London City FC - A City On The Rise

[dani3w]

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London City FC - January 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]And we're into the thirties as we enter a new calendar year in 2030! Definitely over achieving to date this season as we go into the New Year up in eighth place so far. We aren't too far off the playoffs either but it'll be interesting to see how we cope this month with the FA Cup kicking off, we had a home tie against Premier League side Burnley so progression would be difficult this year around.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]All those green dots of December have almost disappeared as we struggle to get wins throughout January. We welcomed high flying Middlesbrough to start the New Year but slipped to two nil defeat at home. We then welcomed Premier League side Burnley in the FA Cup Third Round, we were ahead after the first minute through O'Loughlin but slipped to a one all draw and a replay. Another draw followed as we drew two all with Middlesbrough, conceding twice after being in the lead twice, Schepens and O'loughlin netting for us. The FA Cup Third Round Replay saw us lose out, again takin the lead against Burnley through O'Loughlin but eventually crashing out three one. As we welcomed Leeds we grabbed a point, McGregor with our equaliser ten minutes into the second half but ended the month with our first win in six as we beat MK Dons two one, Oliveira and Allen both netting before half time.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Another small drop in our league position, we now sit down in tenth place but anything above fourteenth this season will be seen as a huge success in my eyes. We're fifteen points away from the relegation zone now so getting safer and safer as the months go by. Still only six points outside the playoffs so another good swing of form and we could be near! Three months to go![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - February 2030[/FONT]

 

[zoomtard]

I just wanted to say thanks for writing this. I have squandered the whole afternoon living vicariously through your slow, patient rise to these heights. It's great fun to read, but it must be a huge amount of work! Thanks for doing it and keep it up!

 

[dani3w]

Thank you for such kind words zoomtard its always nice having people read through the whole thing and catching up then leaving these sort of comments. Don't worry thereis a long way to go yet and I've no thought of giving up anytime soon.

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London City FC - February 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]Three competitive months of football left for us this season, three months to try and consolidate a strong mid table finish, hopefully higher than fourteenth. We are now out the FA Cup as Burnley knocked us out in a Third Round Replay in January. Five matches to get through in February and we are currently on a three game unbeaten run in the league, could we extend it and pick up a couple more points through this month.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]We have extended our unbeaten run, but a few too many draws slipping in as we win twice and draw the remaining three games throughout February. We welcomed playoff occupants Fulham at the start of February, beating them three one which was a surprise result. Oliveira, McGregor and an Herd own goal sealing the win. A draw with Barnsley followed as we drew one all, Schepens netted for us after two minutes. Allen netted the only goal in a one nil win over Aston Villa before we drew two a piece with Derby and one a piece at home against Everton. [/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]We're now up in eighth after thirty three games having now picked up fifty one points which is very good for us this season to date with two months remaining. Last season we finished on fifty five points so we seem set to smash that total this year as we've got thirteen games to play yet this season. nineteen points away from the drop zone I'm feeling ever more confident that we're beating the drop at the end of the year and we're threatening for a playoff spot, just three points outside it now,[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - March 2030[/FONT]

 

[dani3w]

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London City FC - March 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]Eight game unbeaten run, yep, somehow that is what we're on in the league and I'm not quite sure how. We've been sensational so far this season and a couple months left to try and put the icing on the cake of a superb season we've had to date. We had thirteen league games left this season and March would see us face five of those, could we continue to see our unbeaten run blossom whilst we also had the youth intake again this month.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Despite the money we pumped into the youth facilities and recruitment phase last summer we still don't see any real talent coming through our youth intake this year around. Marriott, Forster and Andrews [/FONT]may[FONT=&quot] make something out of their professional status over the next few years but highly unlikely with us.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Our unbeaten run did infact continue to stretch we went on to a twelve game unbeaten run as we won our first four games of the month with the unbeaten run coming to an end at the end of it. A trip to bottom side Lincoln saw us win two nil, both goals coming in injury time as Schepens netted in first half injury time and Johnston in the second half of injury time. Two home games followed, we beat Brentford three one with Oliveira netting a brace and McGregor also netting. We beat Hull four two, Oliveira netting a five minute hatrick whilst all four of our goals came in the opening seventeen minutes of the game. Allen netted the only goal of the game in a one nil away win against Cardiff before we finished the month losing four nil at home to title chasing Nottm Forest.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]We're seventh now, outside the playoffs on goal difference. We're likely to miss out on them but will keep fighting right to the end this season. We are safe in the Championship for a second season in a row and can now begin to look forward to next year. Twelve points off the top whilst a win could see us really bring this pack back together.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - April 2030[/FONT]

