ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 The Flags of Pyrenees-Atlantique & Bayonne We all know about the Spanish Basque region but there is also a small part of France that is also Basque. The French-Basque Country, also referred to as the Northern Basque Country is a region which lies on the west of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques. It includes three former historic French provinces in the northeast of the traditional Basque Country; Lower Navarre, Labourd and Soule. Basque Country, French Basque Country and Pyrenees-Atlantique This region is limited to just 1,146 square miles with the Department of Landes to the North, the Bay of Biscay to the West, the Spanish Basque region to the south and Bearn to the East. The population of the area is around 310,000 inhabitants. Bayonne is the most important city which is part of the Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne agglomoration community. This community has roughly 270,000 inhabitants. This is where this story begins, in the fifth tier of French football with Aviron Bayonne FC. In a region where Rugby Union is the most dominant sport, we’ll tackle improving the footballing history of the region but also try and put French-Basque or Pays Basque on the map akin to Spanish-Basque. The French National-3 Group B consists of 14 teams with the top-placed team being promoted to the fourth tier and the bottom two relegated to the French Regional divisions with the R1 Nelle-Aquitane divisions being the most likely relegated. We, Bayonnais are predicted to finish in 5th place and the other Pays Basque team, Anglet, is predicted to finish in 8th. We have a balance of over £400k but no transfer budget to improve the team and just £80 per week available in the wage budget. However, there is one simple rule to follow; We can only sign French-Basque players At the start of the save, there are 163 players who are French-Basque, I’ve put them all into a shortlist and just 32 of those are interested in joining us, most are from Regional 1. Furthermore, any player that joins the club via the youth intakes is fair game to keep at the club. I will be under no obligation to sell any non-Basque players we have at the club due to the lack of options available to us. Things could go wrong… I think our biggest problem could be the lack of clubs in the area where French Basque players could come through but we need to remember to look at the Spanish Basque clubs for possible French Basque signings. Goazen Txuri-Urdin 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Aviron Bayonnais FC The football club was founded in 1935 and currently play in the Championnat National 3, the fifth level of French football. Bayonne plays its home matches at the Stade Didier Deschamps located in the city. It is named after Bayonne native, former youth player and the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000 winning captain Didier Deschamps, who also played for Marseille and Juventus. Central defender Aymeric Laporte is another player who featured for Bayonne as a youth before starring for Athletic Bilbao and later Manchester City. Athletic have had a collaboration agreement with Bayonne for several years that they recently renewed until 2024.[2][3] While Aviron is the largest club in the French Basque Country, it has not replicated the successes of the clubs on the Spanish side of the border. In the game, the stadium is not owned by us but by Bayonne Croises, a smaller Bayonne-based club that plays in the sixth tier of French football. We pay them rent, a measly £4280 per year. It has a 3500 capacity, with one main stand that can hold 1800 spectators. The club possesses basic training facilities, poor youth facilities but do have excellent junior coaching and fairly basic youth recruitment which is perfect to help get this save off the ground. As mentioned above the club has a senior affiliation with Athletic Bilbao, where the Spanish club has first option on any Bayonne player, despite being determined as a financially beneficial link, no money changes hands as an annual fee. That is the first team squad above, fairly thin on the ground in places and lacks French-Basque players with just a right back and left back in the team. The reserves and under-19s both have some players in but none are good enough for this level. As mentioned before we have a balance of in the bank but with no transfer budget and just £80 remaining in the wage budget 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carambau Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I like approaches like this! Good luck 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 1 hour ago, Carambau said: I like approaches like this! Good luck Thanks @Carambau It has its been on my list since the back end of FM23. I was dubious about starting as the save file needed had a few comments saying that fixtures didn't work from season three onwards but I did a holiday save and they generated. Maybe the file got updated but the person who produced it didn't create a fix log. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Pre-Season - July/Aug 2023 A pretty poor pre-season but it's all about fitness and the players adapting to the formation. We've made two signings so far; Thomas Dos Santos was transfer-listed for £14k whilst we have the money in the bank we don't have the budget to sign him permanently, so we've signed him on loan, paying his wages in full for the season. We also signed Ugo Gostisbehere from Regional 1 Novelle-Acquitane side Juenesse Villanavaise on a free transfer as he was on an amateur contract there. These signings immediately improve the right-hand side with Thomas slotting into RW and Ugo at RB. We allowed aging Ivorian left-back Anoh Attoukora to join AFAD Plateau in his homeland for free, allowing us to free up £325 per week to bring in the above players. