Jon1982

Great to see Cambodia and Phnom Penh featured on Race Across The World last night. The Mekong River and Tonle Sap looked stunning lit up at night...

Part 9 Daylight and Snowflakes It was a few days before Christmas and Morley Town have been in irresistible form as they have risen to the top of The Yorkshire Amateur League and as the festive campaign approached, only bad weather and complacency can stop them from promotion to Level 11, The Yorkshire Amateur Supreme League. Once again it was snowing, in fact this is the biggest fall of snow we have had in this part of Yorkshire since the Beast from the East back in 2018. However, on the day of the game against Route One Reserves, a fixture which seem destined to be ruined by the weather, the sun came out and the snow started to melt off the Glen Road Pitch. Reports from Keighley, which is on far higher ground than Morley was that it was similar up there and the roads out of the town were now passable, providing they stick to the major routes and come through Bradford, before joining the M62 at Chain Bar to make the trip to Morley. This was providing we could keep to our end of the bargain and clear snow off the pitch to get the game on. An appeal went out on our socials for Morleans to turn up with a spade and clear the snow off the Glen Road pitch. This of course included myself and the players. In the freezing cold, with spades in hand, plenty of banter and the odd thrown snowball in retaliation we set to work along with a handful of ultras who had answered the call. We had word that our opponents had cobbled together a team and were due to set off that morning providing the weather conditions did not deteriorate in Keighley, Morley or anywhere in between. This was going to be arduous work, even with the players, fans and me digging it was still a lot of ground to cover and snow to get rid of. However, by lunchtime our spirits were flagging and there was still no sign of the Route One Reserves lads. Some of the Ultras who had volunteered started to drift off home, or to The Farriers Arms. Furthermore I didn't want my players to overdo it, because they still had to get through 90 minutes of football in what would be difficult conditions. Further snow showers were also forecast in the evening which started at anywhere between 5pm to 8pm depending on which weather app you looked at. As tummies started to rumble and morale started to sink I was all for calling the game off there and then. I pulled out my phone to call the Route One Boys and tell them not to bother, as it is most likely the pitch will not be cleared in time and further snow was forecast. Suddenly we heard a rumbling noise driving up Glen Road. We looked up and there before us was a huge tractor, complete with snow plough! At the wheel was a farmer. He stopped the vehicle behind one of the goals. "Now then thought you could do with a bit o'help," he shouted through the window. "I live up there, pointing to Topcliffe Farm which overlooks Glen Road high up on the hill. I've been watching you struggle and thought I'd come n give you an 'and. Yer neva gonna get rid o' all that snow wi' just spades lad " "Thankyou!" I shouted back. I ordered everyone off the pitch as the farmer took over, clearing the snow so it was piled up along the touchlines and behind the goals. He was done within one hour. During his work the Route One Reserves team had arrived and were delighted the game stood a good chance of going ahead and marvelled at the speed of which the farmer worked. The only downside was that the pitch was a bit churned up and muddy, making the playing surface a bit boggy, especially around the goalmouths, but this was The Yorkshire Amateur Premier League, not The Champions League. The referee inspected the pitch and gave the game the go-ahead on the condition that we used an orange ball, because it would be a nightmare finding a white ball amongst all that piled up snow when it was kicked out of play! Three o'clock rolled round and the sun was still shining on Glen Road against bright blue skies and the fresh, crisp winter air as both teams ran out onto the pitch to against the odds start the match... Team: Reay, Busfield, Cowgill, Lamplough, Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Iyamu We start the game brightly in difficult conditions and Payne has a shot which goes over the bar. They have a free kick well saved by Reay and Wright has an effort parried behind for a corner. We take the lead when Iyamu cuts inside from the left and feeds Sanchez Payne who let’s fly into the top corner! The keeper barely saw it! 1-0 to Morley. They hit back, a hopeful ball forward gets stuck in the mud and Reay does well to tip the resulting shot over the crossbar. 1-0 at the break and time for a nice cup of hot chocolate is much needed. It was still bright and sunny in Morley, but looking over towards the Leeds skyline I could see that solid grey snow-bearing clouds forming on the horizon. It looked like the other side of Leeds may be getting a covering and it was only a matter of time before it arrived in Morley. We go out quickly for the second half. Iyamu gets down the left and his low cross results in Ellis latching onto it and slipping in the mud under pressure from the defender. The decision goes our way and Busfield slots the ball home from the spot for number two. Our third goal comes on the break. Kieran Graham sending Ellis through on goal who blasts the ball home via the underside of the crossbar. However, just after the goal went in, the first flakes of snow started to fall on the pitch as the skies darkened into a solid steel grey. The match carries on and with around 25 minutes left and in worsening conditions it is a struggle for all 22 players. Despite this, Route One have actually given a good account of themselves, the conditions being a great leveller and they carve us open on more than one occasion to try and get back into the game. They couldn’t finish though thanks to a combination of good goalkeeping from Reay and last ditch defending from the Wrecking Ball among others. As the full time whistle blew, there was a full scale blizzard as the players sprinted off the pitch into the relative warmth of the dressing room. Job done in freezing conditions. It’s surprising this game lasted the full 90 minutes, but fair play to all concerned who got the game on, especially the farmer from Topcliffe Farm who joined us in the Farriers Arms afterwards where I and others bought him several drinks as a way to say “thankyou”. Anyhow five points clear on Christmas Day and a guaranteed white Christmas on the cards.. Seasons Greetings everyone! Final Score Morley Town 3-0 Route One Rovers Reserves Payne 23 Busfield 51 (pen) Ellis 63 Match 15 Morley Town v Greetland 31/12/22 Our friends from up in t’Pennines make trip t’big smoke with us in fine form and five points clear at the top of the table. They lie in 6th place. I also have several players back from injury and suspension apart from Iyamu who has pulled his calf, so Jeff Smith takes his place on the left wing. Team: Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Clappison, Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Rowe, Smith We assert dominance and waste a good early chance. Wright’s diagonal ball plays in Graham, whose cross is headed over by Ellis. Greetland though can play a bit too and it is they who open the scoring. Donley and Brennan combine down the right and the latter’s cross is smashed home by Barnes. It gets worse. Brennan once again gets down the right and this time McFarlane is there to smash the ball past Reay.. Two nil down and The Ultras stand there stunned.. We rally and a few tweaks to our tactics put us on the front foot. Smith looks dangerous down the left and his square ball is lashed home by Sam Wright to halve the deficit. The Ultras smell blood and roared on by our hardcore support we attack once more. Wright has an effort which is clawed away by the keeper. Then the moment comes through an unlikely source. Edward Busfield cuts inside from the right flank and plays the perfect slide rule pass for the onrushing Majed Alasstal up from left back who fires a fierce piledriver into the bottom corner to equalise! Two each at the break. I tell them to go out and win it second half. It doesn’t take long. Clappison’s hopeful ball is missed by the defender, leaving Gabriel Ellis to run onto the loose ball. He dribbles into the area before cooly placing the ball into the corner. He never looked like missing. 3-2. We take control of the game and spurn several chances to score, including sub Payne hitting the post. In the last minute Payne dribbles down the right before sliding in a low cross for Ellis to slide home and wrap up the game. Greetland gave us an almighty scare, but it is the character to come back and win from two goals down that is what Champions are made of. Final Score Morley Town 4-2 Greetland Wright 41 Barnes 10 Alasttal 45 McFarlane 14 Ellis 54,90 Board/Supporters Update The board and fans are ecstatic about my management of the club, especially those five straight wins. The players are also enjoying playing for me apparently, so good news all round then.. Match 16: Woodkirk Valley v Morley Town 07/01/23 We make the short trip down Rein Road to the side of the A653 Dewsbury road to take on Woodkirk Valley. Stand in the middle of their ground you can hear the roar of traffic travelling along the M62, but is otherwise a lovely spot next to an old quarry. Anyway we arrive here in good spirits, top of the league and with five straight wins behind us. Faris Pamment has been summoned from the reserves to play on the left wing as both Iyamu and Smith are both injured. Team: Reay, Busfield, Clappison, Cyrus. Alasttal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Rowe, Ellis, Smith Woodkirk Valley have parked the bus in a negative 3-4-3 formation. The opening stages of the game is played mainly in their half as we dominate. Can we break them down? Ellis tries with a fierce shot parried away by the keeper. Then Kieran Graham gets his head down and runs at the Woodkirk defence, before unleashing a fierce shot which is tipped over the bar. It’s only a matter of time. Alastall feeds Pamment down the left who gets to the byline and puts in a pinpoint cross onto the head of Rowe, whose downwards header finds the corner of the net. 1-0. Woodkirk hit back though. Heath’s volleyed cross was headed home by Barrett to equalise against the run of play. We have several chances to regain the lead. Louis Rowe misses a one on one and heads over the bar from another Pamment cross. Graham also has an effort from the angle well saved, while Owen for them volleys wide from close range from the home side, when it was easier to score, making it a tenuous one each at half time. Normal service is resumed after the break as we dominate once more. On 53 minutes a sweeping pitch length move leads to our second goal. Busfield finds Ellis whose clever flick round the corner sends Rowe galloping clear. The Irishman nearly breaks the back of the net 2-1 Morley. Woodkirk don’t give up and look dangerous though, especially from set plays. However it is us who seal victory. Busfield collects the loose ball in midfield before feeding Sam Wright who turns and plays in sub, Sanchez Payne who cooly rolls the ball past the keeper to make it 3-1. But wait! An innocuous ball in from the left draws a foul from the Wrecking Ball and Dawson slams home the penalty 3-2. We batten down the hatches, but there is still time for another goal. Wright once again feeds Payne cutting in from the right flank and he buries it past the keeper to wrap up a second 4-2 win on the trot. Final Score: Woodkirk Valley 2-4 Morley Town Barrett 19 Rowe 18, 54 Dawson 85 (pen) Payne 82,90 Morley Break New Records We are sitting pretty at the top of the Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division by 7 points and look odds on to be promoted. Only complacency or a Keegan style meltdown can stop us from reaching the promised land of the Yorkshire Amateur Supreme Division.. - 10 matches unbeaten - 6 matches won in a row - We now cannot be relegated.. What could possibly go wrong? Find out next time on the Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