 

[dani3w]

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London City FC - April 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]With us facing two games in May, for once that'll be a separate update, however lets focus on this here and now. April was a month where we faced six of our final eight league games. A good couple of months could really see us hit those playoffs, an unlikely feat come the start of the season. This was a tougher month than last month on paper though but we've been pulling all the strings this year.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]A very mixed set of results throughout April saw us really struggle to get going at all but still managed to win twice, draw once and lost the other three games. We kicked off the month with a seven goal thriller as we beat West Brom four three. An own goal and two from Johnston in the opening seventeen minutes saw us race into a three goal lead, which we blew, but Schepens stole the show netting in injury time to seal the win. Back to back defeats came one nil against Norwich and then two nil against Blackburn. At home against Preston we beat them two one, coming back from one down with Oliveira and Shepens netting. We drew two a piece with Rotherham before losing three one at home to fellow playoff chasing Crystal Palace.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Eighth place, two points outside the playoffs, two games to go this season, it'll be close. Its confirmed we have already beat our finish last season of fourteenth place and fifty seven points. Even if we lost both games to end the season we'd still finish in tenth place. However two wins and results going our way would see us finish as high as fifth. Unfortunately for Lincoln it was the dreaded second season syndrome as they finished rock bottom and are relegated.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - May 2030[/FONT]

 

[Tracz]

Great season mate!
Fingers crossed you can finish it off nicely.

 

[dani3w]

Thanks tracz it sure would finish the season off on a high!

