From nothing to something- Journey to the top.

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mmwba94

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This will be a management story like no other. Two young, unemployed managers with no coaching
badges, no previous experience will embark on a journey right to the very top (or will stay rock bottom)
of the footballing world. The other manager in this network is Marco1874


We will start our adventure in football at the lowest point that the game will let you play in England, the Vanarama
North/ South division. I have chosen to be Harrogate Town whilst Marco1874 has chosen Bromley We will be in control of our own destiny so this is very much results dependent.


We will update every 3 game months with progress on league positions/signings and a little write up on
how we feel we're progressing.


Two friends, one war. Let the journey begin.
 
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Right so during the pre-season I have decided to completely revamp my squad, both players and staff wise. A budget of 6k was put straight into my wages fund.

First thing first though here is my star man... The right back who I hope will be able to dictate play from that position. View attachment 287745

Recruitment was something I found difficult, too many players unhappy about relocating?! Who wouldn't up sticks for £110 a week. Anyway.. my transfer dealings, adding youth and experience. Hopefully the right blend.
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The only disappointment from my released players was saying bye too Ash Worsfold who looked a decent player but unfortunately a 8 month injury hampered any chance of him staying.

And lastly, my staff. An area I thought I'd add ex playing experience and look solely for the right people. Plus who wouldn't want to work with the safest man in football... Hilario?
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During pre-season, I have mad a lot of transfers. Bringing players into the club, but not much going out. As most of the players started at the club were good enough to stay in my plans. A starting transfer budget of 12k and starting wage of 2k to spend.

Firstly, I'd share my star players of the club. The big poacher, hoping to secure me a bag of goals to secure promotion.
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Now, finding the players to join Bromley wasn't too hard. Who wouldn't want to join the best team in London, aye? I always like to have a big squad, so I have no problems to secure positions when it comes to injuries, bans etc. Going for pure fire power to get me promoted straight away and get my career on to go.
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Hopefully, in time you will see super Bromley FC challenging for a Champions League spot ;)
 
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So the month of August brought a mixed bag of results. Four wins on the bounce followed by two losses. Before I speak about the negative end to the month, the win against local rivals Bradford PA gave us a great momentum and proved Yorkshire is ours... The loss which hurts the most is the one to Oxford City where we were 3-0 up till the 65th minute. I bring on young Joseph Hulme who then gets sent off. Safe to say, he can be unattached again! But 4 wins out of 6 isn't bad. Plus Sebastiao and Mullan are forming quite the partnership and that excites me! My aims for the season is too secure a play-off spot and hopefully promotion!
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Lastly, A quick look to show you the tactic I am using. A basic 4-1-2-1-2 narrow. I feel this tactic will let us dominate the middle of the park while our full backs push on down the wing and hopefully creating space to exploit the opposition.
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All aboard the Harrogate train.
 
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August has been, so say a good month for us to the start of the season. Currently unbeaten in the league, just off top spot. At this rate, the Bromley boys are going up. Not scored as many goals that I'd like us to, but a win is a win, goal difference wont matter too much when I secure the league title comfortably.
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Just a quick look into my tactics and instructions. I go for a 4-2-3-1 Narrow type formation. I've used it in most leagues in other games and in different types of level of football.. It seems to work a treat! Although the fans seem it to be 'boring' football and still complain when I bring in the results.. But hey you can't please everyone!
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We're Bromley FC, we hate Sutton.
 
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Here we go then, the month of September post. Before I discuss the past month's going ons I feel it is important to mention that my little gem Eurico Sebastiao won an award.
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Now onto the results....
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As you can see, a very mixed bag again. We started the month on fire with two back to back wins which pushed us to the top of the table, but again we disappointed ourselves with the three performances after this. We somehow salvaged a draw from Solihull Moors before conceding a last minute equalizer v Leamington. Lets just say the boys will have to being new drinks bottle after I launched them up the dressing room. The less said about Brackley the better. A chance to have a cup run, get some extra income which could go on my coaching course but no, a very lackluster performance was put in. My next fixture against Chorley is massive already with us being 2nd and them 3rd.

Player of the month Lewis Turner- Runs the show from right back every game. Give the lad a 10 year contract and name the ground after him.

All aboard the Harrogate train.
 
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Before I start, I'd just like to point out that super Bromley are going up.

