gowerNCFC

Interesting journey so far mate. Only thing maybe to try different would be to have a lower turnover of players when joining a new team. Team Cohesion drops massively with high squad turnover, this could be effecting results early on - especially at Cov.

Nicely done there mate!! Looking good for completing Burkina Faso finally!

February 2024 A really solid month for us. Starting with a win away at Cowdenbeath, where we scored with our only shot on target. We then drew at home with Lossiemouth, where we scored with our only shot on target... theme here? We then beat Huntly at home, by scoring our only two shots on target... And finally drew away at bottom of the league Wick... with our only shot on target. So in February, we had 5 shots on target, and scored 5 goals. Great conversion! Table

January 2024 It was a quiet month for us, the game against Turriff was postponed to midweek which mean a couple of games back to back, but the lads passed the test. We started with a home draw against Forres Mechanics. A difficult game where we only had 28% possession, a point well earned. Next up our rearranged game against Turriff. A solid, if somewhat, unspectacular win. Finally a bore draw against Nairn County. They had 1 shot on target, we had none. Not a game for the neutrals. Table

December 2023 Another very mixed month! We went out of the highland cup - don't care. A solid home win against Banks o' Dee, followed by a creditable draw away at Rothes. The frustrating result was the loss against Inverurie, as we shaded the game. That also brings to an end our unbeaten home record. We see out the month with a bore draw against Keith. We failed to have a shot on target, but the defense held out well. Table

Well... I am looking forward to the inevitable disappointment from this attacking midfielder.

Get out of the league as quick as you can mate, as the play offs are difficult. You'll play off against the Highland League champions, and then the 10th place from Scottish League 2. Its tricky! I'm miles off that at the moment, and I'm already dreading it. I'm playing 4-5-1 at the moment and works nicely.

November 2023 We started the month with a fan day against rock bottom Deveronvale. A bumper crowd of 401 watched us scrape a 2-1 victory. Next up, a not so important game against Cowdenbeath. The board aren't bothered about the Highland Cup, so neither am I. Typically, we beat Cowdenbeath in the Cup, and then draw in the league. Finally, we see out the month with 1-1 draw away at Huntly. There was no way we deserved the point, and an 88th minute equaliser from us was thoroughly undeserving. Table

Speaking of upgrades...

The balance sheet outlines the need for either promotion, or a solid cup run. We are projected to lose a lot of money over the new few years - admittedly the wage costs increasing is highly unlikely with the youth only model, but ultimately, upgrades will only happen with money in the bank.

October 2023 We managed to draw away at Inverurie, by scoring our 3 shots on target. They tripled our xG, so this was a great point. An away win at Lossiemouth, by scoring our only shot on target. Clinical. A great win away at Forres, again we were battered but a switch to 4-5-1 is working wonders. Finally, we battle hard and lose away at Brora. Table

Thanks mate! I am using The (Real Life) Full Scottish Pyramid by Mozza. It's very good.

September 2023 You could call this, a mixed month. Blown away by runaway leaders Buckie Thistle, before a high scoring draw against struggling Wick. Financially, the Scottish Cup was going to be our main earning point... but we lost in the first round against Lowland League side Civil Service Strollers. Finally, we ended the month with a win against lowly Keith. He did well to score against eleven men. Table We have made a solid start, and I am happy with this. The key to this season was survival, and it's looking good to achieve that - even at this early stage. Next month we have four away games... ouch.

August 2023 We had a solid pre season, playing against some lower league teams. A good test against Celtic's B side, one of their goalscorers earns more in a week than our whole squad combined earns in a month. We've had a really good start to the season, I'm not sure we've deserved too many of these wins but we're doing well. We have a big month coming up. We face Buckie Thistle in what promises to be our toughest game so far, along with playing three of the bottom five teams. It's a good opportunity to put some distance between ourselves and those scrapping for survival. Our main focus this month will be progress in the Scottish Cup. That's where the money will come from, and progressing a couple of rounds is key.

Just to show you what we are up against this season...

This is how the Highland League looks for the 23/24 season. We are predicted at 1000/1 for promotion, and unsurprisingly tipped to finish dead last. The board are happy to just survive in this league, and that's what we'll be aiming to do.

Our first upgrade.

End of Season One - Finances Finances aren't fantastic, but the end of season play offs pull us back into the black. Our wage budget was around £500 per week, so a jump to over £3k is nice as allows us to keep hold of a few players who were going out of contract. The projection is looking grim... but interestingly it's based on our wage costs increasing five fold in the next year... which will not be happening as we won't be making signings. The increase in turnover is good, and hopefully we can start using that towards upgrading our junior coaching and youth recruitment over the next year or so. I am fully prepared for a slog getting out of the Highland League, it may take a while, especially with a youth only outlook. Some sponsorship deals will help, plus a decent run in the Scottish Cup will be great. The SPL clubs join in round four, and that'll be the aim.

Play Off Final First leg being at home always gives me the jitters... and I was right. A draw at home, not the best performance either. Never. In. Doubt. WE'RE BACK WHERE WE BELONG.

Play Offs - Game Two We win the play off comfortably... And to my surprise, we have another game. This one is for promotion! Two legs against Strathspey Thistle. Lets do this!

Play Offs - Game One A Wynter-Coles goal sends us a point away from promotion at the first attempt. A game we had no right to win, but we fought hard and got the three points.

Mid April 2023 We managed to get the point we needed away at Alness to get us into the Regional Play Offs, and followed that up with a great win away at Loch Ness. We now face Broughty Athletic of the Midlands League - who lost one game all season, and Dufftown of the North Premier Division, who lost also lost one game all season. Winner gets promoted.

March 2023 Just the two league games in March, but my word what a change of form. We bounced back from a poor February by winning both games. This leaves us 6 points clear. The only team that can catch us is Alness United. Next up... away at Alness, then away at Loch Ness. As tough as it gets.

Youth Intake 22/23 I didn't have high hopes for this youth intake, and I was right not to have. We haven't made any upgrades so far - but the intake did have two elite talents. Caillean will probably be our starting left back next season, and being from Fort William it's great to see. Another local lad that'll be around the first team squad is Connel. We are lacking in the CB position, and a couple of them are 30+, so we need to start getting some players through the academy in this position.

Thanks mate - appreciate it!