Part 8 - Rising To The Top This team is finally beginning to gel nicely and a good solid 11-15 man first team squad, backed up by the better end of the newgen players who were given to me at the start of the game and some promising youngsters has made us a force to be reckoned with in the Yorkshire Amateur Premier League. On paper we have to much quality for this league and it is beginning to show. Board Confidence Update To summarise they are delighted with my performance as manager, are semi-ok with the results and are delighted with the 9-0 (who wouldn’t be), but devastated about our 2-1 defeat to Leeds City Reserves (a helpline was opened to help Morley fans cope) They also like my virtual tika taka tactics (eh? I’m playing a Mike Bassett Style 4-4- flippin 2). The Morley supporters led by the ultras of Glen Road Estate are equally as happy with the entertaining football on display. There's even been a few more fans turning up from other parts of the town. Morley sign Oliver Leedham (MC) I’ve signed this guy to bolster our midfield. Leedham has had previous up in the North East for Newcastle Benfield and Gateshead. He rejected Selby Town no less to join us in our promotion campaign. Match 12 Beeston Juniors v Morley Town We cross over the Leeds Ring Road into the badlands of Beeston for this top of the table clash against the league leaders. Our hosts are on a seven match unbeaten run and are one of the form teams in the division, making that hop across the A6110, past The White Rose a slightly more tricky one. I go in with my usual 4-4-2 and our ‘Pep inspired vertical tika taka’ and all to play for. New signing Leedham starts on the bench. The board expect a win and for us to go top of the table, so no pressure then.. Team: Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Clappison, Alasstal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Iyamu Match Action Controversy in the opening minutes as their midfielder Josh Foulkes slides in on Sam Wright and upends him Red Card! Beeston are already down to ten men after just 5 minutes. Cue waves of attack from us as our opponents shut up shop, but frustratingly we cannot score. Ellis and Payne both have tame headers saved, while Sam Wright finds the side netting. The clock ticks frustratingly towards half time.. Suddenly Wright plays a pinpoint through ball for Ellis and the striker steadies himself.. before being upended. Penalty! Busfield wants to take it but I implore Ellis to take it instead.. he does and buries it in the corner.. 1-0 Morley. Into the second half and if anything we keep getting caught offside as Beeston squeeze up, with Sanchez Payne being the main culprit. When we are not being caught offside we carve out some chances, but then are met with their goalkeeper, who is having the game of his life. Wright then rattles the crossbar with a free kick on the edge of the area. We just need that second goal.. as we are always susceptible to conceding one. That nearly happens when Fernandes forces a fingertip save from Reay. Then from their corner we breakaway through Alasttal whose through ball plays in Ellis through on goal and he places the ball low into the bottom corner for his 10th of the season to finally put this game to bed. Three points make their way across the Leeds Ring Road and to the top of the table we go! Final Score: Beeston Juniors 0-2 Morley Town Ellis 35 (pen), 82 To The Top of The Table We Go! 1st Morley Town 26 2nd Lepton Highlanders 24 --------------------------------------- 3rd Beeston Juniors 24 4th Collegians 23 5th Woodkirk Valley 21 6th Golcar Reserves 20 7th Greetland 17 8th Shire Academics 15 9th Leeds City Reserves 14 10th Ealandians 14 11th Gildersome Spurs Old Boys 13 ---------------------------------------------- 12th Nostell Miners Welfare 12 13th Route One Reserves 8 Match 13: Morley Town v Route One Reserves 10/12/22 Top versus bottom of the league in a game where we should win. We have a few injury worries though with Cowgill and Busfield missing out. Our opponents have only 8 points and are there for the taking if we are serious about being champions. Board: Expectations – Win by a large margin Supporters: Expecting a big win Me: Should be an easy win.. Team: Reay, Fisher Clappison, Cyrus, Alasstal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Payne, Ellis, Iyamu I woke up on the morning of the match and looked out the window. The sky was grey and it was starting to snow. Inevitably the match postponed due to heavy snowfall and our opponents were told not to bother making the treacherous trip across from Keighley, where the weather was much worse. Instead, much jollity was had today at Glen Road as players and supporters had a massive snowball fight on the pitch. Winger, Kieran Graham got one on the eye and this has ruled him out for a couple of days.. oops.. The ultras made snowmen as the snow whirled down around them. Afterwards when it got dark, a few mulled wine and beers were enjoyed down The Farriers Arms afterwards. I love amateur football! Strangely the Gildersome Old Boys match at Bruncliffe School against Nostell Miners Welfare Reserves across town went ahead as normal. Maybe a school is better equipped to deal with heavy snowfall.. Scott Fisher leaves Morley My versatile full back has been nagging me for first team football for a while now, but when I told him that he was just a back-up he took the hump and signed for West Lancashire Premier League outfit, Coppull United instead. Oh well.. Match 13: Lepton Highlanders v Morley Town This is another top of the table clash, as we make the trip down the M62 Westbound to play our Highlander friends from Huddersfield. We have somewhat of a defensive crisis on our hands though as Cowgill, Busfield and Clappison are all out through injury, illness and suspension respectively. Sixteen year old Jonny Jones makes his first team debut at right back, while equally young Flynn Shepherd is on the bench. Lamplough steps into central defence alongside The Wrecking Ball. Team: Reay, Jones, Cyrus, Lamplough, Alasstal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Iyamu It’s a scrappy opening, but we create the first chance. Brilliant closing down play from our midfield sets Gabriel Ellis free, but he shoot jut wide with only the keeper to beat. The Highlanders then have a free kick which is parried away by Reay. Then some brilliant one touch football from Wright, Iyamu and Alasttal sets Ellis free once again and he makes no mistake this time, coolly rolling the ball into the corner of the net. That was a move Pep would have been proud of! We create another couple of chances, both falling to Sam Wright. Then, from a corner, Joe Lamplough heads against the upright. Sanchez Payne, who has been quiet until now, latches onto Iyamu’s nod forward and he falls down like a sack of spuds. Penalty! Up steps Ellis but the keeper saves low down to his right. It remains 1-0.. until.. The ever busy Sam Wright gets down the right channel and his far post cross is turned home by the former Accrington man for his second goal to make amends. Into the second half and we look in control.. but... in a rare Highlanders attack, Declan Friar runs forward on the break and hits a speculative effort which David Reay does a Sydney Harbour Bridge over and it nestles in the bottom corner. That was completely out of the blue. “Focus!” I scream from the touchline. This was met by a mixed response from the team, but my two youngsters listened. Jonny Jones plays the ball forward and sub De Martin gallops after the ball, before coolly slotting the ball home for number three! I feel confident enough to hand two further debuts to a pair of 16-year olds, left winger Michael Fox and defender Flynn Shepherd late on and we see out the game. A brilliant away win and four points clear at the top. Final Score Lepton Highlanders 1-3 Morley Town Friar 60 Ellis 11,45 De Martin 67 Morley hit top form We extend our unbeaten run to seven and are now the league’s top scorers, hitting the net on 41 occasions in just 14 matches. Gabriel Ellis has scored 12 goals in 12 games. 1st Morley Town 29 pts 2nd Beeston Juniors 25pts 3rd Collegians 24pts 4th Lepton Highlanders 24 pts 5th Woodkirk Valley 24 Morley Town have opened up a four point lead at the top of The Yorkshire Amateur Premier League. Can Rudd's men use it as a basis for a succesful promotion campaign, or are there more twists and turns in store? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

Part 7 - Gathering Momentum It's fair to say things have picked up at Glen Road in our quest for Yorkshire Amateur Premier League glory. We are riding on the crest of a wave after our amazing 9-0 thrashing of Golcar United Reserves and there have been great signs that this team is starting to gel. Can we keep the momentum going? John Cyrus nicknamed "The Wrecking Ball" In the last few games some of the Ultras have started a chant for our Central Defender, John Cyrus, who has earned the nickname, "The Wrecking Ball," in reference, so it is claimed to his distant American cousin called Miley... The chant goes something like this to the tune of Wrecking ball by Miley Cyrus,, "He came in like a wrecking ball John Cyrus jumps and scores All he does is break your balls For Moooooooorrrrllllllley!!! Dreamed up after a few down the Farriers Arms no doubt, lyrical geniuses the lot of them! Soni Moreman Leaves Morley There have been a few clubs sniffing around my reserve keeper and finally he has relented and joined Sharnbrook of the Bedford County League. That’s a long way to move to play football for free. It means I will have to call up 16 year old Lewis Love as backup to Reay in goal until I find a replacement. Morley sign Whing Our replacement keeper was hated by the scouts and they begged me not to sign him. However I thought differently and to be honest there weren't many other keepers going on a free, so here he is as backup to David Reay. Sorry Love back down t'Reserves... New U21s Manager The final piece in the backroom team jigsaw for now is Adam Thompson, who joins us from the PMG Acdemy, wherever that is.. anyway he will take charge of my Reserve Team. Match 10 Morley Town v Shire Academics 12/11/22 Confidence is high as we take on relegation threatened Shire Academics at Glen Road. We surely can’t emulate the 9-0 but we should be able to put this lot away. Sam Wright is suspended so Agbozo comes back into midfield. Otherwise why change a team that’s just won 9-0! Shire Academics from Headingley make the short trip across the city and lie in 12th place. Team: Reay, Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Agbozo, Davies, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Iyambu Match Action We kick off, they get the ball on their right. Iyambu though tackles and starts to dribble past the halfway line. He skips past his man, then accelerates like a well-oiled Ferrari. He drives into the penalty area..Can he go all the way? Surely he can’t he can! Iyambu slides the ball home for one of the best individual goals you will ever see at any level of football! Moments later he almost makes it two but his close range effort deflects off the defender and hits the inside of the post.. Then out of nowhere, they equalise. From a throw in Hamilton crosses from the left, straight onto the head of Bell who powers a header past Reay. Then after a good move the same player rattles the post. Wake up Morley! 1-1 at half time. Into the second half and Cyrus lofts the ball forward for Payne in the right channel. Into the penalty area he goes and is brought down Penalty! Up steps Ben Clappison... who rattles the crossbar.. Oh dear! Ellis on the follow up! 2-1 Morley as he slams home the rebound. Shire Academics don’t give up and proceed to dominate the second half, creating a few chances to equalise, while we are reduced to playing on the counter attack. They are rewarded when they breakaway themselves with Brazey down the right. He puts in a dangerous low cross which is turned home by McGinty for a deserved equaliser. We re-assert control and are unlucky when sub Jeff Smith clips the bar with a free kick and Ellis’ looping header also hits the woodwork. Then drama.. Bell forces a fingertip save from Reay and on the rebound, sub Scott Fisher fells their player in the box. Penalty! Up steps Mfumu to break Morley hearts and provide a shock win for the bottom of the table side... but Mfumu muffs it as Reay catches the penalty comfortably. Then we nearly win it right at the end when Iyamu feeds Payne but his tame effort is saved at the near post. The referee brings to a close an eventful 2-2 draw, but one we really should have won. Morley Town 2-2 Shire Academics (Att 69) Iyambu 1 Bell 22 Ellis McGinty League Table After 10/11 Games 1sr Collegians 23 2nd Beeston Juniors 23 ------------------------------------------------- 3rd Morley Town 20 4th Lepton Highlanders 18 5th Golcar Reserves 17 6th Woodkirk Valley 14 7th Leeds City Reserves 14 8th Ealandians 14 9th Nostell Miners Welfare Res 13 10th Gildersome Spurs Old Boys 12 11th Greetland 11 --------------------------------------------------- 12th Shire Academics 11 13th Route One Rovers Res 8 Match 11 Morley Town v Collegians 26/11/22 A top of the table clash at Glen Road today as we take on the league leaders, Collegians. After almost beating them the first time round on the opening day of the season, I am hopeful of a positive result. We sit in third just three points off the top, so all to play for. I line up with the trusted 4-4-2 formation. Team: Reay, Busfield, Clappison, Cyrus, Alasstal, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Payne, Ellis, Iyamu We start brightly and make all the early running. Payne spurns a great chance when through on goal, while Sam Wright stings the hands of the keeper. Collegians offer nothing going forward as we dominate and it seems inevitable that we will score. That moment comes when a diagonal ball from Cyrus is nodded into the path of Sanchez Payne who half volleys the ball first time into the top corner. 1-0 Morley. Our second arrives on the half hour. Wright floats a free kick to the far post where big John Cyrus (the wrecking ball) powers home a header. Gabriel Ellis then grazes the top of the crossbar after a sweeping move releases Kieran Graham down the right, whose cross was met by the former Accrington man. Unlucky! Not to worry though. Sam Wright, who has already surpassed my expectations waltzes forward with the ball, before unleashing a piledriver which almost breaks the back of the net. A brilliant half of football from Morley Town! 3-0 up at the break. Sub De Martin swings in a corner and there as pushing in the box and the referee points to the spot. Up steps Busfield... and the penalty is saved low down to the keeper’s right... Then we just stop playing as Collegians begin to string a few passes together. They are rewarded, but by then it is too late. Winger, Oliver Roberts gets down the right and his low cross is turned home by their star striker, Taron Drewery. It was no more than a consolation and a good solid home win which lifts us up to second. A solid run of results has propelled Morley Town to the automatic promotion spots. But with games against the teams at the top of the table to come, can they see off the competition and gain top spot in the league? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