Despite a less than impressive start to September, losing at the start of the month, things soon began to pick up. Winning 4 out of my 5 games including a nice little FA cup victory, things seems to look on the bright side for the London club.
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Sitting in a nice 2nd position, just behind Boreham Wood, promotion to the Conference prem looks very likely. Although, it is still early doors anything can happen. Football is a funny old game, but I am more than confident especially with my current squad.
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Lastly, I would just want to add my star player of the month in my opinion. The best average rating player of September. This would be my little loan star from Stevenage, Ben Kennedy. Only at the age of 17, the little gem is making himself to become a star at Bromley. Hopefully, he carries on with his impressive ratings his development would be increasing rapidly.
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Hopefully, the month of October is an even better month to come!

We're Bromley FC.
 
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Where to begin on this one? Awful displays in two cup competitions leaves us just concentrating on the league but a loss of income may hurt us. Especially as the board continue to not allow me do a coaching course. How selfish, right?!

Anyway, from the last post.... Here are our recent results
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As you can see, this isn't actually too bad a set of results but yet again, we fail to capitalise on what should be easy victories. The draws to Gloucester and Hyde really disappointed me, especially considering they were the bottom two teams at the time.

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All aboard the Harrogate train I hear you say? That is right, top of the table leading into December is very pleasing! If we can just turn a few of those draws into wins then I think it's safe to say Harrogate will be flying the yellow flag high in the Conference.

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Attack, Attack, Attack. That's my philosophy and that is how it will stay.

Player of the month-Andeele Martins- Been superb last few months, contributed massively and from the league screenshot above can see just how well the ex Manchester United trainee is performing.

Harrogate Town- Painting Yorkshire yellow
 
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Where to start?

October, things seem to be on the up, securing vital wins. Looking like proper title challengers.. Nothing could go wrong. Until, November approached. What a terrible, terrible month. Not winning in 5 games, points dropped in important games, having to wait till late November to actually get a win, which was only in the FA Trophy. I just had no words for this poor display. What hurt the most was losing to our rivals Sutton. Going into the game confident, coming out completely baffled and fuming. Hopefully, December can be a better month for Bromley, getting back onto winning ways.
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Now, my league position is awful. It sickens me to even look at where we are, we should be at the to or challenging top position. At the moment we seem like we're only going to get playoffs. At best, sigh :S:'(
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I was debating to either give any of my players deserved to even be noticed in this post, but I'm a fair manager and give it to those who deserve some praise.
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Joe Anderson, my left back. The Ashley Cole of the Conference.. Solid left back, picking up an average rating of 7.25 which is pretty impressive despite my poor run of form. With this player form, the lad is on his way for a England call-up. Joe Anderson, the answer to England's left back problems? I hope you've been watching, Roy!

We're Bromley!
 
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Lets Just say I had a miserable Christmas and Santa wasn't very kind this year. December was a shambles, apart from beating local rivals Bradford PA (again) I just don't know how to put my feelings across. Losing games with no fight is something that annoys me, and a few players received a few fines and warnings which were more than justified and thankfully January was a better month with us finally looking more like ourselves.
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Now apart from that dreadful Christmas, and no I don't mean the Christmas dinner we sit in a very rosy 4th position 5 points off the leaders Barrow. 5 points isn't nothing that I'm scared of if we can finally start clumping together wins and turn the odd loss in to a point then I feel we can still win the league, but avoiding the play offs scare me. Any team from 1st to 9th has a chance of getting in the top 5 positions and I just hope, and pray that it will be my Harrogate boys.
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Player of the month Gavin Mahon- The ex Watford captain has performed well through our sticky patch, proving that experience can still take you a long way. He may not be the best technical player, but his mental attributes are certainly helpful for the youngsters but also myself. Gavin Mahon player coach? Nice ring to it I think.
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Harrogate Town- Pride of Yorkshire since 1914
 
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Well, to start off from December to January it has been quite a decent two months. Securing vital results that was needed. We definitely got back onto winning ways, the response that I needed after a terrible month in November. Hopefully, if we continue to play like this, the league title should be more than ours!
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Now, I am more than impressed with where I am in the league compared to where I was in November. Sitting in the playoffs quite comfortably and only 3 points from the top. Promotion is definitely possible if we focus in our upcoming games! We're Bromley FC, we'll fight till the end!

Also, just to point out Joe Anderson the little left back wizard, once again showing why he should be in that England line-up! Averaging a rating of 7.33, come on Roy what are you playing at?! Call the lad up!! Also, I'd like to point out Jordan Robertson, currently top goalscorer of the league. Another gem who is in the lining for a call-up. Who needs Wayne Rooney when you have a lad like Jordan Robertson?
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Lastly, I would like to just pull out some personal achievements that I am proud of, manager of the month award and my leading Attacking Midfielder Magno Vieira gathering player of the month award. A great manager and player sharing a pint over their awards. Hopefully many more to come..
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We're Bromley!
 
