projection is looking grim... but interestingly it's based on our wage costs increasing five fold in the next year... which will not be happening as we won't be making signings. The increase in turnover is good, and hopefully we can start using that towards upgrading our junior coaching and youth recruitment over the next year or so. I am fully prepared for a slog getting out of the Highland League, it may take a while, especially with a youth only outlook. Some sponsorship deals will help, plus a decent run in the Scottish Cup will be great. The SPL clubs join in round four, and that'll be the aim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 Our first upgrade. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 This is how the Highland League looks for the 23/24 season. We are predicted at 1000/1 for promotion, and unsurprisingly tipped to finish dead last. The board are happy to just survive in this league, and that's what we'll be aiming to do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 Just to show you what we are up against this season... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 August 2023 We had a solid pre season, playing against some lower league teams. A good test against Celtic's B side, one of their goalscorers earns more in a week than our whole squad combined earns in a month. We've had a really good start to the season, I'm not sure we've deserved too many of these wins but we're doing well. We have a big month coming up. We face Buckie Thistle in what promises to be our toughest game so far, along with playing three of the bottom five teams. It's a good opportunity to put some distance between ourselves and those scrapping for survival. Our main focus this month will be progress in the Scottish Cup. That's where the money will come from, and progressing a couple of rounds is key. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoguPL Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Great start to Highland League. Keep up the good work. Pardon my lack of knowledge of Scottish pyramid, but what tier is highland league at ? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oche balboa Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 10 hours ago, RoguPL said: Great start to Highland League. Keep up the good work. Pardon my lack of knowledge of Scottish pyramid, but what tier is highland league at ? Its Tier 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helginho Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Very interesting save! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtown1414 Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Good start, and I like the challenge you're taking on. No fun having the highest payroll, and able to purchase the best players. or future stars. Good luck with this and defy those experts that have you finishing last. What mod are you using? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 September 2023 You could call this, a mixed month. Blown away by runaway leaders Buckie Thistle, before a high scoring draw against struggling Wick. Financially, the Scottish Cup was going to be our main earning point... but we lost in the first round against Lowland League side Civil Service Strollers. Finally, we ended the month with a win against lowly Keith. He did well to score against eleven men. Table We have made a solid start, and I am happy with this. The key to this season was survival, and it's looking good to achieve that - even at this early stage. Next month we have four away games... ouch. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 2 minutes ago, dtown1414 said: Good start, and I like the challenge you're taking on. No fun having the highest payroll, and able to purchase the best players. or future stars. Good luck with this and defy those experts that have you finishing last. What mod are you using? Thanks mate! I am using The (Real Life) Full Scottish Pyramid by Mozza. It's very good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 October 2023 We managed to draw away at Inverurie, by scoring our 3 shots on target. They tripled our xG, so this was a great point. An away win at Lossiemouth, by scoring our only shot on target. Clinical. A great win away at Forres, again we were battered but a switch to 4-5-1 is working wonders. Finally, we battle hard and lose away at Brora. Table Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 The balance sheet outlines the need for either promotion, or a solid cup run. We are projected to lose a lot of money over the new few years - admittedly the wage costs increasing is highly unlikely with the youth only model, but ultimately, upgrades will only happen with money in the bank. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 Speaking of upgrades... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 November 2023 We started the month with a fan day against rock bottom Deveronvale. A bumper crowd of 401 watched us scrape a 2-1 victory. Next up, a not so important game against Cowdenbeath. The board aren't bothered about the Highland Cup, so neither am I. Typically, we beat Cowdenbeath in the Cup, and then draw in the league. Finally, we see out the month with 1-1 draw away at Huntly. There was no way we deserved the point, and an 88th minute equaliser from us was thoroughly undeserving. Table Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
parsdaft1982 Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Oh, just seen this thread and I am so glad I found it. I have just started a save ten mins ago with Hill of Beath in the same teir but the lowland version (cant remember the name now). They are actually a team just up the road from me lol. Any tips from that tier mate? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 10 minutes ago, parsdaft1982 said: Oh, just seen this thread and I am so glad I found it. I have just started a save ten mins ago with Hill of Beath in the same teir but the lowland version (cant remember the name now). They are actually a team just up the road from me lol. Any tips from that tier mate? Get out of the league as quick as you can mate, as the play offs are difficult. You'll play off against the Highland League champions, and then the 10th place from Scottish League 2. Its tricky! I'm miles off that at the moment, and I'm already dreading it. I'm playing 4-5-1 at the moment and works nicely. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
parsdaft1982 Posted March 28, 2023 Share Posted March 28, 2023 Looks good mate. Looking forward to seeing how you are doing 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 Well... I am looking forward to the inevitable disappointment from this attacking midfielder. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 28, 2023 Author Share Posted March 28, 2023 December 2023 Another very mixed month! We went out of the highland cup - don't care. A solid home win against Banks o' Dee, followed by a creditable draw away at Rothes. The frustrating result was the loss against Inverurie, as we shaded the game. That also brings to an end our unbeaten home record. We see out the month with a bore draw against Keith. We failed to have a shot on target, but the defense held out well. Table 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted March 29, 2023 Author Share Posted March 29, 2023 January 2024 It was a quiet month for us, the game against Turriff was postponed to midweek which mean a couple of games back to back, but the lads passed the test. We started with a home draw against Forres Mechanics. A difficult game where we only had 28% possession, a point well earned. Next up our rearranged game against Turriff. A solid, if somewhat, unspectacular win. Finally a bore draw against Nairn County. They had 1 shot on target, we had none. Not a game for the neutrals. Table 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gowerNCFC Posted April 13, 2023 Author Share Posted April 13, 2023 February 2024 A really solid month for us. Starting with a win away at Cowdenbeath, where we scored with our only shot on target. We then drew at home with Lossiemouth, where we scored with our only shot on target... theme here? We then beat Huntly at home, by scoring our only two shots on target... And finally drew away at bottom of the league Wick... with our only shot on target. So in February, we had 5 shots on target, and scored 5 goals. Great conversion! Table 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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