Part 6 - Derby Day Fever! It’s the big one next, the match that all Morley fans look out for when the fixtures come out in July... Forget El Classico, The Old Firm or River Plate vs Boca Juniors this is The Asquith Avenue Derby against Gildersome Spurs Old Boys.....Gildersome is the nearest village to Morley and is linked by a long straight road called Asquith Avenue, named after the former British Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith who was born in Morley in 1852. When there are matches between the two sides, the whole area comes to a standstill, Scatcherd Park in the centre of town becomes a fanzone as the Morley Town Ultras congegate to sing songs, let off flares and drink beer... Similarly up in Gildersome the same scenes are playing out on their village green outside the Griffin's Claw Pub as the Old Boys fans congregate, sing songs, let off flares and drink beer.. all under the watchful glare of two PCSOs from West Yorkshire Police. Then they walk down Asquith Avenue en masse, turning right at the mini roundabout and marching on together to the arena.... Bruntcliffe School fields which can barely be seen for the smoke from the flares which makes the school fields feel like a cauldron, very much like the Olympic Stadium in Rome.. The winners will lift the Herbert Asquith Trophy and gain three valuable Yorkshire Amateur Premier League points, so it is all to play for. Match 8: Gildersome Spurs Old Boys v Morley Town Our local rivals have made a mixed start to the season and lie in 7th, while we are in 4th. Graham has pulled his groin, so Sanchez Payne comes in on the right flank. I go in with a 4-2-4.. slightly reckless you may think for an away match, but then we are technically at home.. Team: Reay, Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Azbogo, Wright, Payne, Rowe, Ellis, Iyambu Match Action There is controversy in the opening minute of the Asquith Avenue Derby when Sanchez Payne swings over a cross and Louis Rowe is pushed to the ground in the penalty area. The Irishman picks himself up, dusts himself down and plants the ball into the corner of the net from the penalty spot. 1-0 Morley. Gildersome are playing a high line and this suits us down to the ground. Clappison punts one over their defence for Ellis to run onto but is denied by the keeper. Another such punt forward down the channel is chased down by Louis Rowe. He lays it back to Iyamu, and his pinpoint cross finds the head of Gabriel Ellis who guides a header into the bottom corner for 2-0. Just before half time Gildersome win a corner and John Jones heads just wide to fire a warning shot as the whistle blows. Into the second half and we create a couple of chances with Iyamu and Ellis going close. The Ellis-Rowe partnership is starting to blossom and when Joe Lamplough’s agricultural hoof forward is flicked on by Ellis into the path of Louis Rowe, he cooly runs into the box and dinks the ball past the keeper for number three. But wait! Michael Cartman launches a long range free kick which thwacks the post and falls kindly for Hollingdrake to tap home. Then Payne dallies on the ball and is dispossessed. We fail to clear our lines and Jackson reduces the deficit further with a bullet header. Thankfully we see it through and come away with a deserved three points and climb up to second in the table. We also get to lift the Herbert Asquith Trophy and gain bragging rights with our neighbours from up t’road, who slink past Gelderd Road traffic lights with their tales between their legs... Final Score: Gildersome Spurs Old Boys 2-3 Morley Town Hollindrake 72 Rowe 3 (pen) 64 Jackson 85 Ellis 27 Match 8 – Morley Town v Ealandians 29/10/22 We welcome our friends from the town of Elland to Glen Road with us by hook or by crook 3rd in the league going into this fixture. Louis Rowe is injured and will be out for 2 months with knee ligament damage, so Sanchez Payne partners Ellis up front and Smith comes in on the left wing, with Iyambu switching to the right. Ealandians lie in 5th place, so all to play for. Team: 4-4-2 Reay, Clappison, Cowgill, Cyrus, Alasttal, Azbogo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Iyambu Match 8 – Morley Town v Ealandians 29/10/22 We welcome our friends from the town of Elland to Glen Road with us by hook or by crook 3rd in the league going into this fixture. Louis Rowe is injured and will be out for 2 months with knee ligament damage, so Sanchez Payne partners Ellis up front and Smith comes in on the left wing, with Iyambu switching to the right. Ealandians lie in 5th place, so all to play for. Team: 4-4-2 Reay, Clappison, Cowgill, Cyrus, Alasttal, Azbogo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Iyambu Match Action The opening few minutes are bit like watching a game of Rugby Union, you know when they punt the ball downfield and the back chases the ball, picks it up and then returns it with a punt downfield of their own, only to be caught by their back, who punts the ball back.. anyway this went on for about two minutes (without the hands) until finally we provide the first piece of quality. Ellis nods back a punt from Cowgill, back to Wright. His ball back to the striker is cleverly turned round the corner for the onrushing Payne who slides the ball confidently under the keeper for a lovely goal. But such is the way a random free kick, who nobody knows how it was obtained results in Dickson blasting the ball into the top corner for an instant equaliser. I’m really beginning to doubt my keeper's ability from those sort of situations. But we have Jeff Smith. Like in Rugby Union he replies with a big kick of his own which flies into the top corner. Amazing 2-1! We win a throw in on the right, which Ben Clappison takes to Sam Wright. My central midfielder turns almost Gascoigne like bursts into the penalty area and hits a sublime finish with the outside of the boot which fizzes into the bottom corner. Amazing I didn’t know he could do that! 3-1 after just 21 minutes! The rest of the half passes without much incident, save for a couple of Jeff Smith efforts which were skied over the bar. Sam Wright is having an absolute stormer in midfield. He intercepts the ball and sprays a sumptuous pass to Iyamu now on the left wing. He plays a perfect low cross to Payne who blasts the ball into the bottom corner first time to make it 4-1. To put the icing on the cake, Clappison retrieves a Sam Wright free kick, checks inside and pings in a cross. Jack Cowgill meets the ball with a flying header which booms into the top corner for 5-1. Then from another Wright free kick into the box, Ben Clappison rises highest to power the ball into the top corner for 6-1. We were irresistible today, especially from set pieces and in the air. They couldn’t cope with us. We celebrate with a few well deserved beers down the nearby pub, the Farriers Arms! Final Score: Morley Town 6-1 Ealandians Payne 3,58 Dickson 5 Smith 10 Wright 22 Cowgill 88 Clappison 90 Jeff Smith becomes Morley’s oldest goalscorer. At 42 years young, the former Darlington man broke the record and it is one that he will hold for quite some time one would think.. Board Confidence Overall the board are happy with our start to the season and are performing above expectations. They believe I am the right man for the job, although they are concerned about the number of goals we are conceding. Fan Confidence The supporters are also very happy with the team’s start to the season, especially the 6-1 demolition of Ealandians and the fact we are second in the table. New U18s Manager and Head of Youth Development Brian Latham Brian Latham makes the trip up north from Witney & District Division One outfit, Heyford Athletic to take charge of our U18s and be our Head of Youth Development. Match 10 Golcar United Reserves v Morley Town 06/11/22 It’s always difficult to gauge the ability and desire of Reserve teams. As I remind my players in team talks against such teams, these are the muppets who can’t get into their club’s first team, yet could be looking to prove a point and catch the eye of their manager. There could also be some promising youngsters eager to prove their worth, so these teams cannot be underestimated. Golcar Reserves are having a good season and lie in 3rd, while we occupy second behind leaders, Collegians. Rowe and Agbozo are unavailable through injury and suspension respectively, so in come Davies and Payne. Team: Reay, Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alattsal, Wright, Davies, Graham, Ellis, Payne, Iyambu Match Action Nothing happens in the first ten minutes as both teams roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. Then an outbreak of football occurs. Wright seizes on the ball and comes forward, veering to the left before slanting a beautifully angled cross into the path of Sanchez Payne who fires low into the bottom corner. We attack again. Graham forces a corner on the right flank. Davies flights a corner to the far post where John Cyrus leaps highest to double our lead with a powerful header. We are rampant and it’s Alastall’s turn to flight in a cross which their keeper gets underneath and flaps at. The ball sails over his head and Kieran Graham is there to poke home into an empty net for his first goal for the club. 3-0 after just 20 minutes, too easy! We look like scoring with every attack and it takes us 14 minutes to get the next one. Gabriel Ellis who has been quiet so far picks the ball up from Davies’ lay off and flights a pinpoint ball to the onrushing Payne who steers the ball above the flailing goalkeeper. 4-0 to us at half time. Into the second half and I give Cyrus a rest, introducing Busfield at right back with Clappison moving into the centre. We add a fifth from a brilliant breakaway goal from Golcar’s corner. Sixteen year old sub, Valerio De Martin wrestles the ball off their player and runs forward. He plays through Iyambu who is one on one with the keeper. The left winger unselfishly squares the ball across to Payne who rolls the ball nonchalantly into the empty net. 5-0! We are irresistible now. From a Reay goal kick, Payne nods to Davies, whose first time ball releases Graham down the right wing. He crosses low for young Valerio de Martin to slide home number six. Quite brilliant lads! We are not finished though. Graham retrieves a corner, has all the time in the world to turn and dribble into the area before firing an unstoppable shot into the top bins for 7-0! (Seven). We are stll not finished. Iyambu gets to the left byeline and his low cross is swept home number eight! The game ticks on, but there was still time for number nine. Iyamu again is the provider and Payne again the scorer, this time from a header to make it his fifth goal of the game to wrap up an amazing 9-0 win. What a performance! Final Score: Golcar United Reserves 0-9 Morley Town (Att 19) Payne 14,35,54,68,86 Cyrus 18 Graham 21,66 De Martin 55 Records Tumble as Morley hit 9 (Nine) Our 9-0 thrashing of Golcar Reserves has inevitably had the statisticians trawling through the history books. They only have to go back a couple of months though.. The scoreline is the biggest margin in the league so far and Sanchez Payne’s 5-goal haul is a record for the most in a match by one person. Valerio De Martin becomes Morley Town’s youngest goalscorer at just 17 years old. A brilliant derby day victory, followed by two thrashings over Ealandians and the hapless Golcar Reserves shoot Morley Town to the top of the table. Can Rudd's boys maintain their good form, or is it just a flash in the pan? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

Thanks Neil. this is want to find out before I do anything. At the moment there are no adverts or anything yet and want to find out what the legal implications are before I add any adverts or anything. How would I contact Neil Brock, is he on these forums?