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London City FC - May 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]Here we go then, the final month of the league season and the final two league games, which could turn into four games and could even turn into five should results go our way. We knew we would need to win at least one game to stand a chance of finishing in the playoffs, but really needed four to six points from Wigan and Bournemouth and results elsewhere to go our way, could we manage it...[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Well we sure did, another team meeting as the month began to tell the side to aim for that playoff spot and we picked up two wins and two clean sheets to end the season. Chris Smith netted the only goal of the game in a one nil win away at relegation battling Wigan whilst at home against Bournemouth we won three nil, all three goals coming in the opening forty one minutes as Ali struck the opener and Oliveira with a brace. But now its all on whether that was to be enough...[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]We've done it and by the skin of our teeth we're in the Sky Bet Championship Playoffs in only our second ever season in the second tier of English football. What a season. We finish sixth and in the playoffs by just one point over Crystal Palace who picked up two draws in their final two games to slip from fifth down to seventh. Nottingham Forest are the league champions whilst Middlesbrough join them in promotion. We'll now face a two legged tie against Everton in the Semi Finals who we haven't beat in four head to heads whilst Derby and West Brom are in the other Semi Final.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Everton came to us in the First Leg with two hundred and seventy five traveling fans and they battered our goal, having twenty one shots to our nine but it was us who held firm to hold on to a draw. Sunderland loanee defender William Bolton gave us a surprising lead three minutes after the break but it was canceled out just three minutes later when Cristian Andrade leveled for the former Premier League club. They kept coming but their lack of shots on target cost Everton here, first leg finished one each.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]What a result! We were into the Playoff Finals[/FONT][FONT=&quot]! Having never beaten Everton in five previous games I was worried that the trip to Goodison Park would end our promotion dreams. But somehow we were superb here, having more of the ball and almost matching them shot for shot with us hitting the target with thirteen of the sixteen we had, a much better strike rate. We raced into a five minute lead through McGregor before Oliveira made it two nil after seven minutes. We changed from 'attacking' to 'counter attacking' after ten minutes. Seven minutes before the break Everton pulled one back but that didn't hault us, Oliveira netted his second of the game in injury time of the first half. And Schepens sealed the deal, nodding home four minutes into the second half. We were in the Playoff Finals against Derby.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Previous to the Playoff Final we had a strong head to head record against Derby County, in four games we had never lost to them, winning twice and drawing two a piece twice. This made me real excited for the Final and knowing we were just one more unbeaten result against them away from promotion to the big time, stats were in our favor here...[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]So close but yet so far, perhaps we crumbled under all the pressure promotion would have bought, but its Derby who win the Playoff Final and in convincing fashion thats for sure. The stats tell the story as does the scoreline. We just failed to get going in the first half and it cost us here. One down in four minutes through McLaughlin, two down in seven minutes as Thornton netted for Derby. And they just kept coming, Shabalala netted after twenty one minutes and McLaughlin had his second from a spot kick in the thirty eighth minute. The goals then dried up but we couldn't get back into the tie.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]As the season came to a close we were paid out £5.25million for participating in the Sky Bet Championship this season and that money will hopefully go towards new players over the summer to strengthen the squad once again as well as hopefully add to our current training and youth facilities to continue to get the best out of the players we have at the club. The bank balance currently stands at just over £4.25million as the club finished the season around £1.5million in the red.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Its unusual I finish the season with 'big news' but its happening this year around. Firstly the board have given us money to spend freely this summer, a transfer budget of over three million pounds could certainly help us push on next season although the aim will be the playoffs again from my point of view. I'll spend the summer evaluating the squad and whats about to be able to bring in. And we're moving stadiums [/FONT][FONT=&quot]again[/FONT][FONT=&quot] this time we're building a brand new stadium in London Colney with a 14,900 capacity. It'll take just over a year to build and has cost the club £18.75 million which has come out of a bank loan. Its a sign of the club moving forward thats for sure.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - Pre Season Round Up 2030[/FONT]

 

[dani3w]

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London City FC - Pre Season Round Up 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]With the club planning a new stadium move over the next year, building our own stadium will be a big step forward for this club, as was reaching the Championship Playoffs last season. But there was more I wanted the board to work on this summer whilst we actually had the money in the bank balance so I got requesting. I've also got the usual round up of transfer news and our squad, as well as all results on the pitch this summer.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]More facility work will be going on this summer as we upgrade our training and youth facilities. This should hopefully allow our players to reach a better level quality of football as well as being able to bring through some better younger players so we're not constantly having to worry about buying new players in etc. We've also had our scouting range upgraded and can now scout the whole of the world. A huge step forward.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]A busy summer for us both in and out of the club. We saw five players leave with defensive midfielder Victor heading to MK Dons for three hundred and twenty five thousand pounds and youth starlet Miles Dixon head to Cambridge on loan. The other three players were out of contract and left on a free transfer. Coming in, we spent just under one million pounds with one free transfer in that and one more youth project signed.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Both William Bolton and McGregor were here with us last season on loan from Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively, I have signed these on to permanent deals this summer and I feel they'll have a few brilliant seasons with us. McGregor was very good infront of goal last season for us. Maddison and Bothe both look like good additions to the midfield whilst Ashley Lewis looks good for a nineteen year old.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]A small squad again this year, we've still got money to spend in both transfers and wages so I will be continuing to look for new players even as the season begins. But hopefully this is a squad that can compete for the playoffs again this year and overachieve as once again we're predicted to finish bottom at 1000-1. Anyone fancy tipping us to win the league...[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]A strong summer on the pitch. We remained unbeaten and even beat Spanish La Liga side Granada as we toured Spain. We toured Portugal last season it shows how far the club has come now being able to go on summer tours outside our own country. Four clean sheets too.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - August 2030[/FONT]

