Looking for a challenge in a game that has many ways to challenge, I took a step further. I have obtained Bladesmans' Tier-11 setup and picked Wodson Park out of the hat, though the green and orange shirts may have slanted my decision.
I hadn't decided to do a story on this save until just recently, therefore I will be posting recaps for the first two full seasons and nearly all of the third season.
Wodson Park, a team founded in 1997, has risen quite a bit in just over thirteen years of existence.
A first season consisting of a league and cup double, consecutive promotions, including a 1999-2000 season where only three points were left unattained, and after a few years bouncing around different leagues we find the team in the Spartan South Midlands (Division Two).
Mr. Westermeyer took over the team, which was also on the sales block, in the summer of 2009. Some early fiddling in the amateur transfer market built up an already formidable team to a team that was expected to win the league and a spot in the promotion playoff.
The 09/10 season did result in a league win, and a promotion playoff win, with a final record of 17-8-3 in league play. This combination of wins moved Wodson Park up to the Spartan South Midlands (Division One) where they put together a fantastic season, going 22-10-8 and pulling out a thrilling final game win to obtain the automatic promotion spot. The high-flying Parkmen were on the way to the Spartan South Midlands Premier, and tempering expectations, the newly taken over board was not expecting much higher than a mid-table finish. But once again, the team exceeded all expectations, despite an extended season full of replays and success in trophy contention. The 27-9-6 league line secured a third promotion on the second to last gameday.
The 11/12 season became the first season with any real prospect of extra silverware, and the team has thus far won both the SSM Challenge Cup and the SSM Premier Division Cup, with one game left on this seasons schedule, the FA Vase, from Wembley against North West Counties Division One side Irlam FC.
The FA Vase was secured by Wodson Park with a 2-0 win over Irlam. The team has been promoted to the Northern Premier League First Division North.
---------- Post added at 06:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 PM ----------
A failed edit erased a large portion of this post
16 games have occured to this point in this season.
Newcastle Benfield has been drawn by the Parkmen for their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round match. The last game between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw in a D1N tie.
---------- Post added at 07:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:37 PM ----------
Garforth Town will be hosting the Parkmen today, which is the fourth of six consecutive away matches.
Breezy and 44 degrees at gametime.
Garforth Town 2 : 2 Wodson Park
(Bolder10 Rasmussen 36 Williams 77 Spencer 84)
Bolder scoots in a quick jab to take the lead early for Garforth, Rasmussen equalizes near the end of the first half. Williams puts Wodson Park ahead with his 50th goal with the team. Unfortunately for the Parkmen, Spencer blasted a curler into the net very late for force the 2-2 draw.
---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:05 PM ----------
Oliver Burgess has strained the ligaments in his knee and will be out for 2-3 months, a rather big blow to the team.
---------- Post added at 07:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:07 PM ----------
Drizzly and 75 in Osset at the Ingfield
Wodson Park are nearing the end of their long road trip, and it can be sure that they cannot wait to return home.
Ossett Town 0 : 1 Wodson Park
(Hill 45+1)
Ossett Town shelled Wodson Park but just couldn't connect with a shot all day. Wodson Park moves to first in the D1N with a record of 4-2-0 with a game in hand.
---------- Post added at 07:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:33 PM ----------
The FA Trophy First Qualification Round took place today. Wodson Park, the current FA Vase holders, drew Sutton Coldfield Town from the Southern League First Division Midlands.
In other news, Wodson Park have sent out offers to a number of scouts and coaches, looking to replenish the stable after losing a number of coaches in the offseason.
---------- Post added at 07:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 PM ----------
Nate Hooks has joined the Parkmen scouting group, along with Adam Davies, a defensive coach.
---------- Post added at 10:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 PM ----------
Wodson Park has drawn Harrogate in the first round of the Northern League Challenge Cup and will also be hosting budding rival Newcastle Benfield in the second round of the Northern League Presidents Cup.
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
A rivalry seems to be forming between the Parkmen and Lions, with their being drawn together in the FA Cup, the Presidents Cup and their battles within the league.
Wodson Park 1 : 0 Newcastle Benfield
(Hill 27 Lovell 61)
Hill bangs in a shot off the crossbar but is countered by a sneaky shot in the sixty first minute by Lovell, and this game will be replayed.
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay
Newcastle, 50 degrees and dry. We will see who can crack this game open and advance to the FA Cup proper.
The Parkmen looked outclassed, simply outclassed all afternoon and have been eliminated from the FA Cup.
