Soulfusion

FM23 Leamington F. C. Season 2025/6 "The Brakes" During May I was called to a Board Meeting to discuss my first four months in post. The Chairman was unhappy that I had not been able to guide the club away from relegation but was willing to allow me to give me more time to cement my position as Manager. Season expectations for 2025/6 was discussed and I was advised that promotion by winning the league was a minimum requirement. No pressure whatsoever then; although the media prediction reinforced the view that Leamington were favorites' for promotion. The promotion campaign was to be achieved with a small transfer budget of £12K and a wage budget of £3,778 p/w (a 10% reduction), understandable though as the finances had become insecure following two relegations and unlikely to improve in the 8th tier of the football pyramid. My time at Leamington led me to believe that while we were defensively sound up front we lacked creativity and struggled to convert chances that did come our way. The transfer budget was converted to the wage budget and I was able to keep hold of most of the squad; loan players returned to their parent club and two young ST's were released. Another young winger left to join the Baggies U21's. Evesham were raided for an Attacking Mid, "Ding Dong", and a ST. A third arrival from Evesham, a DC/DM would arrive much later in the season. Another ST, "Weedy" arrived from Harborough and "Major" a WB/M/AM RL secured a contract after arriving on trial. A full pre-season with Leamington helped build confidence with the remaining squad and friendly results were encouraging with 3 wins and a draw (against Wigan Ath. U21's). The season started unconvincingly with a win, draw and loss in our first three league matches and an early exit from the FA Cup. A defeat by local rivals Racing Club Warwick in the qualifying round of the FA Trophy could have been damaging but we followed this up with four wins and a draw in the League to climb to 3rd. Two defeats followed before another six match unbeaten run (four wins) saw me shortlisted for Manager of the Month in November and us rise to the top of Southern League Div. 1 Central. At this point it would be nice to report that Leamington cruised to the title with games to spare. However the reality is we did not. Two more defeats against title rivals and another six match unbeaten run in January kept us firmly in sight of the top but from February onwards we became consistently inconsistent. With four league matches remaining the table was tight although the title was still achievable. . Finally we found some consistency, four successive draws, and almost missed out on a Play-Off spot scoring a late equaliser in our final match against Histon! In our Play-off semi-final we were insipid and lost 2-0 to Northwood with a whimper. A season therefore of what might have been. My player of the season was "Old Man River", a 34 year old Centre-Back passed his best. A young ST, "Twisted Wheel", who I almost released at the end of last season but converted to a Right Winger bagged 16 league goals whilst 12 assists came from "Bus" a right wing back come winger who was the only member of the squad to start all our matches. A special mention to "Captain Jack" who announced he is to retire in May after making a record 424 appearances (70 goals) in two spells with Leamington. As the season ends I am still to discuss a new contract with the board despite my existing one ending in June. They are talking about next seasons expectations and budgets so I may yet get another crack with Leamington. Our U18's had a formidable season finishing 2nd in their league. Previous Club Watch Shirehampton finished 16th in the Western League Premier Division and were relegated back to Level 10.

I will honour the existing contract with Leamington and work to restore their fortunes. Will be a tricky pre-season as I attempt to balance reduced budgets, offload under performing players and attempt to convince players that want to leave whom I want to retain to give me another season.

FM23 Leamington FC Season 2024/5 "The Brakes"" Leamington FC had been relegated from Vanarama League North in 2023/4 season after several seasons in the Division and had not adapted very well to life in Southern League Premier Central which had cost the previous incumbent his job. On 5th January I was appointed Manager of Leamington FC until end June 2026. The league position was desperate but I had confidence in my abilities to lift "The Brakes" from their slumber. A quick review of the Club indicated that everything was superior at Leamington compared with Shirehampton; player ability, budgets, staff ability and qualifications, finances, supporter base. The pre-season media prediction of 14th surprised me as I felt the squad should have been strong enough to compete much higher up the table. At our first meeting the players left me in no doubt that they felt we were doomed to relegation despite my efforts in inject belief in our ability to rise up the table. The fixture list did nothing to encourage a positive start with fixtures against the 7th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st and 6th placed clubs in the division in my first five games. We managed a single point from those first five fixtures and the first victory of my tenure occurred in our 8th fixture. It was clear from these initial fixtures that all the strikers at the club either lacked confidence in front of goal or were just sh***. My scouts were unable to find me any alternatives that were willing to become involved in a relegation battle and so our fate was sealed with three fixtures remaining. The final League positions were: Surprisingly I was not summoned to attend a Board meeting and be given a P45. It appears I shall be given an opportunity to return Leamington to the Regional Premier Division. It will be a massive task though as several players want to leave or have been at the club for two successive relegations and their morale is shot. The grass is rarely greener for an FM Llama!! Previous Club Watch: Shirehampton were relegated

Unlucky with Llandidloes. Were you able to establish why they crashed and burned in those final matches? Injuries or just general loss of confidence?