Evening all, It is something that I have wondered about for a while and I was hoping that some of you wise sages on this forum may be able to shed some light on? As some of you may/may not know, these forums are not the only place you can read my stories, The Ultimate World FM Game and the Ultimate English Pyramid Game. I have a blog on Google blogger which I then post links from onto Reddit, Facebook, The FM Scout and FM Base Forums, plus a full version for you guys here on the SI Forums, because I have had the most support and encouragement on here (thankyou) and it is very quick and easy to copy and paste the text from the blog version onto here because of the no pictures or screenshots rule. The main point of this post is that if I was to switch on Google Adsense on the blogger version of the Cambodian story for example, which has had over 12,000 views from right around the world from when I started the story in February 2021 and is now complete. Can I start to earn passive income from readers clicking on the adverts through Google Adsense? My thoughts are there would be some obvious copyright issues because I am using the Football Manger Games and screenshots from the game which will be the intellectual property of Sports Interactive and Sega etc, but then on the other hand, the stories are promoting the game and may encourage people to buy the game, or start playing again after some time out, Furthermore writing the stories to the standard I have managed to get them to requires time, patience and creativty, as well as football knowledge. I love the game of FM and have played it since the famous 2001/02 version and want to work with SI, not against them. Is it something I should steer clear of, or something that can be done? Has this ever been done before? I'm interested to see what you all think about this? Thanks Jon1982

Part 5. Getting to Know You It has been a mixed start to the season, but I suppose it is to be expected when trying to bed in a virtually new team and a squad who barely know eachother. Therefore I felt this was a good time for a bit of team bonding, so I decided to set my team a challenge. Starting at Morley Bottoms on the seats outside Ollie's Bar they had time after the Lepton Highlanders Match to get to know eachother with a few beers as they did a lap around Morley Queen Street at various hostelries, finishing at the Tipsy Mare bar at the other end of Queen's Street. They would have sufficient time to rest before they started work on the Monday morning, but the aim was for the team to bond in time honoured fashion and get to know eachother as people. This I felt would help with their cohesion on the field... 42-year old Jeff Smith was well up for a sesh, but he is of a different generation, as were Joe Lamplough and John Cyrus.. but the rest? Well.. seems like going out on the lash is not the done thing any more for Generations X and Z...Most of them didn't make it past the Town Hall because they were happy to have milkshakes at Nigel's Cafe and hit the sack early... or go home to watch Netflix or something.. Well at least I tried. Lamplough, Smith and Cyrus became great friends by the end of the night and ended the evening in a local curry house together, before calling it a night. The rest by then had long since gone home, without really getting to know eachother, apart from what flavour milkshake they preferred, which was a little disappointing..but I guess times are tough... Morley sign Ben Clappison (DC) A real coup for the club, Ben is a central defender with both pace and ability. He has had experience at a much higher level, turning out for York City, North Ferriby and latterly Pickering Town. Morley Town Sign Iyamu (M/AMRL) Perhaps he is the final piece in the jigsaw. This pacy winger, who can play both left and right gives us another option in this position, especially as the other contender for his place is 42 years old.. The 23-year old started out on Birmingham City’s books and then turned out for Ramsbottom United twice before signing for us! Welcome to Morley Nosa! Match 5 Greetland v Morley Town That’s Greetland, not Greenland.. we may be in the North, but not that far north. Greetland is a very picturesque village situated in the hills surrounding Halifax and has the potential to be a tricky away trip, especially during the autumn and winter months. I am excited by the two new signings, with Iyamu starting on the right and Clappison on the bench. Our hosts have had a good start to the season and are in a lofty 3rd in the Yorkshire Amateur League, while we languish in 9th. Team: Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasstal, Wright, Agbozo, Grahm, Iyamu, Ellis, Smith Match Action We start brightly. Jeff Smith flashes a free kick just wide and Ellis hits the top of the bar with a fierce shot. We keep coming. Smith again is brilliantly played in by Alasttal, but can only hit the ball straight at the keeper. The veteran left winger then forces a world class save from the keeper from another free kick.. We then miss a string of chances. Graham after a long punt downfield from Reay finds the wrong side of the post, while Ellis nods just wide after a Smith centre. A frustrating 0-0 scoreline as we go in for half time. Into the second half and it’s a similar pattern. Then, from a Smith corner, there’s pushing in the box. Penalty! Surely it’s third time lucky. Up steps full back Edward Busfield to take... My heart is in my mouth, Busfield!!... Scores!! The keeper barely moves. Thank god for that! 1-0 Morley. Then, Smith and Alasstal combine beautifully on the left flank. The overlapping full back puts in a beast of a low cross which is swept home by Gabriel Ellis for 2-0. Finally we have found our mojo in front of goal. Greetland rally and win a penalty late on which Donley converts. We see it out for a hard earned three points up in t’Pennines. Final Score Greetland 1-2 Morley Town Donley 90 (pen) Busfield 53 (pen) Ellis 55 Match 6 Morley Town v Woodkirk Valley We begin this match in good spirits after the hard fought win over Greetland, which has propelled us up to 7th. The visitors make the short trip down Rein Road from Tingley in second place after an excellent start to the season, so they will be no pushovers. Should be an interesting one.. Team: 4-4-2 Reay. Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Wright, Azbogo, Graham, Rowe, Ellis, Iyamu Woodkirk start brightly, but it is us who create the first chance. Graham gets down the right and Ellis heads just over. Then from a Woodkirk Valley free kick we clear and Rowe leads the charge on the counter attack. He feeds Iyamu on the left who jinks his way past the full back, before finding the head of Gabriel Ellis who nods the ball into the corner of the net. Brilliant breakaway goal. We look dominant and cheered on by the Glen Road faithful we get a second. Graham crosses from the right byeline, Iyamu heads the ball goalwards and Rowe flicks it past the keeper into the corner of the net. Woodkirk create a clear cut chance just before the break to sound a warning as the half time whistle blew. Into the second half and the visitors come close again when a looping header from a corner hits the inside of the post and bounces clear. We wrap up victory though after sub Arron Davies puts in a pinpoint free kick onto the head of big Jack Cowgill who powers home a header at the far post. The most complete performance from the lads since I took charge. Up to third we go! Match 7: Morley Town v Leeds City Reserves I thought that Leeds City had folded in 1919 and then reformed as Leeds United? According to FM, City reformed as an amateur club in 2006 and are based in the leafy suburb of Adel, north of the A6120 ring road. Our opponents lie in 12th and pundits suggest this should be an easy win. I send out an unchanged XI. Team: Reay, Clappison, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasstal, Wright, Azbogo, Graham, Ellis, Rowe, Iyamu Match Action It doesn’t take us long to break the deadlock. Our corner is cleared, but only as far as Azbogo, who half volleys the ball out to the unlikely figure of central defender, Jack Cowgill. His instant cross is nodded home by Gabriel Ellis for his 6th goal of the season. Leeds City Reserves attack and a seemingly innocuous ball into the box causes panic in the Morley penalty box. The referee stops play and points at the spot. Penalty! Eh? What for ref? Cyrus was pushing apparently.. Paul Fitzgerald steps up and slots it home. 1-1. We sweep forward. Clappison sprays the ball crossfield for Iyamu on the left wing. His pinpoint cross is met by Ellis! who glances a header just wide. Leeds City then force Reay into a smart save from a header. One each at the break in an even game. On 50 minutes I introduce the two “mavericks” off the bench, Sanchez Payne and Jeff Smith. From a deflected cross, the former rattles the crossbar with a header. Oh so close! Cyrus launches the ball forward and Payne chases after it before hitting a ferocious piledriver which is acrobatically tipped over the bar.. Brilliant play all round. I encourage.. We hunt for a winner... Then.. out of bloody nowhere, Leeds City get a free kick., and another Roberto Carlos wannabe Ossai belts it into the top corner for an undeserved goal completely against the run of play.. We try to equalise, but there is a feeling of foreboding this is not our day. Undone by a dodgy penalty and a worldie free kick.. Unbelievable! We should be beating these sorts of teams though if we are serious about climbing the pyramid. Final Score Morley Town 1-2 Leeds City Reserves Ellis 2 Fitzgerald 22 (pen) Ossai 79 A few steps forward and then one back.. Can Rudd maintain a sustained challenge for the title, or will it all go about as well as a team bonding session on a chilly September evening in Morley? Next game is the big derby against Gildersome Spurs Old Boys, Who will draw first blood in this clash against these two South Leeds rivals? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game.

Thankyou for my two awards this year and my hat-trick of Story of They Year awards (it's getting a bit like Ant n Dec at the National TV Awards). I dedicate these to my Mrs for watching sufficiently bad telly to compel me to bring you football stories from far and distant lands..

Live from Kyle Walker's secret family home...

Thankyou tenthreeleader glad you are enjoying it

Thanks oche. I think it is more testament to the realism of the game and the editor file actually. I remember playing a similar lower non-league game on an older version (FM14 I think) and Level 10 teams were signing academy players on loan from Premier League teams and I ended the game because it was just too unrealistic.. I think the only one that slipped through the net is maybe Gabriel Ellis because he came directly from being released from League 1 Accrington, which is a fall of about 9 or 10 levels down the pyramid which perhaps would not happen in real life.