Newcastle Benfield 3 : 0 Wodson Park
(Brown 22 Dickinson 30 Neary 57)
---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 PM ----------
Hoping to bounce back from their exit from the FA Cup, Wodson Park travel to Coles Lane to face Sutton Coldfield in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round. The conditions look to be a bit gloomy, with drizzle and 50 degrees at kickoff.
Sutton Coldfield 1 : 0 Wodson Park
(Prosser 33)
It looks like the Parkmen were more shaken and worn out than anticipated, dropping a close game to Sutton Coldfield. It will be another season before the Parkmen can hope to add the FA Trophy to their collection, which already includes the FA Vase. No team has won both the Vase and the Trophy, nor has any club advanced from the conference into the league. This seasons hunt may be over, but our goals are still attainable.
In better news, Stewart Keith has been called up for international duty for a series of three games for Scotland U19's, with opponents such as Malta U19, Cyprus U19, and Sweden U19.
---------- Post added at 11:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 PM ----------
Northern Challenge Cup
Wodson Park 1 : 1 Harrogate
p 4 : 3
(Campbell 8 Schroder 85 (OG))
Looking to regain form, Wodson Park are entertaining Harrogate. The Parkmen looked to have the game locked down on the early Campbell goal, but a disaster struck on 85 minutes when Schroder mis-kicked the ball behind the keeper. Adam Sumner was sent off for a professional foul at the 112 minute mark, dropping Wodson Park to 10 men. Luckily, the team held and made it to a penalty shootout.
Harrogate started with a booming shot over the bar, Wodson put the first kick right in. Harrogate scored the second while Wodson had the shot saved, both teams scored the third penalty. Harrogate screamed the ball wide right, but Wodson put the fourth kick in. Fifth kick, Harrogate scores to extend the penalties, but Wodson buries the final penalty to advance to the next round.
---------- Post added at 11:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 PM ----------
Challenge Cup Round 2 Draw
Wodson Park will host Farsley in the second round of the Northern League Challenge Cup.
Stewart Keith has been selected Vice-Captain of the Scottish U19 team.
---------- Post added at 06:54 PM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 11:10 PM ----------
Our old friends Newcastle Benfield return to Ware, this time for a Presidents Cup match. Wodson Park are pegged at 4-7 favorites, hopefully this current slide can be stopped.
Wodson Park 2 : 1 Newcastle Benfield
(Williams 7, 91 Max-Grant 67)
A fantastic game, the Parkmen come away with a regular time victory and advance to the third round of the Presidents Cup.
The third round Presidents Cup draw pits Wodson Park as hosts to Brigg.
Well, it has been a month since Wodson Park have played in a league match, but the streak ends today. The Parkmen have dropped to 6th in the league, but only four points out of the top spot, and they are also three games in-hand on the top team. 20th ranked Scarborough Athletic comes to Ware to face Wodson Park on a gusty 44 degree day.
Wodson Park 2 : 0 Scarborough Athletic
(Rasmussen 3 Clarke 72)
A back and forth game ends with Wodson Park on the good side of a clean sheet. Clarke's 72nd minute goal was his first in almost 18 hours of football.
Back to another cup battle, this time against Farsley in the second round of the Challenge Cup. Farsley come to Wodson Park as favorites in a game that will be played in an ice/rain/snow mix.
Wodson Park 1 : 0 Farsley
(Lindsay 42)
Fan favorite and captain Bob Lindsay opened the scoring on a thrilling header, and that was enough for Wodson Park to hold on and advance to the third round of the Challenge Cup.
In the match with Farsley, Bob Clarke took a knock later in the game, and will miss up to a month with a gashed leg.
The fourth round of the Challenge Cup will pit Wodson Park against Ossett Town, with Wodson Park hosting in Ware.
More immediately though, a wet match looms on the horizon for Brigg Town and Wodson Park, getting back to the D1N schedule at the Hawthorns.
Brigg Town 1 : 0 Wodson Park
(Mickelborough 63)
Brigg score the only goal in a game that got chippier as it went on, eventually leading to the dismissal of Stringfellow for a second yellow card. Stringfellow, currently on loan from Bishop's Stortford, will be ending his three month loan this month.
Brigg Town's win vaults them to second position in the D1N and Wodson Park drops to 8th on the table, however the Parkmen have played seven games less than the current leaders, Garforth.
---------- Post added at 11:58 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 06:54 PM ----------
Skelmersdale United provide the next opponent in D1N play, White Moss Park will host the event with a dry, if not brisk fall day in West Lancashire.