Shirehampton FC Season 2024/25: Southern League Div. 1 South "Firmitas In Profundum" Successive promotions have caught up with the majority of the squad, even star striker Polish is not considered good enough to grace Southern League Div. 1 South but I am unwilling to let him go. Three first team regulars are released and two others sold in pre-season. I am able to bring in ex youth prospects from Bristol Rovers, a D C and a DM/M C. A new GK, a D L, another DM, a M/AM R, a DM/MC, an Irish AM L and a ST C (in case Polish does struggle) arrive to strengthen the First XI. In July I am able to finally attract a Ass Man and Head of Youth Development and am immediately exposed to plenty of new advice to consider! The media prediction is for Shirehampton to finish 20th whilst the Board expect to finish in the Relegation Playoffs. Pre-season friendly results are W2, D2, L1 but all the games are a struggle whilst the new recruits struggle to gel and get to grips with my TicTacs. Our first competitive fixture, a FA Cup extra preliminary round match against old rivals Lydney Town see us crash out 2-0. This is followed up by a first league defeat by the same result. Our possession stats are great but we look toothless up front. Two successive away wins, also by 2-0 against Cadbury Heath and Willand Rovers offer signs of revival but we are beaten 3-1 by Lydney (again!) and a pattern commences where we pick up points without ever looking convincing. In the FA Trophy we advance to the First Round proper courtesy of three wins on penalties following 1-1 results! The Board continue to offer me a new contract but we stall on terms; they won't budge from £85 p/w (my starting salary!) and want a 30% reduction if relegated! whilst I don't budge from wanting £110 p/w so I remain on a month to month contract and my frustration with the Shirehampton board begins to fester. Other clubs continue to show interest in my services and in November I am offered a position with Northern Premier League Premier Div. side Guiseley but we cannot agree terms. In December I attend an interview with Boston Utd of Vanarama National League North but am not successful. In January I find myself attending an interview with Leamington FC of Southern League Premier Central and am offered the position which I accept. I leave Shirehampton on 5 January 2025 after 120 games played and a win percentage of 52%. The Southern League Div. 1 South table at time of leaving is:

Shirehampton F.C. Season 2023/24: Hellenic League Premier Division End Of Season Report "Firmitas In Profundum" In January things really began to click for Shirehampton as we went unbeaten for 9 matches (W7 D2). The only defeat in this period was on penalties in the Hellenic League Cup against Abingdon, avenged by a 6-1 victory in the League a couple of games later. Polish was on fire scoring goals for fun with our AM C, Cage, chipping in with regular goals as we rose to top spot with room to spare even when back to back defeats dented our progress. Confidence at the club was jolted in March when Skip accepted an offer to move to Oakwood FC (level 10) rather than try to secure promotion to the Southern League. I quickly landed a D R, Athlete, from Cribbs moving my versatile D RC M C from right back to centre-back. Performances dropped but we were still able to scrape enough wins to remain on top, clear by 3 points and with the best GD in the division. Lydney Town were our closest rivals and we had to play them in our penultimate fixture. Before that though we had four matches against teams in the bottom four and an opportunity to maximise our advantage. Of course it wasn't that simple. We started to pick up injuries and the easy games on paper saw a return of W2, D1, L1 sufficient to secure a Play-off spot but our match against Lydney looked increasingly like a Hellenic League title decider. A team meeting called to improve confidence had the opposite effect as a 21st minute penalty stupidly given away by Cage and probably our worst performance of the season saw Lydney leave the Creek with a 1-0 victory and move top of Hellenic League with a game to play. In the final round of fixtures we were away to mid-table Cribbs whilst Lydney faced relegated FC Stratford at home. Lydney's home record of one defeat all season seemed ominous. Another team meeting was held and ended positively. We were dominant in our match against Cribbs but could not force a breakthrough. FC Stratford surprised everyone by going 1-0 up in the 39th minute but had a player sent off by half time. As it stood we were top of the league by virtue of our superior goal difference. Lydney finally pierced the ten men of Stratford in the 67th minute to equalise and move ahead of us in the table. I instruct our team to go all out in attack and our patience pays off with Polish (who else) popping up to put us ahead in the 78th minute. Lydney are unable to find a winner at Stratford and Shirehampton claim the Hellenic League title by one point. Polish ends the season with a league high 39 goals and is named Hellenic League Player of the Season and is joined in the Hellenic League team of the Season by Athlete and Top Cat. On a personal note I earn my second Manager of the Season award and have acquired my National A licence. My reward from Shirehampton's board is a contract offer of one year at £85 per week, i.e. the same wage as I have been on since joining the club. I ask for £110 and we fail to reach agreement. I am offered an interview at Chester but am not successful. My contract expires at the end of June and I remain at Shirehampton on a month to month contract. The squad shall require significant strengthening and the Board seem willing to at least provide a large enough budget to achieve this. Shirehampton are joined by Lydney Town in Southern League Div. 1 South by defeating Slimbridge in the Play-off.

