Greasy Chip Butty

“Mornin’ lad,” called out a familiar voice as I stepped off the coach, “Good to see ya!” Grinning, I walked forward towards ‘Rooks’ – or Mick Rooker to give him his full name – and embraced him. It had been just over two years since I had last seen him but he had always been one of the most important people in my career. “They’re still letting you hang about here then?” I joked, motioning towards the South Stand as I retrieved my bag from the coach. “They’ll bloody bury me here!” he retorted with a laugh but it was probably true. For as long as I could remember, Rooks had been here greeting supporters, players, coaches and any other member of staff you can possible imagine. As the saying goes, he was truly a Blade for Life. Throughout my career here at Bramall Lane, Rooks had been there sorting tickets, liaising with the players and the manager, organising charity events and the like. The jobs that nobody really considers but are probably some of the most important tasks to help with the smooth, every day running of a football club. If ever I had a problem getting hold of a ticket for my family or friends, Rooks was the guy I’d speak to. If I needed something sorting out for a supporter, Rooks was the guy I’d speak to. There’s been a lot of managers at Bramall Lane since I made my debut in 2000 but I doubt any of them have had the lasting impact that Rooks has on the club. It’s just that nobody recognises that in the money-orientated world of professional football these days. It was just turned 1 o’clock and the late October sunshine was lighting up the red and white exterior of the main stand. Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United, my club. Since the age of five, I had been regularly coming here to watch my heroes in red and white stripes and witnessing some great moments – and quite a few low moments too. Although I cannot remember my first game, I do have a vivid recollection of one of my early visits to watch United play Bristol City in a Play Off Semi Final. Back in those days, the third bottom team in Division 2 (the Championship) would play off against the third, fourth and fifth placed teams from Division 3 (League 1) to try and avoid relegation or win promotion. United, finishing third bottom of Division 2, faced Bristol City in one of Dave Bassett’s first games in charge and, as would become increasingly familiar to me over the years, United lost the Play Off – though this was the only time it actually relegated us. I remember crying all the way home as I couldn’t understand why my heroes had let me down the way that they had. In hindsight, it wasn’t a bad thing – Bassett tore the squad apart and happened to drop on two strikers named Brian Deane and Tony Agana who would fire us to two successive promotions and into Division 1 just in time for the inaugural Premier League season. I have always claimed responsibility for it – I was the so-called lucky mascot for United in a home game against Oldham Athletic the previous January where we lost 5-0 and the manager was sacked immediately after the game. My lack of fortune actually led to United’s biggest boom period since the mid-seventies. By the time Neil Warnock took over at Bramall Lane in 1999, United were back in the second tier and struggling to find their way out of it. Play Off campaigns came and went without promotion and the Blades never actually got sucked into a relegation scrap – they became a staple of the upper mid-table in the Championship as it is now known. For me, my support was unwavering but I now had a new experience – I had been signed into United’s youth set up hoping for my big break. It came at the end of the 1999/2000 season when we visited Crewe in a meaningless end of season game and Warnock selected me to play in midfield. I must have done a decent job as Warnock continued to play me – alternating between the centre of the defence and the centre of the midfield – as we moved through the early part of the new millennium until the 2002/2003 season. That year, I shot to fame scoring some key goals as we reached the Semi Finals of both the Worthington Cup and the FA Cup where we were defeated by Liverpool and Arsenal respectively. We also reached the Play Off Final where we faced Wolves but we never showed up. By the time we reached the 2005/2006 season, I was beginning to attract interest from Premier League teams but I wanted to get there with my boyhood club and gave it one more shot. In an amazing season, I finally managed to achieve my goal and we were automatically promoted to the Premier League at last. Whilst we were only in the Premier League for one season, it was an eventful one. Our home record was excellent – we were top half on home form – but we struggled away from home and that ultimately cost us. Personally, I had settled into the team in the middle of the back four and began attracting the attention of the England manager despite our lowly position. Distraught as I was over relegation, my time at United came to an end when I signed for Tottenham and continued my development. 43 England caps followed – including being part of the squad for three major international tournaments – and I made over 250 appearances for Spurs before moving on a free transfer back to Bramall Lane in 2013. Injuries cut short my final season with United though and I was forced into retirement in 2014. Over 500 appearances, 42 goals and England recognition – my career had been a decent one. Over the 2014/2015 season, I studied for my coaching badges before I began to look around for a suitable place to start my career. Whilst I was not averse to working my way up, I did believe that I could get involved in the upper divisions of English football – realistically, there was only one team I would considering dropping into League 1 for and that was my beloved Blades. However, Nigel Adkins was the manager at United and did a great job as, at the fifth time of asking, they secured promotion from League 1 back to the Championship. My break came in March 2016 when Sam Allardyce’s time in charge at Sunderland came to an end. Although there were two months and nine games remaining, the job was impossible. Sunderland were cut adrift at the foot of the Premier League and relegation was a certainty with the Black Cats sat on just eight points. In the nine games that followed, I managed to secure another eleven points but we were mathematically relegated with five games remaining and as United were heading back up into the Championship, I was on my way back down into it with Sunderland. Or so I thought. Despite the situation when I took over, the Sunderland fans and board inexplicably let me know that they were disappointed we had been relegated – it was almost as if I was getting the blame for it! With many big names – Fabio Borini, Jeremain Lens, Jan Kirchoff, Seb Larsson and Billy Jones to name a few – demanding a move, the squad was decimated. I remained confident though as we brought in over £40 million in transfer fees only to be shocked when Ellis Short, the chairman, informed me that my transfer budget would be a measly £2 million. Forced into loan moves (Christian Atsu, Jordan Mutch and Ryan Mason the standout three) and bargain basement deals for Glenn Whelan (£300,000) and Richie De Laet (£1.2 million), I was still confident that we would be able to challenge for promotion yet the board thought we should be winning the division with ease apparently. After a rocky start, we took five points from the opening four games but were starting to get into the swing of things when we lost at Peterborough United in the League Cup. After just five months and sixteen competitive games in charge, I was sacked. “What went off at Sunderland then?” Rooks asked me, “Did you shag the chairman’s daughter or something?” Now a couple of months on, the indignity of it all still rankled with me and I screwed my nose up at him. “It looks like there’s only one red and white striped club for me,” I laughed as I headed towards the players’ entrance. Looking up at the place I called home, I was finally walking in to Bramall Lane to lead a club into battle. “Well, I’m glad you got sorted out again,” Rooks said, slapping me on the back, “Welcome back.” Shaking his hand once more, I headed down towards the dressing rooms and the tunnel area that I knew so well. With Rooks’ words in my ears, I looked around where United legends adorned the walls – one of the images included me celebrating promotion in 2006. Smiling, I followed my team down the corridor … and turned into the away dressing room.

