A Young Mans Dream

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Gutted for Adam as I believe he would of had the ability to turn it around but as we all know this industry is all about the results, keeping my fingers crossed that the new man will be able to come in and change the clubs fortunes for the better....Great read by the way.
 
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Ekstrom Appointed Crawley Town Manager

Crawley Town have today appointed former Helsingborg manager Daniela Ekstrom as their new manager. Ekstrom will become the only female manager in the professional English leagues. She will definitely be out to prove that a woman can make it in the mens game. Rollinson wrote on the clubs website:

"I am delighted to be able to welcome Daniela to the club. There will obviously be questions raised over the appointment of a female manager, but she has excellent experience, and I know she will do a fine job at the club.

Our expectations for the rest of the season is to avoid getting pulled into the relegation scrap, so we ask you fans for you continued excellent support, to help us ensure we remain in the league next season."

Crawley are currently in 16th place, just four points away from the relegation zone.

 
​Daniela Ekstrom: Female Intuition comes to Crawley


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As much as it pained me to leave HIF, I felt that taking a position within the English leagues, the pinnacle of which is the promised land of European football, the Premier League. It is every manager's dream to manage in such a league, playing against the Manchester Uniteds, the Liverpools, the Chelseas week in, week out.

The legends of my country - Freddie Ljungberg, Olaf Mellberg, the Olssons and Helsingborgs legend Henrik Larsson - have all come to this league and impressed, and I hope my name will join them.

I believe that I can guide Crawley Town to those heights, with the support of the new chairman - whilst my initial job is to guide the team away from the drop zone - I am looking forward to taking the club higher than ever before.
 
Management 101: Or How to Take Points and
Alienate People - February/March 2014

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A fantastic start to my career as Crawley boss, taking over where Adam left off with an opening tie against MK Dons in the southern final of the JPT. After changing up our tactics, ditching the old regime for a 4-5-1 of my own style.

We managed to get clear of the transfer embargo in mid March, bringing in Ashley Fletcher, Samed Yesil and Conor Coady from Manchester United and Liverpool respectively on loans until the end of the season.

March also saw our youth intake come in, and one of the lads stood out massively, who I will highlight later.

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MOTM: Franck Moussa

The attacking midfielder inspired us to a 2-0 win on the night, the 3-0 aggregate scoreline taking us into a final showdown with Notts County...



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MOTM: Tom Eastman

We hammered on the door all game, eventually grabbing the lead from a corner. Eastman was solid in both defence, and grabbing us the important goal.


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MOTM: Jamie Jones

This time we were on the receiving end of the hammering on the door, 3rd place Peterboro' had five clear cut chances, but Jones in the goal was inspired.


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MOTM: Tom Eastman

This was a game we should've won, beyond all doubt. Gillingham were in the drop zone at this time, and we pressed them back into their box all game, only for them to smash-and-grab an equaliser from a corner.


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MOTM: Franck Moussa

A good result against a team close to us in the league. Moussa grabbed a pair of assists as we comfortably won away from home.


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MOTM: Mark Smith

The 16 year old youth prospect came straight in for the out of form Darikwa, and grabbed an assist and a very good performance on his debut.


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MOTM: Samed Yesil

A goal and an assist on his debut for the on loan Liverpool striker. Putting a good run of form together and beginning to climb the table again.


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MOTM: Samed Yesil

Close between Yesil and Smith for the MOTM award, however the striker makes it two games in two with a goal and another assist. Smith gets a mention for scoring his first professional goal.


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MOTM: Mark Smith

The young lad really came of age in this final, after losing our captain to a red card thirty seconds in, the 16 year old hit a scorcher, got fouled for the penalty, and rounded off the game with a calm finish to ensure the JPT came back to Broadfield.

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League:

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So, as it stands we've climbed the table up to 10th, only four points off the playoffs with a game in hand. Promotion could still happen to the Red Devils, especially if our form continues!​
 
Well done with sorting out the mess I made! Prospects are looking good for Crawley now :)
 
End of Season Blues - April/May

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A poor run of form, including three 1-0 losses to teams we should really be beating, meant that we dropped away from the playoff places. A late resurgence sent us back up the table, but we ended 9 points from 6th place.

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MOTM: Franck Moussa

A really disappointing result, Crewe got a penalty for a collision in the box from a throw-in and then played with 10 men behind the ball for the rest of the game.


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MOTM: Jamie Jones

Despite conceding three to a team right up there at the top of the table, our keeper gave a good showing of himself to keep it to only three goals.


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MOTM: Franck Moussa

'A controversial penalty' is what decided this game, echoes of the Crewe match showed through as we just could not break through and get the deserved equaliser.


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MOTM: Ryan McGivern

A bore draw against a team we really should've been beating. Disappointing.


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MOTM: Jamie Jones

Another day, another penalty given against us in a 1-0 defeat. Thought we'd come away with a draw only for the ref to hand County the victory on a plate.


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MOTM: Declan McManus

Finally! A win in these last two months of the season. Oddly enough, when it came to playing a team up near the top, we performed fantastically and held on for a 1-0 smash and grab.


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MOTM: Tom Eastman

And this is how we should be playing. Eight clear cut chances against the team that finished third to beat them 2-0. Solid at the back and back to scoring form, hopefully.


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League:


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So, we finished eventually in 9th place, nine points from the playoffs. Those three 1-0 losses due to penalties left us thinking 'What if...', however...​
 
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Chairman's Log

So our first season is now over, and it has certainly been a very mixed one. After an excellent start from Adam, we were unable to keep the run going, and then went a horrible losing streak which resulted in the sacking of Adam. Once Daniela was appointed though, our fortunes started to change, and it really looked like we had an outside chance of sneaking into the play-offs. Unfortunately a string of one-nil losses ended any chance of that, but things are now looking very good for next season. I am hoping Daniela will be the right person to take the club to glory now.

Whitehawk Update

It ended up being a very close run in the lowest English league with Whitehawk just missing out on a play-off position by just one point. We also had some very good players come through our youth system, one of which has already moved to Crawley. Mark Smith has an excellent future ahead of him, and has already got three goals for Crawley.

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League Table

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​Just some of the top youth prospects





 
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