Shirehampton F.C. Season: 2023/4 - Hellenic League Premier Div. Half-Term Report "Firmitas In Profundum" A new contract for 12 months on the same terms (which I considered a little ungenerous) was presented to me by the Board shortly after the conclusion of the season and our unlikely Western League Div. 1 success. The wage budget was significantly increased and a small transfer budget provided so I went to work to bring in a GK, a versatile D RC/M C, a AM L and a M/AM R, all starters, all free. Out went some dead wood but Superman decided to leave the club because of a perceived broken promise; I hadn't played him often enough as a Shadow Striker despite the fact he scored 12 goals and collected a League winners medal in the position I played him in. Oh well back to the transfer market and a new M/AM R was quickly found. I am still unable to attract an Ass Man or Head of Youth Development to the Club but have brought in an U18 Manager to help spread the load. With the media predicting a 21st finish I decided to work on a couple of more defensive tictacs in case my successful, expansive one struggled against better sides. Pre--season went well and we entered the new season in good spirits. Had a couple of wins in the preliminary rounds of the FA Cup and went out of the Vase at the first time of asking. In the League draws became wins as Polish found his feet at this level, helped by my new attacking midfielders. After 20 games Shirehampton currently sit 5th. Other clubs have started to cast glances in my direction. Interviews from Thornbury Town (league below us), a couple of Northern clubs (too far to consider) and a couple of regional Vanarama clubs (too much of a jump) have been declined. A new contract has been offered by Shirehampton, again on the same pay for a third season. Negotiations are on hold whilst I consider my options. I have completed my National B qualification and am currently working towards National A. If a Southern League club were to show interest I might be tempted.

"Firmitas In Profundum" April 1st and there are five match days remaining in Western League Div. 1. Shirehampton sit in first place on 72 points, one point better than FC Bristol in second (although they have superior goal difference). The media speculates that Brislington (68 pts) and Wincanton Town (65 points) are still in the race for the title but I believe it is a straight fight between us and FC Bristol. Wincanton Town are the first to wobble drawing away to Cheddar. FC Bristol and Brislington record easy victories but our 2-1 win is complicated. "Dozy" our DM/emergency DC picks up a straight red after 16 minutes and "Skip" collects a 15th card and both look forward to a 3 match suspension. Wincanton Town draw again in the midweek fixtures but Brislington, FC Bristol and us record straightforward wins leaving three clubs in the title hunt. Match day 40 and it is our turn to wobble. We take an early lead against Hallen and they go a man down on 37 minutes but do cannot press home the advantage. They equalise on 80 minutes. FC Bristol and Brislington both win and we drop to second behind FC Bristol. On the penultimate match day we are away to Bishop Sutton. Our main assists man "Mint" concedes an early penalty which Bishop Sutton convert. "Polish" grabs an equaliser and then Bishop Sutton are reduced to 10 men. On this occasion we press home our advantage. "Mint" makes up for his earlier mistake and "Polish" completes the scoring to see us win 3-1. Brislington win easily to maintain the pressure. FC Bristol have a late collapse and see a 2-1 home lead over Longwell Sports become a 3-2 defeat in the last ten minutes. We top the table going into the final match day of the season and are home against 6th place Bishops Lydeard. "Skip" returns to captain the side and we start strongly with "Superman" scoring a great goal after 4 mins. "Polish" adds a second on 52 mins and we can relax; except Bishops Lydeard have not read the script and pull one back on 61 minutes. In the other games Brislington go one up against Wincanton Town on 60 minutes and Portishead Town lead FC Bristol. Bishops Lydeard level on 72 mins and before I can work out whether our goal difference is superior to Brislington's we concede another on 74 minutes. FC Bristol score an equaliser against Portishead. As it stands Brislington are top, we are 2nd and FC Bristol are third although they could go top if they find a late winner. I go out all attack pushing players forward in a desperate chase for for an equaliser. Instead Bishops Lydeard make it 4-2 in injury time and I wonder how difficult it will be to raise the lads' morale for the Play-Offs..... However I see a stage being built in the middle of our ground and a trophy being brought out bearing red ribbons. I check the results and discover Wincanton Town's main man has scored his 58th (!) league goal of the season at Brislington on 85 mins and FC Bristol have failed to find a winner making us CHAMPIONS! In the Play-Offs Cheddar beat FC Bristol 2-0 after extra time to join us in Western League Prem.