Copied the HTML and previewed it using another forum - found what I needed.

Yeah, same for me. Only wanted to check one thing on there!

The FMS rules thread isn't opening. Or is it just me?

Eight signed up so far but need twelve more. C'mon folks, roll up roll up!

13 spots remaining

Forgot to put that! PM please!

GCB presents … TOP 2 BOTTOM – FM16 For those of you old enough to remember FM10 and FM11, it is time for the return of Top 2 Bottom as 20 lucky members of the CSE forum get the opportunity to take over a Premier League club and completely rebuild their squad from the very top … to the very bottom. Are you capable of building a squad to win the Premier League title? Can you ensure that the club’s objectives are met despite the overhaul of the squad? Can you lead your club to domestic cup triumphs or even the Champions League? If you believe so, you need to apply right now using the application form below and get set for an unbelievable challenge … * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OK, enough of the big sales pitch, let’s get on with the details, shall we? This is the official return of Top 2 Bottom and I am looking for twenty CSE members to take part. Each one of you will take over one of the current Premier League teams and their current set-up with two key changes; the playing squad and the manager. Your squad will be determined through a draft where you choose which positions on the pitch to prioritise and then your manager and squad will be announced. The club you take over will be your choice but you will need to choose carefully; will you take over a high profile club with high reputation where the demands about achievement are ultimately higher? Or will you settle for a lower reputation club with lower expectations but an inferior set up? The choice is yours but you need to remember that the ability of the playing squads will be levelled out when you make your choices. There will also be an opportunity later to trade players should you wish to improve your squad and mould it to suit a certain formation. Below is the application form, please PM it to me ASAP. Please refer back to this post when choosing your club and ensure that your choice is not one that has already been taken. Managerial choices will be sorted at a later date. Here are the list of Premier League teams; I will update this list with users as the teams are taken over. Please ensure that when you make your choice, you check that the team has not been taken. AFC Bournemouth: Dave Arsenal: offen94 Aston Villa: grianaig Chelsea: Crystal Palace: podunkboy Everton: Leicester City: Liverpool: Manchester City: Manchester United: Newcastle United: toonbalmy Norwich City: Southampton: SoSolidSnake Stoke City: Sunderland: Swansea City: David Corperial Tottenham Hotspur: jtiessen Watford: Motlhen West Bromwich Albion: West Ham United: GOOD LUCK WITH THE SIGN UP!

Thought this for years. Get it suggested in the suggestions for FM16 thread. http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/306914-What-s-that-A-new-Wishlist-Thread-What-you-would-like-to-see-in-future-FM-versions

Going to give this a go but am going to avoid the random club assignment most of you went for. I'm going to manage Wolves and hopefully get League 1 and the JPT ticked off the list in the first season!