 

[dani3w]

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London City FC - August 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]Into our fifteenth season here at London City FC and its been a wonderful stint that I've thoroughly enjoyed. Just one step to go to hit the Premier League, perhaps it'd happen this year. A busy August awaited us as we kicked off our third season in the Championship, the second tier of English football and also began another EFL Cup journey. Could we start the season strongly.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]A very good start to both competitions we've entered so far this season. We welcomed relegated side QPR to kick off this season and grabbed a one all draw as William Bolton, who signed a permanent deal netted our equaliser. Our EFL cup journey began at home against League Two side AFC Wimbledon and a strong four one win saw us easily through with Oliveira netting twice along with Johnston and an own goal. Our only defeat of August came with a trip to Bournemouth where McGregor put us ahead but we lost out. Back at home we beat West Brom four two, Oliveira netted another brace, Schepens and Allen also on target before we beat Birmingham three nil. EFL Cup progression came again as we beat League One side Colchester, O'Loughlin netting late on before we ended the month with a one all draw against Norwich.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Eighth after the first month of the league season. A long way to go just hoping we can hold our own again this season. Burnley are top of the pile four points above us whilst holding a small lead over Fulham then a further point behind Barnsley, Everton and Rotherham. There are big teams in this division now so fighting for promotion will be hard for us.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - September 2030[/FONT]

 

[dani3w]

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London City FC - September 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]One again we've started the season very, very strongly picking up just one defeat in the opening month of football. We now head into September with our main aim to continue our strong start to league football. We're also still in the EFL Cup with a tie against West Brom this month in the Third Round. It'd be good to go into October with us still in the EFL Cup as well as pressing the league leaders. Lets see what happened...[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Five matches, two competitions, four wins, progression in the EFL Cup and just one defeat. September proved to be another strong stepping stone for us indeed. We beat Leeds comfortably, four nil at home to start the month with a band, Maddison netted a brace whilst Allen and O'Loughlin also were on target. Our only defeat this month came against league leaders Burnley one nil. We returned home to beat Aston Villa one nil. Knocked West Brom out the EFL Cup Third Round, O'Loughlin and Schepens netting either side of the hosts equaliser to guide us to a win. Finally the month finished with newly promoted Sunderland, who we beat in a nine goal thriller. We came out winners six three as Bolton, McGregor, Boothe and Samuel netted one each and Allen struck a brace for us, his two goals coming in the space of three minutes.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Sixth place after nine league games this season, we're currently showing that we are able to keep up with the bigger boys in the league at this early stage of the season and I know there is a long way to go yet. Burnley remain top on twenty one points, Everton second with twenty whilst Rotherham are behind on goal difference. Fulham and Bournemouth sit on eighteen points with us just a further point behind. And we're still in the EFL Cup which will see us face Premier League side Swansea.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - October 2030[/FONT]

 

[NathanITFC]

Just caught up, what a first season in the Championship and a great start this season again!

 

[dani3w]

Thanks for catching up again NathanITFC that was our second season in the Championship though!

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London City FC - October 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]This month I turned thirty nine, wow we've progressed along the years. But with us competing for a playoff spot again in the Championship this season thins were looking very rosey. It was looking even better that we were in the Fourth Round of the EFL Cup for only our second ever time. Could we continue our good league form and close the gap up on the league leaders to date.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Would you look at that form! What a sensational run picking up win after win throughout October. It would be a perfect birthday present to kick star the month with a two nil home victory over Barnsley. Schepens and Oliveira netting after twenty minutes to guide us to the points. And points kept coming as we played bottom end of the table sides. A three two win against Ipswich away was followed up by a narrow one nil win at home against Mansfield through Oliveira. Back to back clean sheets and our third in four games as we beat MK Dons two nil before returning home for our final league game which saw us beat Fulham two one. Oliveira netting his fifth in as many league games whilst O'Loughlin netted the winner. We crashed out the EFL Cup in extra time of the Fourth Round against Premier League side Swansea, a 107th minute goal knocking us out.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]That brilliant run of form which has seen us win our last eight league games on the bounce sees us shoot up the table and sit in second place. Everton now lead the way and are a single point above us in second place. We then open a bit of a gap as we sit six points clear of Burnley in third and Rotherham in fourth. Hopefully a couple more good months can see us aiming for automatic promotion this season around.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - November 2030[/FONT]