Skelmersdale United 0 : 1 Wodson Park
(Williams 7)
I guess a game where you gain three points is a good game, but this was a pretty bad game, and Clarke may miss 11 days with cracked ribs.
A bit of good news as Oliver Burgess returns from eight weeks on the injury list.
Wodson Park return to Ware for a game against D1N side Whitby Town, who currently sit in 14th in the league.
Wodson Park 1 : 1 Whitby Town
(Thomas 63 Mills 88)
Thomas rips his first, with a blast just outside the six yard box! But Mills equalizes very late and the game ends in a draw. In addition, Stewart Keith has pulled his hamstring and may miss six weeks.
I hadn't decided to do a story on this save until just recently, therefore I will be posting recaps for the first two full seasons and nearly all of the third season.
Wodson Park, a team founded in 1997, has risen quite a bit in just over thirteen years of existence.
A first season consisting of a league and cup double, consecutive promotions, including a 1999-2000 season where only three points were left unattained, and after a few years bouncing around different leagues we find the team in the Spartan South Midlands (Division Two).
Mr. Westermeyer took over the team, which was also on the sales block, in the summer of 2009. Some early fiddling in the amateur transfer market built up an already formidable team to a team that was expected to win the league and a spot in the promotion playoff.
The 09/10 season did result in a league win, and a promotion playoff win, with a final record of 17-8-3 in league play. This combination of wins moved Wodson Park up to the Spartan South Midlands (Division One) where they put together a fantastic season, going 22-10-8 and pulling out a thrilling final game win to obtain the automatic promotion spot. The high-flying Parkmen were on the way to the Spartan South Midlands Premier, and tempering expectations, the newly taken over board was not expecting much higher than a mid-table finish. But once again, the team exceeded all expectations, despite an extended season full of replays and success in trophy contention. The 27-9-6 league line secured a third promotion on the second to last gameday.
The 11/12 season became the first season with any real prospect of extra silverware, and the team has thus far won both the SSM Challenge Cup and the SSM Premier Division Cup, with one game left on this seasons schedule, the FA Vase, from Wembley against North West Counties Division One side Irlam FC.
The FA Vase was secured by Wodson Park with a 2-0 win over Irlam. The team has been promoted to the Northern Premier League First Division North.
---------- Post added at 06:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:31 PM ----------
A failed edit erased a large portion of this post
16 games have occured to this point in this season.
Newcastle Benfield has been drawn by the Parkmen for their FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round match. The last game between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw in a D1N tie.
---------- Post added at 07:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:37 PM ----------
Garforth Town will be hosting the Parkmen today, which is the fourth of six consecutive away matches.
Breezy and 44 degrees at gametime.
Garforth Town 2 : 2 Wodson Park
(Bolder10 Rasmussen 36 Williams 77 Spencer 84)
Bolder scoots in a quick jab to take the lead early for Garforth, Rasmussen equalizes near the end of the first half. Williams puts Wodson Park ahead with his 50th goal with the team. Unfortunately for the Parkmen, Spencer blasted a curler into the net very late for force the 2-2 draw.
---------- Post added at 07:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:05 PM ----------
Oliver Burgess has strained the ligaments in his knee and will be out for 2-3 months, a rather big blow to the team.
---------- Post added at 07:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:07 PM ----------
Drizzly and 75 in Osset at the Ingfield
Wodson Park are nearing the end of their long road trip, and it can be sure that they cannot wait to return home.
Ossett Town 0 : 1 Wodson Park
(Hill 45+1)
Ossett Town shelled Wodson Park but just couldn't connect with a shot all day. Wodson Park moves to first in the D1N with a record of 4-2-0 with a game in hand.
---------- Post added at 07:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:33 PM ----------
The FA Trophy First Qualification Round took place today. Wodson Park, the current FA Vase holders, drew Sutton Coldfield Town from the Southern League First Division Midlands.
In other news, Wodson Park have sent out offers to a number of scouts and coaches, looking to replenish the stable after losing a number of coaches in the offseason.
---------- Post added at 07:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 PM ----------
Nate Hooks has joined the Parkmen scouting group, along with Adam Davies, a defensive coach.
---------- Post added at 10:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:41 PM ----------
Wodson Park has drawn Harrogate in the first round of the Northern League Challenge Cup and will also be hosting budding rival Newcastle Benfield in the second round of the Northern League Presidents Cup.
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round
A rivalry seems to be forming between the Parkmen and Lions, with their being drawn together in the FA Cup, the Presidents Cup and their battles within the league.