Nice one mate. Eight spots left.

Cheers for the words, mistahc and HamoudiLFC; nice to know Chapter 1 was liked. ************************** Chapter 2 As I pulled my grey Insignia into the car park at Sincil Bank, the home of Lincoln City, I glanced up into the Sunday morning April sky. Despite the bright spring sunshine hanging overhead, there was still a distinct chill in the air and I pulled my coat around me as I walked towards the main entrance. With the famous Lincoln Cathedral overlooking the football ground and the sound of water running down Sincil Dike – the ground is built on the bank – I hurried into the main entrance behind the Lincolnshire Echo stand. It was no less cool in here; the chairman was too tight to allow the heating on in April. Glancing at my watch, I sat down at my desk in the office and spent a moment or two reliving the highlights of last night. The “Player of the Season” award I’d handed to defender Tom Miller, my handling of several pints of lager and a few too many whiskies in town and the blissful time in bed afterwards with Emma … sorry, Gemma. The dull ache of a hangover lingered in the back of my brain as I recalled the late night shenanigans and the skimpy black lingerie before the voice of the chairman interrupted my thoughts. “Chip!” he boomed, “Good morning! Late night was it, son?” “You could say that,” I replied with a smirk, “Plenty to celebrate though, haven’t we?” Yesterday afternoon, we had returned to the top of the Skrill Premier League with 2-0 victory over our biggest rivals for promotion, Luton Town, here at Sincil Bank and with six games remaining, we held a 2-point lead and pole position in the race for promotion back to the Football League. “Well, I guess so,” the chairman answered, coyly. “As long as the lads are back and ready to go in time for Saturday’s trip to Macclesfield. Still plenty of work left if we’re to get promotion this time.” Nodding my head in agreement, I glanced up and saw Maria, my personal assistant, enter the offices with a look of disdain in her eyes. Wondering what I had done to upset her this time, I focused on the chairman as he closed the door and sat down at my desk. “Look, Chip, while we’re on about promotion, there’s something I’ve got to talk to you about.” This sounded ominous. As I studied the face of the chairman for clues, I pondered what might have caused this meeting this morning. What was causing the look of fear in his eyes? Why did he want to speak to me on a Sunday morning after the “Player of the Season” party? Taking a deep breath, he fixed me a look that told me this was something big. Something real big. “Chip, I don’t wanna’ lose you,” he began but he then stopped. Was he going to fire me whilst I had Lincoln City, his team, on the verge of a return to the Football League for the first time in years? “We’re so close to completing the job here, we’re so close to promotion. I … I … I don’t know how to say this.” My furrowed brow and piercing gaze must have made him think about things a little more as he quickly readjusted his angle. “It’s nothing bad, Chip.” With a tension in the air, both of us were startled as Maria walked into the office with a couple of cups of steaming tea. As I smiled at her, she avoided my look and dumped the cups on the table with a thud. I rolled my eyes, she could wait. “Chip, like I say, it’s nothing bad – not for you at least – but I’m scared to death of what you might make of this. I don’t want you to leave us, we’re so close, we are six games from glory.” “Bob, tell me,” I interrupted, my eyes glowing with interest. “We’ve had an approach for you to go and be manager somewhere else, son.” Taking a second to allow this to settle, I leaned back in my chair and puffed my cheeks out. As a managerial rookie, this had been my first job and my first season in charge of Lincoln City. Whilst I knew I was achieving above the expectations set – a Play Off challenge – I never expected others to be taking notice. However, Bob was right. We were so close. “Bob, listen to me, you’re right. In six games time, we could be promoted to League 2. Why would I even consider going to another club when we are close to that? Maybe in the summer, I’d have to consider it but right now? Not a chance.” If I thought that would make the chairman smile, I’d be wrong. Despite my declaration of the intention to stay right where I was right now, there was still a look of resignation in his eyes. “You don’t know which club yet.” “I want to finish this job, Bob,” I continued. “Chelsea and Real Madrid could come knocking, Barcelona could offer me all the money in the world, I’m not going anywhere until the summer. Nowhere.” Adamant, I even slammed my hand down on the table a little to emphasise my point. The chairman smirked at me a little but still didn’t look convinced. “It’s Sheffield United, lad.”

I'm going to start sending some PM's over the next couple of days - I'll inform you of your teams and you can start picking your 23-man squad as well as 7 reserves (1 keeper, 2 defenders, 2 midfielders and 2 strikers) in case of injury. Sign up is still open - 11 spaces left and I'd love to fill them all with different people.

Come on folks, anybody else wanting to sign up for this?

Little update: Best I can do with the 32 qualifiers is to get 30 of the actual qualifiers. France and Nigeria won't be there; Egypt and Denmark will be there instead. Nearly halfway there. I'm planning to start next weekend. Keep signing up, people