Part 4 - Welcome to The Yorkshire Amateur Premier League The Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division is Level 12 on the English pyramid. There are 13 teams, of which the top two win promotion to Level 11, named the Yorkshire Amateur Supreme Division (cue Diana Ross jokes). The bottom two sides are relegated to Level 13 which is the Yorkshire Amateur League Championship. List of Teams in the Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division 2022/23 and their locations. Beeston Juniors (Beeston, Leeds) Collegians (Linley, Huddersfield) Ealandians (Elland) Gildersome Old Boys (Gildersome, Leeds) Golcar United Reserves (Huddersfield) Greetland (near Halifax) Leeds City Reserves (Adel, Leeds) Lepton Highlanders (Lepton, Huddersfield) Nostell Miners Welfare Reserves (Nostell nr Wakefield) Route One Reserves (Keighley) Shire Academics (Leeds) Woodkirk Valley (Tingley, Leeds) So here goes nothing then.... My first game in the Yorkshire is away to the Collegians in Huddersfield Match 1 – Collegians v Morley Town 03/09/22 The day has finally arrived, the big kick off in the Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division and a big away trip down the M62 Westbound to Linley, Huddersfield to take on the Collegians. This is a tricky away trip, especially if there is a queue at Chain Bar, Bradford and the bus driver remembers to avoid the lane which takes you to Cleckheaton. Anyway I digress, I’m excited to finally get the season under way with at the very least, a decent First XI to compete at this level and hopefully win promotion to the Supreme League. The long road starts here... Morley Town: 4-3-3 Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Lamplough, Azbogo, Davies, Payne, Rowe, De Martin Collegians: 3-4-3 Holiday, Taylor, Reilly, Emson, Bangura, Gelsthorpe, Dunn, Jacko, Lopez, Drewery, Massamba They kick off. Not much happens in the opening few minutes. We get a random free kick. Davies puts in a peach of a ball and John Cyrus rises at the far post with a looping header into the top corner. What a start! Then it ticks until they get another free kick. This one is played near post and young Brook Emson powers a header past Reay for 1-1. Sanchez Payne misses a gilt edge chance to restore the lead after a good breakaway. Then, another free kick and Bigger Massamba strikes it home Roberto Carlos style to give the home side the lead. Majed Alasttal shows great tenacity on the left before putting in a good cross, which flicks off the defender, into the path of Sanchez Payne on the volley.. He nearly bursts the back of the net! What a strike from the former Leeds man.. But.. Collegians go down the other end. Jacko plays a great crossfield pass to Bangoura on the left. He then plays the ball through to Taron Drewery who half volleys the ball fiercely into the top corner. They seem to score with every attack. 3-2 to them at the break. We start the second half brightly and Cowgill heads just over. Arron Davies just skims the bar with a free kick. Then in a moment of madness, Payne is elbowed in the face and the culprit, Taylor is shown a straight red. Then just sheer stupidity. A long goal kick out is missed by my defender and Drewery sprints clear to score his second. We can’t defend to save our lives.. Miraculously we score again. Another pinpoint Davies free kick and Cyrus is there to nod home his second at the far post. 4-3. Suddenly we have Collegians on the ropes. Payne runs down the right and crosses in Handball! Penalty! Up steps the 42 year old sub Jeff Smith.... experienced ex pro.. confidence personified........ Keeper saves. Disappointment! Then from a goal kick, Smith feeds De Martin, into the area.. hits the foot of the post.. No way! We could and should have won this... Instead we start our Yorkshire Amateur Premier League campaign with an annoying defeat.. Final Score Collegians 4-3 Morley Town Emson 19 Cyrus 9,68 Massamba 29 Payne 41 Drewery 45,64 Players Out I have decided to get rid of a couple of players who are never going to make it (even at Morley Town) Evan O’Donnell (AML/ST) – transferred to Chipping (West Lancs Div 2) Dobrin Biserov – (DLC) released New Performance Analyst I thought I may as well have one, not that I normally go in for these namby pamby roles. I put out an advert and six people applied, all as equally rubbish at Performance Analysing as eachother, so I chose the one with the best name.. Welcome to Morley, John Paul Lines. Perhaps he can join a few dots as to why we are conceding so many goals.. His cupboard has been built in the vaults of Morley Town Hall. New Goalkeeping Coach At the request of my goalkeepers, who were sick of me trying to coach them, I have appointed John Parker to take their training sessions. Match 2 Morley Town v Beeston Juniors Our first home game of the season! Glen Road looks a picture in the early autumn glow as Beeston make the short trip across the A6110, past The White Rose Centre and into Morley for the Ring road derby. They won their first game, we should have but didn’t. I go in with a 4-2-3-1 and hope for the best. Team: Reay, Busfield, Cowgill, Cyrus, Alasttal, Lamplough, Azbogo, Davies, Payne, Rowe, Smith Beeston Juniors: Porter, Coyle, Foulkes, Richardson, Thompson, Barwick, Steele, Cannonier, Holland, Ablett, Fernandes We have the better of the opening exchanges and Davies heads a Smith cross just over. But.. the 42-year old mis controls the ball and allow Beeston to break. The lively Jenson Abblett is slipped in behind our defence and coolly finishes under the advancing Reay. We respond well. Azbogo grits his teeth and runs through the middle. He finds Lamplough. The veteran sprays it left to the overlapping Alasstal. His perfect cross is met by the head of Louis Rowe.. Yes 1-1! We look stronger and start to knock the ball around confidently. Agbozo has a shot over the bar after good work from Payne and then Rowe misses a great chance. We look favourites to tke the lead. Then OUT OF BLOODY NOWHERE., Fernandes has a free kick just outside the box. Yes guess what he finds his inner Beckham to blast it into the top corner.... Completely out the blue.. No justice in this game.. none! Second half. Alattsal gets down the left and crosses.. Penalty! There’s pushing in the box.. Up steps Busfield confidently.. and hits the penalty straight at the keeper.. Two games two missed penalties and two-one down.. We dominate the half. Substitute Tidsell has several efforts and Sanchez Payne goes close, but the game peters out to an undeserved 2-1 defeat. Final Score Morley Town 1-2 Beeston Juniors Rowe 26 Ablett 19 Fernandes 45 More New Signings! Gabriel Ellis (ST) I have snapped up this promising young striker, who is taking a huge fall down the pyramid to Level 12 from being released by League 1 Accrington Stanley no less.. He should stake the Yorkshire Amateur Premier League by storm and may be just what we need to improve our fortunes in front of goal. Sam Wright (DMC/MC) I’ve found a ball winner! The former Bradford City and Scarborough Athletic man joins Morley Town to add some much needed steel to the midfield. Kieran Graham (MRC/AMRC) This versatile non-league journeyman joins the ranks at Glen Road and adds depth to the attacking midfield and right wing roles. Match 3 – Route One Reserves v Morley Town A must win game. The board and supporters are demanding a big victory in this one against the wonderfully named Route One Rovers Reserves, who are based on the dark side of Bradford in Keighley. I expect John Beck or Tony Pulis to pop out of the woodwork for this one.. All three new signings, Ellis, Wright and Graham make their debuts in a new look midfield and attack. Team: 4-3-2-1 Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttal, Lamplough, Agbozo, Wright, Graham, Ellis, Smith Route One Reserves: Avery, Haylock. Holt, Tracey, Landricombe, Reape, Carson, Debarro, Ring, Dunkersley, Kamara Match Action We start brightly. Ellis plays in Jeff Smith who fires just wide. Graham plays a sweeping crossfield pass for Smith. The veteran checks inside before delivering a pinpoint cross for Gabriel Ellis to nod home at the far post. A brilliant move and goal. We look in control.. Agbozo intercepts and finds Wright, who knocks it right for Graham, who plays a beautiful slide rule pass for Ellis to run onto. He coolly slots home for number two! Then, young Ellis bullies the Route One Defence and bundles his way past two defenders before slamming a fierce shot against the bar. Unlucky! The impressive Graham turns provider once again as he plays in Ellis who rifles home number three into the top corner from the angle. We looked a different team today and the three new signings have made all the difference. A much needed win which finally gives our Yorkshire Amateur League campaign lift off! Final Score: Route 1 Reserves 0-3 Morley Town Ellis 10,43,67 Match 4 – Morley Town v Lepton Highlanders There are some cool names in amateur football and the Lepton Highlanders must rank quite highly in these stakes. The sports and social club from Huddersfield visit Glen Road in 11th place, while we are in a middling 8th. I aim to carry on the good work with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Sanchez Payne returns to the right wing and Graham moves inside to the number 10 role behind Ellis. Morley Town: Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Cowgill, Alasttall, Wright, Azbogo, Graham, Payne, Ellis, Smith Lepton Highlanders: Mouman, Thompson, Douglas, Tyson, Koman, Francis, Richards, Haynes, Scott, Butler, Friar Match Action The visitors start brightly, but we create the first chance when Cyrus releases Ellis in behind, but the keeper blocks his shot. Then a lovely move sees Payne release Graham, but once again the keeper is equal to it. Smith wins a free kick and floats it to the back post where Cyrus rises highest and his looping header cannons off the crossbar What do we have to do to score? Into the second half and it we assert dominance again, but it looks like it is going to be one of those days. Payne and Smith have chances, but blaze the ball over the bar on each occasion. Lepton offer little at the other end, except for set pieces which they seem to be winning too frequently for my liking. We huff and puff, but cannot blow the Lepton Highlander’s house down. Graham gets down the right and crosses into substitute Rowe, but his scuffed effort is easily saved. 0-0 a frustrating result. On the plus side we looked a more coherent, well-organised team, who just couldn’t put the ball in the onion bag when it mattered. The players were booed off by the Morley Ultras as they left the pitch. Final Score Morley Town 0-0 Lepton Highlanders A mixed set of results has left Morley Town languishing in the bottom half of the Yorkshire Amateur Premier League. Will the new look team start to gel and move up the table, or will Rudd's tenure at Morley Town be over before it has even started? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

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Thanks Sherm glad you are enjoying it

