Hometown Glory, Step 10 to Champions League - Lichfield City FC

[Crayth]

The original Lichfield City joined the Birmingham Combination in 1923, but left after two seasons. The modern club was established in 1970 as Lichfield Football Club and joined Division One B of the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1976. They were placed in Division One the following season when the league was reorganised and remained in the division until being relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1985–86 season. The club were Division Two runners-up in 1989–90, earning promotion back to Division One. In 1994 they were renamed Lichfield City. Their first season under the new name saw the club finish as runners-up in Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

Despite finishing in mid-table in their first season in the Premier Division, Lichfield resigned from the league and became a Sunday league team. They returned to Saturday football when the club joined Division Three of the Midland Combination in 2008. Despite only finishing fifth in the division in 2008–09, they were promoted to Division Two. In 2010–11 the club won the league's Challenge Vase with a 2–1 win over Continental Star Reserves in the final. They also finished fourth in the division, earning promotion to Division One. Another fourth-place finish the following season led to them being promoted to the Premier Division.

In 2014 the Midland Combination merged with the Midland Alliance to form the Midland League, with Lichfield placed in Division One. And thats where our story begins..... Daniel Craythorne takes charge of Lichfield City in the 10th step of football and vows to take them as far as they can.

Records
Best FA Cup performance: First qualifying round, 2019–20
Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2016–17

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Seasons:
2019/2020: FA Vase - N/A // Midlands Football League Division One - N/A

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Lichfield City is the place I grew up. I played for all of their teams including their first team a few times before moving to Derby and its a team thats close to my heart. I'm aiming to take them as far as I can up the footballing ladder. They are currently amaterur and I will have a budget of absolutely nothing so will need to use free transfers as I prepapre to charge through the leagues. This is going to be the toughest challenge but its one I can't wait to get involved in. I'll be updating roughly one every month with results etc and will do my best to include any updates financially, with staff members or anything like that but I don't expect to have much of those now. I will use my Assistant Manager to help me find players who are worthy of our promotion push.

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[Crayth]

My first month in management and with Lichfield City will see a huge challenge but one I am thriving from, We have just one couch, one scout and a chief scout and I'm not sure how that'll pan out due to hte finance problems. I will be aiming for a good run in the FA Vase to boost some money and promotion is VITAL.

A fantastic month bar the silly 5-4 loss, god knows how we lost! We are dominating possession and playing great attacking football. I've brought in some fantastic strikers and players throughout the squad and will look to continue doing that throughout the season when players are invevitably snapped up from me. Andy Cole and Teddy Sherringham? Owen and Fowler move aside! Ferguson and Higgs are coming for you!

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I snapped up Ferguson on a free transfer from being out of contract and he has been ON FIRE. He leads our goalscoring charts with eight goals in just 5 appearances and his and Higgs' partnership has been instrumental in us flying up the table.

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I've asked the board to search for a senior affiliate to generate extra income every month and potentially look at loaning players in for free.

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[Crayth]

This is the squad I intend to win promotion with... some real gems in there, especially my attackng lads. Still need to solidify the defence and will be looking out on loan targets who can improve us. I'm not done and will constantly be looking for improvements.

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A fantastic month in the league including a 12-2 hammering of Brocton leaves us in top place and in control. We were annoyed to get knocked out of the FA Vase despite being the better side but thats the way cup football goes, we'll be aiming to do better next year.

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We achieved this position without Charlie Higgs (our star striker) whose been injured since the Thetford game. He scored an INCREDIBLE double hat trick against Brocton! He and Ferguson are building a great relationship and I can't wait for him to come back into the fold. I do think we need to improve defensively and I am looking for loan players to come in to bolster our side.

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We were unable to find a senior affiliate for the third time so for now I am going to leave it and try a little later in the year.

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[Hampus Silverholt]

Love it! Hampus Silverholt is the name of a Swedish regen I had for Hednesford Town on FM16 so I think that may give you an indication as to where I grew up and why I'm particularly interested in the save!

 

[Crayth]

An undefeated two months dropping just two points in the first game sends us flying to the top of hte table. Charlie Higgs and Ryan Ferguson have been on absolute fire and its clear they are way too good for this level. I am hoping they stick with me and don't go elsewhere next year!

Charlie Higgs has scored a staggering 21 goals in 14 games and assisted 7 times. He and Ryan Ferguson have developed a formidable partnership to fire us to the top of the table.

Ryan Ferguson has 24 goals in 17 and assisted 3 times. He is improving every day and his finishing and pace is so deadly in this league, defenders can't deal with him!

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We are absolutely flying in the league and sit 10 points clear of 2nd placed Leicester Road. We played them in our last game and managed to beat them 1-0. As long as nothing catastrophic happens (and Higgs/Ferguson don't get injured), we should easily win the title this season.

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[Crayth]

Love it! Hampus Silverholt is the name of a Swedish regen I had for Hednesford Town on FM16 so I think that may give you an indication as to where I grew up and why I'm particularly interested in the save!

Thats ace man, I've actually played against Hednesford Town IRL at their ground Keys Park haha! Glad your following mate!

 

[Crayth]

Will be interested to see who comes through. I've tried getting rid of the youth teams etc to save money but haven't been able to convince the board yet. Will look forward to seeing anyone coming through, hoping for maybe one or two gems. I've been playing friendlies where possible to bring extra income in. We are still unable to find an affiliate, I'm hoping when we get promoted, we're able to find one. ​

 

[Crayth]

Absolutely unstoppable again. Were pulling in 70+ for every friendly vs. Pelsall Villa and making a nice amount of money each time which helps balance the books. I've managed to convince the board to cut back on Youth Recruitment to try and conserve some money.

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Oh dear, what happened here?! LOL.

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We have battered our way to the top of the league and it doesn't look as though anyone can stop us this year. The title seems certain after we beat Leicester Road both times we've played them. I did lose my goalkeeper and had to replace him as he was playing fantastic.

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Samuel Wright has played fantastic, especially in the Last 5 games, scoring twice and assisting twice. He's been brilliant since arriving.

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[Crayth]

We won absolutely every single match over the last two months and chargeed our way to through the competition. Fantastic to go unbeaten!

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Not sure how long this will last but my star striker keep rejecting numerous clubs, I hope they'll stick with me until next year but I will be trying to find replacements.

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WHAT A YEAR! Absolutely destroyed the league and crowned champions with well over a month in advance.

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THE TITLE IS OURS! Just one game lost all year, we've dominated this league this year and we'll have to try to replicate our success next year in the division above. It will be intesting to see how we fare!

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FULL SEASON REVIEW AT THE END OF APRIL! ​

 

[Crayth]

Another unbeaten month, a strong end to a fantastic first season in charge of Lichfield City!

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Ryan Ferguson obviously takes the Player of the Season award after a sensational debut campaign.

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Hayden Haughton stands down and a consortium take over the club.

They make it clear that they, won't be making any further investments though!