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 August 2023 Not a great start to the season with back-to-back losses albeit against sides predicted to finish in 4th and 1st, and both were away from home. Against Colomiers, it was a pretty even game but they were clinical in the first half through Genty who scored a hat-trick. Bordeaux 2 are 1-91 on favourites for the league title, whilst they dominated possession we dominated the chances but failed to make them pay. They had the vastly better players with some like De Lima and Vetro who have made first-team appearances. We clicked against Castanet-Tolosan dominating them throughout the game, possession, shots on target, clear-cut chances and xG but the scoreline suggested it was a close game. 8th after the rough start, we're behind neighbours Anglet who are unbeaten. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 September 2023 The month started brilliantly with a win over a then second-placed Blagnac, both new signings on the scoresheet to earn the three points. Another win followed against Saint Paul before a home loss to Pau FC 2 and then back-to-back draws against Perpignan and US Lege, with both these games probably fair results considering the chances both sides created and conceded. Currently 7th after eight games, we can score goals no problem we just need to start keeping them out of the other end. A tactical tweak may be needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 October 2023 A better month as we were unbeaten. We started the month with a third draw in a row, this time against Canet. We then entered the French Cup at the fifth round stage, we beat Vendee Foot 3-1 who are at the same level as us to advance to the sixth round. We then smashed Alberes-Argeles 5-2 despite some rotation to the side. We then secured a sixth-round win over Ytrac Foot who are non-league in this save, we secured our first clean sheet of the campaign which was pleasing. We move up to 5th place, our predicted finish. We also move above regional rivals Anglet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 November 2023 A really good month with three wins from three games. A nine-goal thriller against bottom side Onet, thankfully we came out on the winning side largely thanks to a Fari hat-trick. We beat neighbours Anglet and secured a league clean sheet for the first time. Another win the French Cup, this time beating Philbertone 2-0 to reach the 8th Round. We move up to 4th place level on points with Saint Paul but six points behind a goal-happy Blagnac. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 December 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 December 2023 A good win over Stade Bordelais with midfielder Renard scoring a second-half hat trick to win the game. We then faced higher league opposition in Libourne in the French Cup, a 3-3 draw eventually saw us beat them on penalties, we face Ligue 1 side Lorient in the 9th Round. We are into the reverse fixtures now, we lose again to Colomiers before beating Bordeaux 2 convincingly. We remain in 4th place but are now two points ahead of Saint Paul. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 January 2024 We started 2024 with one of the biggest results in the clubs' history by beating Ligue 1 side FC Lorient 5-2 in the French Cup, although only a crowd of 1800 turned up despite the 3500 capacity available. We followed that up with a win against Castanet. Another Ligue 1 side in the cup but Angers were far too good for us. Free-scoring Blagnac were also too good for us in the league. Still 4th, three points behind 3rd place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carambau Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Good progress after a slow start but now you´re rolling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 47 minutes ago, Carambau said: Good progress after a slow start but now you´re rolling We've improved significantly but whilst we're scoring plenty, we're still not keeping many out. Something that will have to improve if we want to be promoted soon. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 March 2024 Francisco Ugarte Whilst this isn't the best intake we do have a couple of players who could sit on the bench from next season. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick87 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Good start. I enjoy regional stories like this. I'm doing similar in my save. Looks like you could set up some success over the next few years with a promising youth intake. Keep it up 👌 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 Good luck with this Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 49 minutes ago, Rick87 said: Good start. I enjoy regional stories like this. I'm doing similar in my save. Looks like you could set up some success over the next few years with a promising youth intake. Keep it up 👌 Thanks @Rick87 Yeah putting a limit in a save adds drama and theatre. I've done a regional save before with Cantabria in Spain but we got lucky with a tycoon takeover after 3 seasons I think it was which sped things up for us. I think we'll need a couple more decent intakes to bulk the squad out a bit before mounting a promotion challenge. 20 minutes ago, john1 said: Good luck with this Thanks @john1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 March 2024 Just two games this month, a draw against Perpignan but we should have won we had 3.75 xG to their 0.21xG and they equalised in injury time. We dominated against US Lege but only came away with a 2-1 win, three more points though. We have five games remaining, so hopefully we can cement a 4th placed finish, the gap to 3rd is too big I feel. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 April 2024 Another decent month as it is an unbeaten one. We were 2-0 up against Canet until the 80th minute only to draw 2-2. A first-half hat-trick for Fari in just four minutes sealed the three points. With three games remaining, we remain in 4th place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 May 2024 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 May 2024 - Season Review A really strong end to the season with three wins albeit against three bottom-half sides. We even secured two clean sheets which was pleasing and we humbled Anglets with a 6-1 away win. French National 3 Group B - A 4th-placed finish at the end of the season is an improvement on our expected finish of 5th. We finish six points behind 3rd placed Colomiers who were pre-season favourites and six points clear of 5th placed Perpignan. We scored 63 goals which was the second most in the league, we conceded 42 goals which was the joint fifth-least as we end the season with just five clean sheets. French Cup - 10th Round - Vendee Foot, Ytrac Foot, Philbertine were easily beaten, we needed a penalty shootout win to get past Libourne from the tier above. We then faced and smashed Ligue 1 side FC Lorient. We faced another side Angers in the 10th Round but were easily beaten ourselves but a good display in the competition in our first season. Top Scorer - Mickael Fari (21) - a good season for the striker, scoring 21 goals from 20.94xG. He's signed a new deal to remain at the club. Most Assists - Thomas Dos Santos (10) - a good season for the on-loan winger with 10 assists but also 12 goals. Signed him permanently on a one-year deal. Ave. Rating - Alexandre Mariz (7.32) - 13 goals and 10 assists for the winger. Major losses from the beginning of the season, we were over the wage budget by almost £1k per week due to contract renewals and youth intake signings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 May 2024 Nothing has changed, the expectations going forward are no different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 June 2024 The new budgets have been calculated and scouting budget renewed, so we can now take a look at the new players that have come through in the 2023/24 intakes in France and Spain and see if there are any new French-Basque players. Mikel Diez - D(RLC) - Bordeuax Jon Zabala - DM/CM - Sestao Alex Iturrino - M/AMR, ST - AC Ajaccio Xabier Goti - DM/CM - Burgos Sergio Imaz - GK - AD San Juan Diego Murillo - AMR/ST - Marsielle Lucas Claudel - MC/ST - Alaves Iker Larrinaga - AMLC - Getxo Eduardo Agirre - ST - Creteil-Lusitanos Inigo Martin - M/AMC - Leonesa David Saenz - GK - Sestao Gaizka Diaz - DM/CM/AMC - Multivera There are some good players in here, both Sestao players Zabala and Saenz but both are unobtainable at the moment. Diaz at Multivera and Iturrino at Ajaccio also look good. All of these have been placed on a shortlist to keep an eye on for possible future transfers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 Pre-Season 204/25 A slow start to pre-season with draws against the second teams of Marseille and Rennes before a big loss to Portuguese side Boavista. We faired better against some lower league sides from France and Spain. Slim pickings in the transfer market as we had to hold on to 95% of the players we already had. One departure in Laprevotte who was on £1k p/w and wanted more to stay, he joined Regensburg in Germany on £4k p/w in the end. Thomas Dos Santos completes his permanent move and we sign a former team-mate of his and a player of ours Inaki Claverie on a free transfer after his departure from Saint Paul Sport. A poorer player to replace Laprevotte but on hell of a lot less wages at just £60 p/w. I have my eye on a couple more players but both want full-time contracts which we can't offer as a semi-professional side, hopefully, closer to the transfer deadline day and their lack of options will see them change their minds. We've been predicted to finish in 4th place behind Colomiers and two newly promoted sides in FC Loon-Plage and Olympique Grand-Synthe who both have players far too good for even this level. ASM Belfort moved from Group I to ours, which means a 1200-mile round trip, as does US Sarre-Union who make the same sideways movement and who are even closer to the German border. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carambau Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Congratulations to a very good season! I can see you getting promoted this year Good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick87 Posted January 11 Share Posted January 11 Good season, hopefully the new owners provide a bit of investment for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 Thanks both @Carambau @Rick87 26 minutes ago, Carambau said: Congratulations to a very good season! I can see you getting promoted this year Good luck! You could be right, we've kept the same squad. Team Cohesion is good, squad harmony is excellent, and managerial support is good. We could get off to a good start 18 minutes ago, Rick87 said: Good season, hopefully the new owners provide a bit of investment for you. Fingers crossed, we'll see if they prop the club up when we slip into the red in a couple of months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 August 2024 On paper a difficult start, we faced 3rd, 2nd, 1st and 5th in the media predictions but come out the other end unbeaten and with 10 points. A hat trick for Fari opened the season account. We should have beaten Grande-Synthe, they equalised late in the game. Loon-Plage were the better side but three second-half goals stole the points. We scored after 38 seconds and then late on to defeat Belfort. Top of the pile by goal difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 September 2024 Another unbeaten month but a slightly weaker one with two draws in there. The draw with Anglet was disappointing but the clean sheet was a silver lining. We drop down to second as Grande-Synthe pick up one more win than us this month. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 October 2024 A superb month with four wins, two in the league and two in the cup, a what is even more pleasing is that we did it without conceding a goal. We return to the top of the table on virtue of goal difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 November 2024 A good win over Saint Paul was followed by the first loss of the season and the first in 20 league games. We regrouped and dominated French National side Cholet to advance to the 8th Round of the cup. French Basque right-back Gostisbehere scored twice to beat Stade Bordelais. Top by a point after Grande-Synthe slip up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 December 2024 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 December 2024 Chateauroux were too good for us, as the National side progressed in the cup. A poor performance against Grande-Synthe culminated in a second loss of the season, allowing Colomiers to take top spot but only briefly as we defeated them 1-0 in the last game of 2024. Its getting quite tight at the top. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 January 2025 Just two games this month, a 3-3 draw against Loon-Plage saw us drop to 2nd. A dominant performance against Belfort but we needed a set-piece goal for the three points. A small gap now to 3rd and 4th. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 11 Author Share Posted January 11 February 2025 Another two-game month and two wins, it was a good month for Fari scoring five of the seven goals we scored. Back to the top of the table for the time being. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 March 2025 Daniel Iglesias - poor physicality for an all-action DM, we'll see how he develops. Beyond Iglesias, there isn't much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carambau Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 Great intake there! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 March 2025 We're in great form, which is probably down to the limited amount of games per month. Comfortable 4-1 and 3-1 wins this month including over Anglets. With five games remaining, we are three points clear of the chasing pack. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 29 minutes ago, Carambau said: Great intake there! It's great for French-Basque players, beyond a few there wasn't much quality. Hopefully, we can snag a few players from other clubs in the summer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 April 2025 Another takeover, less than a year since the last one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 April 2025 A big win over Castanet where we scored five goals but only amassed 1.52xG but then only a 1-0 win with 2.54xG where we struggled to take our chances. Three games remaining against 12th, 13th and 7th placed teams. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 May 2025 - Season Review A win over Saint-Paul whilst Colomiers drew all but sealed the title, smashing six past Le Poire-sur-Vie confirmed it. We rotated for the Stade Bordelais game but did enough for a draw. National 3 Group B - Champions - a solid season that sees us win the group and be promoted to the National 2, which of the four groups we go into I'm not sure yet. We only lost two games all season which didn't see us run away with the title, that shows how competitive the league was. The top four were all predicted to finish in the top four also. 66 goals scored with just 27 conceded. French Cup - 8th Round - Cap Aunis, Vendee Herbiers and Cholet defeated before French National side Chateauroux beat us 3-1. Top Scorer - Mickael Fari (25) - 22 of those in the league saw his finish at the divisions top scorer. Most Assists - Thomas Dos Santos (18) - A great season for the aging winger. Ave. Rating - Thomas Dos Santos (7.41) - He also scored seven goals and POM on five occasions. The new board took out a loan to clear the debt but we're back in it again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbokav1971 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 Good luck with this @ToMexico!! I did a Basque only save with them back in..... can't remember now, and I loved it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 9 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said: Good luck with this @ToMexico!! I did a Basque only save with them back in..... can't remember now, and I loved it. Thanks, @Jimbokav1971 I have some recollection of someone having played as Bayonne before but couldn't remember who and certainly not the Basque only but that definitely sounds like a save you would do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 Pre-Season - July 2025 An unbeaten pre-season including Ligue 2 side Pau FC. Three players join the first team from the slim pickings we have. Iosu Madariga is a 17-year-old centre-back and will feature a fair bit in the first XI. Sergio Imaz is a goalkeeper who looks to have good potential, at 16 he will get some game time and potentially be first choice next season. Inigo Ispizua is a backup option for defence. We're predicted up in 6th place but I don't see it. The board wants us to avoid relegation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 August 2025 I knew things were going to be tougher, we need to make Stade Didier Deschamps a fortress, that is where we shall pick up most of our points. We got our first win at home having beaten Entente Feignes Aulnoye, Fari scoring twice but also missing two penalties. Former Ligue 1 side Evian are in this division we got a good point against them. As long as we finish 11th or above I'm happy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 September 2025 An unbeaten month as we settled into the season but it could and should have been better, the draw against Bergerac, whilst a good result, should have been a win with a goal disallowed and the away side down to 10 men. Temporarily up to 5th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 October 2025 Poor in the league but we did play both games away from home and Bourg en Bresse who are top of the table. We advanced in the cup beating Biscarosse and Chataigneaie. We drop down to 9th. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToMexico!! Posted January 13 Author Share Posted January 13 November 2025 Five points in the four league games and we advance in the French Cup having beaten French National side Creteil-Lusitanos in a seven-goal thriller. We face New Caledonian side Hienghene Sport in the 8th Round. Up to 7th at the half way stage of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now