Part 3 - A Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker! It was mid-August and Glen Road was bathed in a golden evening sunlight. As I left the ground for the day I decided to take a walk up to Topcliffe Farm on the public footpath which leads up from the side of a nearby road. The view at the top of the hill where Topcliffe Farm sits is amazing. You get a true perspective of the geography of the area. Morley is famously built on seven hills and from this birds eye view perspective you can see the whole town laid out in front of you below. On the Morley skyline you can see the clock tower of the Town Hall and to the right of it the tower of the now derelict St Mary's in the Wood church. There were also some old mill chimneys which could still be seen, long since disused. Until 1974 Morley was a seperate town from Leeds, with all the administration and courts run from its town hall. It had its own independent spirit from the big city which lay to the right, although these days the physical gap between Morley and Leeds has diminished with the building of housing and retail developments. As you walk along the path, the City of Leeds skyine comes into view with all its "skyscrapers" and some of the tallest buildings in Yorkshire are on view. You can see right across the city to Cookridge on the other side añd plenty in between, including Headingley Cricket Stadium, Leeds University and of course, in the foreground, Elland Road. As I took in this marvellous view I wondered how many out of contract footballers were out there and whether they would come to Morley and play for free.. for the love of playing.. The first four trialists, Claxton, Higginson, Lee and Blakey had all fecked off to higher ranked clubs who would pay them a small part time wage to play. We couldn't do that.. We couldn't pay anybody.. Another tactic was to try and recruit some players from the reserve teams of local higher ranked clubs, who may be on non-contract. Ossett United were just down t'road and also Wakefield. Then there was Farsley Celtic up the ring road who may have someone who hasn't quite made it at Conference North Level, which seemed like a different planet to the Yorkshire Amateur League. There must be someone, anyone to improve this team... Then the next day..... First Signing - John Cyrus (DC) After a million trialists have come, gone and signed for other clubs, defender, John Cyrus finally signed an amateur contract with Morley Town. He has had previous with Frickley, Shaw Lane and Altrincham. Apparently his Mrs is from the area and wants to move back. He wants to get away from the missus to play football.. A sweet deal all round then... Josh Agbozo (DMC/MC) Like the 52 bus to town, two come at once.. Step forward Italian, Josh Agbozo, a defensive midfielder we badly need. His dad owns an Italian restaurant in Leeds and he is a waiter when he doesn't play football Sanchez Payne AMR/ST Make that a hat-trick of signings – Sanchez Payne a pacy striker who has all the attributes to do well at this level. Previous clubs include Goole, Pickering and Albion Sports after starting his career on Leeds United’s books. Friendly 5 Cavaliers v Morley Town We take a trip over the Pennines for this one to play Manchester Football League Division 2 outfit, the Cavaliers.. I try an ‘experimental’ 4-2-3-1 with yet more trialists and the three new signings. Team: Reay (trial) Markey, Cyrus, Bowe (trial) Fisher, Agbozo, Forster (trial) Davies, Payne, Marie (trial) Tidsell We dominate the opening exchanges without creating much, but then such is the pattern we concede with their first attack. Heath gets down the right and squares it for Pilch to stab home at the near post. Too easy.. We respond. Trialist Marie has a fierce shot tipped over the bar. Then after a smart four man move, young Arron Davies has a close range effort brilliantly saved. Then the same player hits the bar from inside the area and the ball falls kindly into the keeper’s arms. A goal down at half time. Into the second half and sub McAlea plays a sumptuous through ball to Sanchez Payne who is through on goal.. He unselfishly squares it to Marie who shoots tamely into the keeper’s hands.. Oh dear! Then with their only attack for a while, Forth plays an inch perfect crossfield ball to Keenan who takes it under his spell and buries it in the corner for 2-0.. For god’s sake.. Fisher gets forward from left back and feeds McAlea who rifles the ball home.. but a hair on his big toe was offside, so disallowed. Sub Valerio de Martin has looked lively and he is through on goal, but hits the outside of the post. Then in a rare moment of quality, Mario Ward picks the ball up and drives at the Cavaliers defence. He plays in De Martin who cooly dinks the ball over the keeper to halve the deficit. It is no more than we deserved. We should be winning 4 or 5 -2.. Then De Martin plays in Mario Ward, who is one on one with the keeper....and puts it wide.. That was the last kick of the game. We should have won this, but instead they are dancing in the streets of Cavaliers.. Final Score: Cavaliers 2-1 Morley Town Morley Town Sign Edward Busfield (DR/WBR) We have signed a good solid right back, who has had previous experience with several non-league clubs including, Emley, Brighouse and even a spell in Sweden with IFK Mora. Friendly 6 Morley Town v Leeds University The students of Leeds University have made the short trip through the Armley gyratory to take on our boys. I of course gave them free beer tokens to a bar in Morley Bottoms for afterwards as an incentive. Amazingly though they are actually in the league above us, so maybe they will not be pushovers. Meanwhile I’ve been busy trying to recruit yet more talent to come to Glen Road, including 42-year old former Darlington hotshot, Jeff Smith. Looking at his stats he’s still got it though, so lets see how he gets on. Team: Dewberry (trial) Busfield, Cyrus, Milne (trial) Winn (trial) Agzboo, Davies, Andrew, Payne, Marie (trial) Smith (trial) The visitors enjoy a spell of early possession but it comes to nothing. Payne has an effort deflected over, while Arron Davies hammers a free kick against the crossbar. Then the best move of the game sees Winn feed Jeff Smith who squares for Davies, but his shot is blocked by the keeper. Then the unthinkable happens. Hairyes (yes that’ his name hammers the ball home from the edge of the area. 1-0 to the flippin students.. I give them a dressing down at half time, even the trialists. That was simply not good enough. They seem motivated and start the second half well, with sub Mario Ward missing a golden chance to equalise. Then we do at last. Smith feeds Payne who turns it into the path of the onrushing Ward who unselfishly squares to Davies to belt the ball into the roof of the net for one each! We look in control and most likely to score, but then Leverett launches a missile over our defence and Heugh runs onto it and buries it in the corner... I look on in disbelief. 2-1 to the students.. We re-assert control. A corner is swung in by Davies to the far post where Cyrus leaps highest to nod in an equaliser. 2-2. Then disaster. Winfarrah stumbles almost Gerrard like and Stafford nicks the ball and blasts the ball home for 3-2. For god’s sake man! Anyway all things considered we put up a good fight against a team above us in the pyramìd. The students enjoyed their time at Morley Bottoms, a new bar area down the hill from the town hall and we drowned our sorrows with them. Nothing like a bit of team bonding, although there is much more rebuilding to be done before the season actually starts. Majed Alasttal (DL) I have snapped up this left back after being released by Farsley Celtic. A real coup for us I think. Joe Lamplough (DLC/MC) I’ve signed this experienced utility man who has been around the block in Yorkshire non-league football circles, enjoying spells over on the coast at Bridlington and Scarborough Athletic, after beginning his career at Hull City. Jeff Smith (ML/AML) I am not normally in the business of signing 42 year old players whatever level I manage at, but this was an exception. He’s stlll got more than enough quality for this league and will be a useful impact player off the bench potentially. Louis Rowe (ST) A magnificent capture for the club, this pacy Irish striker will make all the difference to our forward line. He started his career at Oakwell, but failed to make the grade at Barnsley, before dropping down the leagues, through Workington and others to end up as Morley's latest recruit. When he is not playing football he works at a well known pastry shop in the centre of Morley. David Reay (GK) This 29-year old finally provides us with a decent player between the sticks. He has had spells at Worksop, Stocksbridge and Buxton in his non-league career so far. When he is not playing football, Reay is a butcher at Leeds Market. Friendly 7: Farsley Celtic Juniors v Morley Town Despite their name, this is not a kids team and they play in the Supreme Division, the level above us, so they will be no pushovers. I line up in an experimental 4-3-3 in a bid to try and stop the rot of friendly defeats. Hopefully they’ll play more like S Club Juniors.. Team: Dewberry (trial) Busfield, Lamplough, Milne (trial) Alasttal, Law (trial) Agbozo, Davies, Ward, De Martin, Payne It’s even Steven, but we actually take the lead. Law feeds Sanchez Payne down the right channel and his low cross is turned home by De Martin. As is always the way though as soon s we score they respond, Cian Jones sliding home... grrr! Allattsal looks like a good signing already and he gets forward down the left. He feeds Mario Ward inside who swivels and finds a great cross for Sanchez Payne at the back post who volleys home (almost) Van Basten-like from the angle, but from much closer in than the great Dutchman. Into the second half and guess what we get a third goal! Busfield does well to intercept a crossfield pass and he feeds the impressive De Martin, whose slide rule pass plays in sub Evan O’Donnell, who cooly rolls the ball past the keeper into the corner of the net. 3-1. Then we hit the suicide button. They get the ball on the right. The ball loops up into the air awkwardly, the keeper gets underneath it and it ends up at the feet of Jones whose Granny could have tapped in for the easiest goal of his career. Then Muir turned home another cross from the right to equalise. I take some heart from this performance and had I not done the full Ranieri style tinkerman routine in the last 20 minutes, we would have won this. We looked good in a 4-3-3 as well and there were positives to take from this game, but still disappointed not to win. Final Score: Farsley Celtic Juniors 3-3 Morley Town Jones 20, 83 De Martin 12 Muir 88 Payne 44 O’Donnell 53 Friendly 8 – Morley Town v Beverley Town Reserves Our friends from the Humber Premier League Division 1 make the trip from East Yorkshire to take on our boys in our final friendly. Hopefully a win will give us the boost we need before the season gets underway. The squad is looking more settled now with less trialists and more permanent ones, but there is still work to be done in improving the squad. Team: Reay, Busfield, Cyrus, Lamplough, Allasttal, Hudson, Agbozo, Davies, Payne, Rowe, De Martin The visitors have the better of the opening exchanges, but it is us who draw first blood. Alattsall runs forward and releases De Martin down the left channel. He checks back inside to find Agbozo on the edge of the area. The Italian waiter let’s fly and it fizzes into the top corner. Brilliant goal! We take control of the game and then double our lead. The impressive Allasttal skips past his man on the left and floats in a high cross which the keeper cannot deal with as he flaps at it. The ball lands at the feet of Sanchez Payne who taps the ball into an open goal. Suddenly we are knocking the ball about with the confidence of a skilled La Liga side. Busfield’s ball into the channel is seized upon by Payne, who cooly half volleys into the corner for 3-0. Young DeMartin is having a stormer in the left side of the front three. He checks inside before clipping a beautiful ball over the defence which only Payne can get to and he slots home for his hat-trick. New signing Louis Rowe has been quiet, but when he receives the ball from a a DeMartin knockdown, the Irishman lashes the ball at the goalkeeper, who can only half parry the ball and it trickles into the corner of the net. 5-0 Morley Town. Then, Beverley Town Reserves start to play and hit three late goals, which took the polish off what had been a fine performance and only our second win of the pre-season campaign. Final Score Morley Town 5-3 Beverley Town Reserves Agbozo 15 Blair 78 Payne 37,39,47 Barker 81 Rowe 68 McNube 83 Jack Cowgill (DC) I’ve snapped up this central defender to bolster our squad. He started off with Barnsley but has turned out for fellow West Yorkshire teams, Ossett United and Nostell Miners Wefare since. Cowgill works in a factory which makes Candlesticks... We have now signed a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker!!! All we need to do now is get high enough in the English pyramid to qualify for the FA Cup! I can just hear Gerald Sindstadt now.. God rest his soul... First Team Squad for the New Season Goalkeepers David Reay Soni Moreman Lewis Love (yth) Defenders Sean Markey (DR) Edward Busfield (DR/WBR) Joe Lamplough (DLC/MC) John Cyrus (DC) Jack Cowgill (DC) Rodger Winfarrah (DC) Trent Hartas (DRLC) Scott Fisher (DRL) Majed Alasttal (DL/WBL) Midfielders Josh Azbogo (DMC/MC) Rob Hudson (yth) (DMC) Barry Woods (yth) (MRL) Scott McAlea (MR) Jeff Smith (ML/AML) Arron Davies (yth) (AMC) Steve Tanner (yth) (AMC) Sakou Tidsell (AMLC) Faris Pamment (AML) Forwards Evan O’Donnell (AML/ST) Sanchez Payne (AMR/ST) Louis Rowe (ST) Valerio De Martin (yth) (ST) Mario Ward (yth) (ST) There are other players in the U21/U18s who also may appear every now and again. With pre-season now over and a team full of butchers, bakers and candlestick makers, are Morley Town ready to hit the ground running in their Yorkshire Amateur League campaign? Find out how they get on next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

Sorry lads (and lasses) I'm afraid I've had to leave her on my other save! Yes your right, not sure she would love Morley when it is shrouded in Pennine fog and mizzle. Secondly it would seem weird to be knocking around town with another woman that is not my wife, even in a story. It just wouldn't be right so unfortunately Charlotte has stayed in Cambodia until I write the Ultimate World FM Game Part 2