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Time is here now kids, the end of season review! It's been a tough season with Bromley. We've had our up's and down's our high's and low's but we stuck together as one. Bromley FC #FightLikeLion

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Despite not winning the league, securing a play off place was still a big achievement all that was left to do was make it to the final and gain promotion to wrap up a decent season! Now, I'm just going to post what happens with my play-offs all in one. Let's hope it's a good play-off for the Bromley boys!

PLAY-OFFS:
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Before I start, I'd just like to point out Jordan Robertson finishing top goalscorer of the league with 31 goals. Non-league Thierry Henry you say?! Give the lad a chance in the England set-up! Also, Jordan Robertson and Joe Anderson finishing the top two best average players in the league. Averaging a rating of 7.31 and 7.29.

Onto the play-offs! As you can see, I drew against Ebbsfleet in the semi-finals. Ebbsfleet were a strong team in the league, but I still fancied my chances. I was at least expecting a comfortable victory being drawn home at first..
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Well, let's say I'm less than happy.. What a terrible, terrible play-offs. Not even reaching the finals. Losing at home to Ebbsfleet first time leg, and only scraping a draw the second leg. I have no words, or time left to waste on these players.. Few boots were flying around in the changing rooms!
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Next seasons plans:
After a long, hard discussion with the chairman about my future and what I plan on doing, I have come to the decision that I am going to stay on as Bromley manager! We might not have got what we wanted in our first season, but me and the chairman believe we can succeed and achieve our aims next season! This time, winning the league and going up as champions. The backing I have from the chairman is something I owe to him and the club to stay on and bring this dream to him, the club and the fans. And from there on we can think about becoming a Football League club and raising our status in the football world. Bromley FC are on the up. #WeGoAgain #FightLikeLions #PrideOfLondon

We're, Bromley FC!
 
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The end of season review is finally amongst us Harrogate fans and let me tell you there is a lot of twists and turns involved. From my last post of me saying the league was out of reach, you will see we put in a tremendous effort to put ourselves top of the table before last few games choking. I felt ill infact the way we through the league away, but we did however go into the final day of the season still without a play off place and the chance to win the league.. Here is how events unfolded...
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As you can see, we did infact draw with Stockport which gave them the title! Conceding after 40 seconds was hard to take but my star man, the Ruud Van Nistelrooy of the Conference North equalised and we were unlucky not to win it. Fair play to Stockport though, I wish them well for next season.

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The league table, possibly the tightest I have ever had on any football manager game. I felt proud making the play-offs and being drawn against Boston who we had beaten twice already just meant we was going to lose didn't it?!

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Lose did I say? Don't be silly the Harrogate boys who make all the noise don't fall under the pressure. The picture above is taken from the second leg where Sean Mullan really did run the show and guaranteed himself a place in my Play-off final 11. The first leg we was very shakey and truth be told more than likely deserved to lose. An own goal brought us back into the game and I honestly feel teams feared coming to Wetherby Road.

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THAT IS RIGHT, HARROGATE TOWN ARE NOW A VANARAMA CONFERENCE PREMIERSHIP TEAM. Being honest we completely dominated Brackley from first minute till the last. Dave McGurk my strong CB put us into the lead early in the second half but as the clock was ticking towards 90 we conceded in the 86 minute which didn't worry me, but nerves were slowly creeping in. What happened in extra time is something I shall not forget, and I don't think Sean Cooke the Brackley player either will as he gave two penalties in two successive minutes which my most underrated player Simon Lenignhan tucked away with ease. Our fourth was an own goal and the Harrogate faithful who travelled to Brackley celebrated long in to the night. Obviously my players were in bed for 9pm so the Sun can't run a scandal... We shall see on that.

Player of the season Lewis Turner- The man I said at the start of the season who could run the show from RB. Impressed all season with the top average rating in my squad and setting up 12 goals while scoring 2 certainly helped the teams cause. Eurico Sebastaio is a very close second though who has returned a goal scoring ratio of 1 goal every other game. Hopefully he can keep on progressing

Next Seasons Aims: Next season I am just hoping to be competitive and stay up with Harrogate. I'll be looking to blend experience with youth still and maybe, just maybe we can secure professional status. I am worried however that I am not being allowed to do my coaching badges. I feel they're vital for my development and may seek new pastures if I am not allowed too expand my knowledge but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

We're Harrogate Town, We're going up!
 
Congratulations to Harrogate. Commiserations to Bromley, good luck with next seasons promotion push.
 
Conference north is a very tough league. Came in unemployed with sutton in November point off the relegation and finished 6th on goals for. You'll be under a lot kf pressure now.
 
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