 

[Brane_Orsou]

What a month that was! 2nd is immense and even though there is still a long way to go, a few more months like that and you'll have promotion wrapped up early

 

[Tracz]

Tough way to end last season mate.
It looks like the team have put it behind them though.
A couple more months of form like this and youll be pulling away.
Keep it up!

 

[dani3w]

Thanks neavie pops23 it was a superb month, just need a couple more of those

Thanks Tracz playoffs just aren't our thing thats for sure, hopefully this year it could be

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London City FC - November 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]The month of the mustache, November is here and we go into the penultimate month of the year in some absolute fantastic form as we have won our last eight league games on the bounce. Could we continue that kind of form throughout November as we face four more league games. No EFL Cup games left this season after Swansea knocked us our at the end of October.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Not a bad month again, we extended our unbeaten run to eleven if I'm correct but finally fell to a league defeat come the end of the month. A trip to Preston saw us grab a two one victory. Goals either side of the break from Kigbu and O'Loughlin saw us two up before conceding late on two record a ninth straight win. Brentford stopped our winning run as we drew nil nil at home. At Wigan we won one nil as Oliveira struck but the unbeaten run came to an end as Millwall beat us two one at the end of November.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]As you can see, we have been top of the Championship however the defeat at the end of the month has seen Everton close the small gap and move back ahead of us. They sit top after eighteen games with forty points on the board whilst we're in second with thirty nine. We now have a six point gap over the chasing pack in the playoff spots. Just ten points separate the top ten teams at this stage of the season so we're not getting carried away any time soon.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - December 2030[/FONT]

 

[dani3w]

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London City FC - December 2030[/FONT]​

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[FONT=&quot]Here we go again then, the final month of 2030, the festivities of the snowy month indeed. We could go into both Christmas and the New Year on top of the pile at the Championship if we could hold our nerve through this month. We have six games throughout December and have been playing very well especially as of late. A few more good months and we could see ourselves confirmed promoted within a couple a months time.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Not too bad a month really when you see the teams we played, four of them have been in the Premier League over the last three or four years as well. We beat relegated Bristol City three two to kick start the month, they're not having the best return to the Championship. O'Loughlin and McGregor netting before the break before Oliveira netted int he second half. Cardiff beat us at home two one as we seem to be struggle at home as of late. We traveled to Crystal Paace and beat them two one, again Oliveira and O'Loughlin both on target for us before drawing nil nil to QPR, who we will face in the FA Cup Third Round in January. League leaders Everton beat us one nil at Goodison Park before we beat Rotehrham to end the calander year one nil, Oliveira netting.[/FONT]

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[FONT=&quot]Despite a couple losses creeping into our game, including a defeat against league leaders Everton we still sit second in the Championship and till have our eyes set on promotion this year around. We trail the league leaders by just two points and a plus five goal difference which isn't too bad just over half way through the league season. We've then opened up a eight point gap over third and fourth place Brentford and Millwall. Its now eleven point separating the top seven teams as we're starting to break away.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Next Update: London City FC - January 2031[/FONT]

 

[NathanITFC]

O'Loughlin and Oliveria seem to always score! Looking to make any transfers in Jan? Keep up the good form!

 

[naterr]

Nice little gap you have above 3rd now! hope you can keep this up!

 

[Brane_Orsou]

Great end to the year, shame about the defeat to Everton but still only 2 points behind. More importantly is the nice little gap between you and 3rd. KIU

 

[jonnylaverty]

Loving this thread, quick question though, have Leeds went up? I always like to know in long term saves