Part 2 - Were All t'Leeds Round 'ere Aren't We? Morley, West Yorkshire July 2022 “Oh yea! Oh yea! Oh yea!” shouted the town crier, ringing his bell loudly as he stood outside Morley Town Hall, the ornate late Victorian structure which dominates this West Yorkshire town. As ever on these occasions the man in the red robes had drawn a crowd, who had briefly halted their daily business in Queens Street to come and see what the fuss was about. This included pensioners who loved this kind of things, to curious children and small group of teenagers hanging out in Windsor Court, the adjacent shopping precinct, who were taking the mickey a little and giggling as the crier carried out his duties. “Morley Town football club have appointed Jonathan Rudd as their new manager.” I expected cheers and people hugging eachother, jumping for joy as a brand new era dawned for their town’s football team... but no, nothing, just silence as people just stood there.. Then one bloke, wearing a tracksuit and in a thick local accent shouted, “Were all t’Leeds round ‘ere aren’t we!” The crowd cheered and there were a few chants of “Marching on Together...” and "Come on t'Leeds.." I stood there, invisible... This was of course the famous song from the very illustrious club about one mile away. If you stand in the centre circle of Morley Town’s home ground, Glen Road and look North, you could see the floodlights and the top of the stand of the famous Elland Road Stadium. Many of the pubs and bars in Morley had Leeds United murals, signed shirts, decorations and memorabilia from it's illustrious history, Charles, Charlton, Bremner, Lorimer, Strachan, Kewell, err Danny Pugh.. Beckford, Becchio and of course Bielsa.. and all the famous names who had worn the hallowed white shirt down the years. There was no doubt that this is a football mad part of the world, with some rugby league and cricket thrown in as well, but I had a lot of work to do to raise the profile of Morley’s football team which lay in the shadows of the monolith of a club just one mile away. The town crier finished with the day’s news and the good people of Morley went back to their shopping and whatever they were up to in the centre of their town on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I then walked up to Morley Town FC from Queen’s Street to meet the chairman Bryan Wilkins and the players. Where are Morley Town on The English Pyramid? Morley Town play in the Yorkshire Amateur Premier Division, which is Level 12 on the football pyramid. That’s eleven promotions from The Premier League and at the time of writing, ten for a local derby against the Mighty Whites from down t’road. I am here to try and make that happen, but it will be a long slog. They play their home games at Glen Road. At the moment the biggest games of the season are the Asquith Avenue derby against Gildersome Old Boys and the A6110 Ring Road derby against Beeston Juniors... Board Expectations The Board expect me to finish in mid-table. The supporters expect a fight against relegation. I think if we can recruit sufficient quality into the club, with some experience at playing higher in the English pyramid, then we can compete at the top of the table. In all honesty, the quality at the club made up players created by Football Manager, not real life ones, left a little to be desired and would require much activity in the transfer market in order to compete well in this league and move up the pyramid. Meeting the Players Note: This is the bunch of random newgens that the game automatically adds because wisely, upon loading the game with the whole English pyramid I ticked the "Add players to existing teams" box, which automatically generates them and are added to every single team in the pyramid.. So if your name is Rob Hudson, or Sean Markey, or indeed, Rodger Winfarrah and happen to live in Morley, then this is not you and just a strange coincidence.. Nor are any of these players real Morley Town footballers.. unless there is a very strange coincidence and there really is a left winger called Faris Pamment who plays for the club in real life. The squad I inherited its fair to say were not the best, but very realistic for the level of football we are at, which I like. There was however room for improvement in all departments. There were a few promising youngsters though, who played for us on a weekend and attended local schools, such as attacking midfielder Arron Davies and striker, Valerio de Martin. Scott Fisher who was older but looks like a capable full back who can play both right and left, but other than that not a great deal of talent to work with. One Man and His Chairman As it currently stood there was just me, Bryan Wilkins the chairman, an old bald headed man with a moustache and a bunch of players at the club. There was no backroom team in place because I foolishly forgot to tick the "Add Key Staff" option when loading the game. I needed to act fast to get a physio in place at least before our first friendly against Ashby Park Rovers Resreves in just 5 days time... Otherwise I may have to dig out my First Aid Certificate I did as a teenager at school back in 1995.. After our first light pre-season session I prepared some job adverts for an Assistant Manager, Head Physio, Head Scout and Coach and stuck them online.. Will anybody want to do these jobs for free in the world of football? Supporters Screen Oooh this is new (and perhaps overdue) a Supporters expectations screen. We have a 14% Hardcore Morley Ultras who live on the nearby Glen Road Estate ,24% are families who are from the nearby Bird Estate and 17% casual supporters who make the trip up the hill from Churwell every now and again when Leeds United are playing away down t’south somewhere.. First Press Conference The press conference garnered little interest from the local press and just a 16 year old Elliot Bartley, who was on work experience at BBC Radio Leeds turned up to ask questions. He remained expressionless throughout as I outlined my excitement on taking the role as Morley manager and my vision for the club. I may as well have been talking to a brick wall.. Starting to Build the Squad The first steps in building up the squad into a decent one was to see which locally based footballers were available on a free and might want to drop down to Yorkshire Amateur League Level to help our cause. Out of the seven available Leeds-based players, four answered the call and turned up to Glen Road on a warm July evening to begin training and be in contention for the starting line up in the first pre-season friendly in just two days time. Ben Higginson (GK) Harrison Blakey (DC) Dominic Claxton (DC) Redmond Lee (ST) Friendly 1 – Ashby Park Reserves v Morley Town We make the rather unnecessarily long trip down the M62 East to North Lincolnshire outfit, Ashby Park Rovers of The Scunthorpe and District League who play at the Co-op Playing fields. I line up in a simple 4-4-2, with all the trialists starting to see what they can do. Team: (4-4-2) Higginson (trial) Hartas, Blakey (trial) Claxton (trial) Fisher, Hudson, Tanner, McAlea, Lee (Trial) De Martin, Tidsell We don’t start well and Greenlee their striker wriggles clear and beats the keeper with a near post shot he really should have done better with. Immediately though we equalise through Tidsell with a fierce shot from the angle. Then we take the lead. Tanner’s perfectly weighted through ball reaches Redmond Lee who makes it 2-1 with a simple finish. Nice way for the trialist to impress. McAlea gets down the right wing. His cross is overhit but Tidsell retrieves, drops his shoulder to fool the defender before sliding a low cross for Lee to tap home for number 3! The Morley Ultras are chanting “Sign him up” already! 3-1 at half time. I make a few changes without doing the full Sven. On 60 minutes, sub Andrew is upended in the box and fellow sub, right back Sean Markey makes it four with a penalty straight down the middle. Blakey’s long ball was chased down by Higginson, he turns it back to Paige Andrew who cuts inside and fires in a low cross which is diverted home by young Mario Ward! 5-1 Morley! Brilliant stuff for the first game! We travel back to West Yorkshire in great spirits. Final Score Ashby Park Rovers 1-5 Morley Town Greenlee 12 Tidsell 20 Lee 31,40 Markey (61 pen) Ward 63 Friendly 2 – Morley Town v Marske United We host Northern League outfit, Marske United in my second friendly. I go in with a 4-4-2 again as the players seek to catch my eye before the opening league game. Team: Moreman, Markey , Blakey (trial), Claxton (trial), Fisher, Hudson, Tanner, McAlea, Lee (trial), O’Donnell, Tidsell After two minutes a long punt upfield from Markey should be comfortable for the keeper,.. but he fumbles it, straight to Redmond Lee who passes the ball into the empty net! 1-0 Morley. On ten minutes Marske swing in a free-kick.. but there’s pushing in the box.. Penalty! Kennedy steps up and sends Moreman the wrong way, one each. As the half reaches a conclusion, the North Eastern side look the more dangerous and hit the bar, before taking the lead moments later. A lovely through ball sends Scott free and he confidently slides the ball past Moreman for 2-1. Into the second half and we attack with vigour. Redmond Lee spurns a great chance to equalise after good work from sub Arron Davies, while sub Mario Ward has a goal chalked off for offside after more good work from the young Welshman, Davies. At the other end though they hit the post twice and their sub, Church blasts the ball over the bar when clean through. A 2-1 defeat, but we gave a good account of ourselves against a side from a higher level in the pyramid. Final Score Morley Town 1-2 Marske United Lee 3 Kennedy 12 (pen) Scott 45 Friendly 3 Bagby & Balk v Morley Town We are going back to school for this one, Thirsk School to be precise, in North Yorkshire, so a quick trip up the A1 and back for our boys today. I include a few new trialists who have answered my recruitment call. Let’s see if they are any good! Team: Moreman, Croft (trial) Winfarrah, Claxton (trial) Hartas, Hudson, O’Reagan (trial) McAlea, Lee (trial) Payne (trial) Price Match Action We look quite solid in a 4-4-2 and look the most likely to break the deadlock at first. McAlea has an effort saved low down by the keeper, while trialist Sanchez Payne flashes a shot just over. Their midfielder Lloyd scythes down O’Reagan and earns a red card. They are down to ten men. Then in a rare outbreak of quality, the three trialists combine, Croft sends Lee down the right channel who squares it for Payne to slot home. But we fall asleep from the kick off and a smart four man move from the home side sends Walker free and he fires it past Moreman for an unexpected equaliser. Just before half time, Lee misses a gilt edged chance to put us ahead after smart work from trialist O’Reagan. Into the second half and sub trialist Jordan Deacey looks lively and feeds McAlea, who puts n a low cross for Payne, but the keeper claws it away. Then from nowhere a free kick and amazingly the hosts take the flipping lead from a looping header which finds its way past Moreman into the top corner from their Finnish “superstar” Vieheranta.. 2-1 down. To make matters worse, young Hudson goes in hard on their midfielder and earns himself an early bath, making it ten each side. A really bad day at the office is compounded when Bagby break away from our corner and Snelgrove taps home a simple third. 20 shots to 10 and they win 3-1. Good job it was only a friendly.. Much work to be done.. Final Score: Bagby & Balk 3-1 Morley Town Walker Payne Vieheranta Snelgrove New Backroom Team Finally someone has answered by job adverts... New Assistant Manager Sam O’Hara I have snapped up 32-year old Assistant Manager, Sam O’Hara! Finally somebody is willing to join me at Glen Road. Welcome to Morley Sam! He has already made a few positive suggestions as to how we can move forward, so first impressions are good. New Coach I welcome Ernie Dyer as our new first team coach. He also wanted the Assistants job, but offered him this role instead. Welcome to Glen Road. With a name like Ernie, I’m sure you’ll fit right in! New Physio Dan Harmison, Steve's idiot brother has given up his time to cure my injured players. Thanks mate, We no longer have to hire a local quck to heal any injured players on matchdays. New Chief Scout We finally have a chief scout, after advertising for one and initially receiving zilch responses. Finally Stu Scanlon (not to be confused with Angela) put his name forward and we snapped him up, cos nobody else really wanted to come. Welcome to Morley Stu! New Scout Stu had a mate called Charlie who likes to watch local football matches and spot talent, so we snapped him up as well to work under Stu. Friendly 4 Rothwell Town v Morley Town We make the short trip of one junction down the M62 eastbound to the town of Rothwell. There are more trialists in the team as I still seek to make my first signing after a lot of comings and goings. Team: Moreman, Croft (trial) Bowe (trial) Cyrus (trial) Fisher, Kennedy (trial) Forster (trial) McAlea, Payne (Trial) Wetherall, Tisdell It’s even although Rothwell have a great chance which is beaten away by Moreman. Then out of nowhere they have a free kick on the edge of the box. Banks powers it Beckham-style into the top corner, keeper no chance and its 1-0 to them. In the second hlf we come out and try to equalise. We thought we had when Tidsell fired home from close range, but his big toe was offside. Then, a deep corner from Rothwell as nodded home by Rhys Sharples. The final nail in our coffin was yet another Worldie free kick, this time from Leam Forshaw. We reply with a consolation from the spot when Waide Andrew was felled. Young Valeron de Martin made no mistake. 3-1 the final score. We were undone by two worldie free kicks Beckham would have been proud of and could not take our chances. Disappointing.. Rothwell Town 3-1 Morley Town Banks 32 De Martin 90 Sharples 72 Hearn 82 After about 200 trialists have trained and played with Morley Town, only to be snapped up by clubs further up the pyramid, will anybody come to Glen Road and play for us, or will we have to make do the squad that the game has given us? Find out next time on The Ultimate English Pyramid Game!