"Firmitas In Profundum" We are three weeks into January and are now two-thirds of the way through the season and can look forward to the business end of the season as this table illustrates. It has not all been plain sailing though as "Tommy Gun" accepted an opportunity to go home to Ireland at the beginning of December. Suspension and injuries have also been a challenge to overcome. Both my regular starting centre-backs were one card away from a two game suspension so I benched one to mitigate the risk of losing both at the same time. Within 15 minutes the replacement centre-back pulls a hamstring, the starting centre-half collects a card and then my captain, "Skip", not to be outdone, picks up a card during the second half leaving me to play two matches with a U21 youth player DC and a DM acting as an emergency centre-back! "Polish" continues to score a goal a game and my AM acquisition, now named "Superman", has scored nine goals since joining. On the staff front another coach has joined the roster, again for no money and with poor attributes but it is one less job for me to do! Still need an Ass Man, Physio and Head of Youth Development and I am concerned how poor this year's youth intake will be without one. However I now have my first coaching badge, and my coaching attributes are improving. One cloud on the horizon is some unrefuted media speculation that the Chairman is looking to step aside. In other news England became World Cup winners in Qatar beating Holland 3-1 in the Final.

Well done for keeping Farsley outside the predicted relegation places all season. Hopefully your scouting team will find some decent defensive reinforcements for next season. KUTGW

Yes Dave the team are playing well and are good to watch. Not convinced it is because we are that good, probably because the opposition is not!!

"Firmitas In Profundum" It's Halloween 2022 and Shirehampton are a third of the way through the League campaign. The tictac that worked so favourably in pre-season has (surprisingly) continued to do well during the season proper. We sit comfortably in the play off places of Western League Div. 1, 3 points and a game in hand, behind leaders Wincanton Town. Our foray in the FA Vase was ended by Western League Prem side Cadbury Heath 2-1 although we did overcome Saltash Utd from the same division on pens to reach the First round proper. Leading the way is my top striker "Polish" who has bagged 14 goals from 14 appearances. Providing the bullets to "Polish" is "Tommy Gun" with 5 assists and my pass-meister is "2-Jays" although he does seem to like the occasional two-footed lunge which has seen him serve a 3 match suspension. Collecting yellow cards is a favourite hobby for the side with five players having served 1 match bans already! Staff recruitment has proven to be more of a challenge. A Scout arrived in August and a Coach during October. The selection process was straightforward as both candidates were the only ones to apply! Clearly the job is a labour of love for both as neither wanted a salary which is good for the bank balance but I can't to be too critical if the advice is cack. My first signing arrived in October. Another attacking midfielder (of which I have plenty) but his stats are good and my so-say best AM has proven to be not so good in practice so far. I didn't spot that he would miss his first game with us through suspension (Another candidate for the yellow card challenge!) but he announced his arrival with a 30 yard free kick goal in a 5-2 humbling of Almondsbury. I managed to bump into the Almondsbury Chairman after the game barely able to suppress a smile to let him now Shirehampton were funding my first coaching course. There are the first mumblings of dressing room discontent though with two players supporting my underused striker, "Battle", complaints he should be playing more often despite "Polish's" performances. Well "Battle" you best perform in the next game as "Polish" has just collected his 5th yellow card...

Only 12 matches into my FM23 save but I can concur anecdotally that the woodwork is being hit far more frequently than in my latest FM21 save; although there seems to be far fewer disallowed goals correctly called for "offside". Seems to be far more penalties given as well.

www.the9llamas.com I think it is a site that evolved out of the now sadly defunct www.lowerleaguemanager.com forum

Thanks for all the hard work Ivan. I downloaded your Level 10 file after reading positive review by the 9Llamas. Currently early in first season with Shirehampton (Western League Div.1). FYI Their ground "The Creek" is a ground share agreement with Bristol Manor Farm doe one season only. Then they should return to their normal home "Penpole Lane". Database seems more realistic than others I have used in the past. Non Contract players and difficulty hiring staff is a challenge but one I am up for.