Sent my votes. Good luck everyone!

Part 1: Introduction - Welcome to England! Amongst the rolling green hills of Merrie Olde England, in a forgotten corner of an old industrial town or city, from the mass expanses of Hackney Marshes to the village playing fields the national sport that was invented on these shores 150 years ago is still played every week purely for love of the beautiful game. There is no money, there are no Bentleys, no Gucci kit bags, no fame or glory, but just pure passion for the most popular sport on the planet. This is the grassroots, the backbone of English football, in all weathers come rain or shine, hail, sleet, snow or fog, the muck and nettles, the freezing cold changing rooms, the muddy goalmouths, the roast dinner and pints after the game at the pub, the one man and his dog... Welcome to England! This is the Ultimate English Pyramid Game!!!

Thanks

Thankyou all for reading The Ultimate World FM Game and getting it to 15,000 views on this forum alone. After 3 years of playing the same save I have "upgraded" to FM23 and decided to start another story (a wee bit closer to home than Cambodia). More details to follow....

Can my story, The Ultimate World FM game be considered as completed? Spoiler alert but I am working on a new story and if I did a part 2 of the UWFMS in the future it would be a seperate thread with a new country/team but with references to the first edition..

Part 76 - Farewell EDC! My tenure at EDC had come to an abrupt end and in one of the worse ways possible. My interfering new chairman, Sann Veasna sold, or gave away one of best players, Men Samnang to our bitter rivals, Khemera without telling anybody else and it only came to light on the morning of a televised match against Phnom Penh Crown. This was a clear breach of trust between manager and chairman, one that is essential for the successful running of a football club on and off the field. I had not known Sann Veasna long, but it was clear to me by his actions how this was going to play out and it was something I did not want to be part of any more.. His interfering ways in recruitment, training and with some of the players themselves had affected everybody from the cleaning ladies to me the manager. There was an underlying reason also and that was an acceptance that while we remained semi-professional, we would always be the bridesmaids in the C-League, finishing around 5th each season. Thirdly this is The Ultimate World FM Game and I've only been to one country so far!! So, where did we leave off last time..?? Yes I'm in a fit of anger after leaving EDC and driving home. As I was doing this, I got a call from Nen Borey. I parked up at the side of the road "Jonathan, What's happened?" "I've quit Nen.." "Ohh Jonathan.." "I'm fed up of his BS" I was aware that Nen Borey may have his eyes on taking over, as he had been building up his coaching badges and had already been linked to both the Vishaka and Svay Rieng jobs. As far as I'm concerned he was welcome to it.. "I'm done with EDC Nen, I'm going elsewhere." "Are you leaving Cambodia?" "Probably.." "Jonathan it won't be the same without you. Please reconsider." "No Nen. My mind is I'm done with EDC and with Cambodia. It's been great working with you Nen, but its time to move on to pastures new." The conversation ended and I continued on my way home. When I arrived home I messaged Charlotte, who was at the hospital to tell her the deed was done, but I'd give her more details later. I made a cup of tea and then fell asleep for a while. I should be taking training now.. then having a scouting meeting.. well I won't be missing the latter.. but I missed the lads, the banter, developing young players into better ones, that kind of thing. Our next game was a very winnable away match against Build Bright United and we would be doing our Chance Creation and conversion routines which was always a favourite.. Later on, Charlotte stopped by to cheer me up and I told her of the parting conversation I'd had with my now ex-boss, Sann Veasna. She was shocked at how dismissive he'd been. The big elephant in the room though was where would we go next? Would we stay in Cambodia, or leave for pastures new? My managerial stock was pretty high in this country and could probably get whatever job I wanted. Nagaworld, Boeung Ket and Phnom Penh Crown had at one time or another offered me the job, but each time I had turned them down, believing I could win the title with part-time EDC. It turned out Charlotte and I both wanted to leave Cambodia for different reasons. Me for footballing reason, in that I wanted to challenge myself in (no disrespect) a bigger and more developed football nation than Cambodia. My partner on the other hand had too many bad memories of Phnom Penh, living in poverty for a time with her mother and after her death going through a low period in her life which led her to the much documented series of failed relationships. She also wanted an adventure somewhere else. A fresh start. Part of me wanted to get the country generator out again and go somewhere completely different, but waiting for those leagues to load and new jobs to become available would take too long and I had to think of Charlotte as well. It would have to be somewhere she was happy to relocate to as well. Taking Charlotte to manage a team in the high Arctic, or on a desert island wouldn't perhaps be the best idea for the long term future of our relationship! We agreed on either Thailand or Malaysia, Indonesia or Australia. The latter was notoriously difficult to access politically and as there were only about ten teams in the A-League, not many managerial vacancies, even though a new life there would of course be amazing! I updated my Management CV and looked at the special Football Management Job Centre page in the sky to see which clubs had vacancies. There were numerous Thai clubs, mainly in the amateur leagues, but I would need to at least sign for a semi-pro outfit so I could earn a wage. I needed to earn money, I couldn't just do this for fun. There were no jobs going in Malaysia or Indonesia at this point, just Thailand and some in the other leagues loaded, Papua New Guinea and East Timor, but neither of us fancied going there. The next day... Inevitably news of my departure had travelled fast to the pages of the Khmer Times, with a picture of me leaving The Electricity Stadium.. I'm not sure when the picture was taken, but it certainly wasn't yesterday.. Anyway the news had reached the fans and Sann Veasna had wasted no time in slagging me off on social media. He'd obviously got one of his henchmen to tweet the below... “Rudd was absolutely robbing a living at EDC, so glad he’s gone.” Charming! The press rang me up for an interview which I duly obliged and with all the bluntness of my Yorkshire roots, told them how it bloody was. The chairman had sold one of my best players, Men Samnang to Khemera without telling me, rendering my position as manager untenable and that while I bore no grudge with the player himself, I was more than upset with the chairman for forcing him out of the club to one of our rivals. He had done this so his signing, Jefri Henri Bisai, who again I bore no grudge with and was a good player, could play instead and that if Veasna had any ounce of footballing brain would have realised that I was playing both in a 4-3-3 formation and because Men Samnang could also play as a left inverted winger and the Indonesian was a central midfielder I could if I so desired play them in the same eleven in a 4-4-2 formation as well if required... A few days later..... It's fair to say I was moping around my apartment, missing the lads and missing the preparations for a big match. The only bright spark of the day was a visit from Charlotte after her hospital shift. She had promised a meal out that evening to cheer me up. I'd best get ready I suppose.. She arrived at 5pm, looking as resplendent as usual. Boy I loved her.. We got in the taxi and headed towards the centre of Phnom Penh. Charlotte was grinning from ear to ear throughout the journey... What was she up to? She was hatching another one of her schemes again, I could tell... The taxi pulled up in Sisworth Quay. I momentarily looked over at the spot where I had nervously waited for Charlotte on that balmy evening around one year ago. We had come such a long way since then. I had back then been secure in my job and the team was doing well. She led me into a bar, again the same one where we had officially got together on that night after she had explained about her previous relations with my now ex-chairman Hem Vutha. Upon entering the bar I noticed that an area of it had been roped off for a party. It was full of people and my first thoughts were whether or not we could get a seat and that it may take a while for us to get served. Suddenly all the people in the bar stood up and started clapping and cheering. A few chants of "Jonny Rudd's Electric Army," rang out... The bar was full of EDC fans...? I looked closer.. Nen Borey came over and shook my hand.. There was Chan Vannak my Head of Youth Development and... Sok Oeun Pidor!..... Taboula... Nhem,,.. Ratana... all stood applauding.. Raymond Etim!.. Tuy Oudom,... Chea Samnang.. Leap Bo... Um Makara... Min Rattanak.... Men Samnang (of all people)... Maol Daravon,, oh my god,, He was there,,, Keo Udom.... Anderson Gbayoro.. Mat Noron.... All the lads were there and coaching staff. Then Hem Vutha, the ex-chairman stepped forward and quietened the crowd... "Jonathan.. we just wanted to say thankyou thankyou thankyou for being our manager... Electricitie Du Cambodge and all the success you brought our team, for winning the Hun Sen Cup and The Kings Cup and establishing EDC as a strong C-League Club and improving football in the C-League as a whole. "We are very sorry you are leaving and things ended the way that they did with that ba***rd Sann Veasna! I wish I had never sold the club to him! But.. tonight is not about him, but about this amazing Englishman who managed our team with such distinction and honour.. " Well at least you can go to Malaysia now Jonathan without having to face me when you get back! Hahaha" "You must thank the lovely Charlotte here for arranging everything at such short notice, but we could not miss this opportunity to say thankyou for all you have done for us..." The whole room cheered and raised their glasses. Charlotte was grinning from ear to ear. "Jonathan a few words??" I was completely unprepared for this.. "Well... This is such a surprise... I thought Charlotte here was just taking me out for a meal and I've ended up here with you lot.. Those in the team I hope you remember that you have an important game Saturday! Cue a few laughs.. "But seriously I came to EDC not knowing what to expect.... how I would manage to train a team without speaking Khmer?.. How I would manage against opponents I'd never even heard of? You guys all helped me through that and did yourselves proud both as people and footballers. It has been the most amazing experience of my life to be the EDC manager and has been an honour to bring two trophies into your cabinet. Charlotte, thankyou so much for organising this and getting everybody together. Up the EDC!!" I then spent the best night of my life, chatting to all who had come to celebrate, reminiscing about old matches, the time we helped two fishermen pull a fish out the Mekong River on the way back from a cup tie against Mondul Kiri, the trip to Angkor Wat before the first Hun Sen Cup Final, signing "The Cambodian Pele" and of course winning the cup. All brilliant memories from this wonderful little football club... I managed to catch a word with Men Samnang and turned out that he had been practically manhandled out of the club on the morning of the Phnom Penh Crown game by a couple of Veasna's heavies.. He'd turned up at the ground on the morning of the game as normal, looking forward to taking on The Crown live on television, but was told at the door that he had been "sold" to Khemera.. and that if he contacted me about it then they would do more than just manhandle him into a taxi.... While the night in general had cheered me up, hearing this story from a talented young footballer, who was just 19 years old made me fear what the future may hold for all the staff at Electricite Du Cambodge FC with Sann Veasna in charge.. The End (of this part at least)