Wodson Park 1 : 0 Newcastle Benfield
(Hill 27 Lovell 61)
Hill bangs in a shot off the crossbar but is countered by a sneaky shot in the sixty first minute by Lovell, and this game will be replayed.
FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round Replay
Newcastle, 50 degrees and dry. We will see who can crack this game open and advance to the FA Cup proper.
The Parkmen looked outclassed, simply outclassed all afternoon and have been eliminated from the FA Cup.
Newcastle Benfield 3 : 0 Wodson Park
(Brown 22 Dickinson 30 Neary 57)
---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:17 PM ----------
Hoping to bounce back from their exit from the FA Cup, Wodson Park travel to Coles Lane to face Sutton Coldfield in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round. The conditions look to be a bit gloomy, with drizzle and 50 degrees at kickoff.
Sutton Coldfield 1 : 0 Wodson Park
(Prosser 33)
It looks like the Parkmen were more shaken and worn out than anticipated, dropping a close game to Sutton Coldfield. It will be another season before the Parkmen can hope to add the FA Trophy to their collection, which already includes the FA Vase. No team has won both the Vase and the Trophy, nor has any club advanced from the conference into the league. This seasons hunt may be over, but our goals are still attainable.
In better news, Stewart Keith has been called up for international duty for a series of three games for Scotland U19's, with opponents such as Malta U19, Cyprus U19, and Sweden U19.
---------- Post added at 11:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 PM ----------
Northern Challenge Cup
Wodson Park 1 : 1 Harrogate
p 4 : 3
(Campbell 8 Schroder 85 (OG))
Looking to regain form, Wodson Park are entertaining Harrogate. The Parkmen looked to have the game locked down on the early Campbell goal, but a disaster struck on 85 minutes when Schroder mis-kicked the ball behind the keeper. Adam Sumner was sent off for a professional foul at the 112 minute mark, dropping Wodson Park to 10 men. Luckily, the team held and made it to a penalty shootout.
Harrogate started with a booming shot over the bar, Wodson put the first kick right in. Harrogate scored the second while Wodson had the shot saved, both teams scored the third penalty. Harrogate screamed the ball wide right, but Wodson put the fourth kick in. Fifth kick, Harrogate scores to extend the penalties, but Wodson buries the final penalty to advance to the next round.
---------- Post added at 11:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:03 PM ----------
Challenge Cup Round 2 Draw
Wodson Park will host Farsley in the second round of the Northern League Challenge Cup.
Stewart Keith has been selected Vice-Captain of the Scottish U19 team.
---------- Post added at 06:54 PM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 11:10 PM ----------
Our old friends Newcastle Benfield return to Ware, this time for a Presidents Cup match. Wodson Park are pegged at 4-7 favorites, hopefully this current slide can be stopped.
Wodson Park 2 : 1 Newcastle Benfield
(Williams 7, 91 Max-Grant 67)
A fantastic game, the Parkmen come away with a regular time victory and advance to the third round of the Presidents Cup.
The third round Presidents Cup draw pits Wodson Park as hosts to Brigg.
Well, it has been a month since Wodson Park have played in a league match, but the streak ends today. The Parkmen have dropped to 6th in the league, but only four points out of the top spot, and they are also three games in-hand on the top team. 20th ranked Scarborough Athletic comes to Ware to face Wodson Park on a gusty 44 degree day.
Wodson Park 2 : 0 Scarborough Athletic
(Rasmussen 3 Clarke 72)
A back and forth game ends with Wodson Park on the good side of a clean sheet. Clarke's 72nd minute goal was his first in almost 18 hours of football.
Back to another cup battle, this time against Farsley in the second round of the Challenge Cup. Farsley come to Wodson Park as favorites in a game that will be played in an ice/rain/snow mix.
Wodson Park 1 : 0 Farsley
(Lindsay 42)
Fan favorite and captain Bob Lindsay opened the scoring on a thrilling header, and that was enough for Wodson Park to hold on and advance to the third round of the Challenge Cup.
In the match with Farsley, Bob Clarke took a knock later in the game, and will miss up to a month with a gashed leg.
The fourth round of the Challenge Cup will pit Wodson Park against Ossett Town, with Wodson Park hosting in Ware.
More immediately though, a wet match looms on the horizon for Brigg Town and Wodson Park, getting back to the D1N schedule at the Hawthorns.
Brigg Town 1 : 0 Wodson Park
(Mickelborough 63)
Brigg score the only goal in a game that got chippier as it went on, eventually leading to the dismissal of Stringfellow for a second yellow card. Stringfellow, currently on loan from Bishop's Stortford, will be ending his three month loan this month.
Brigg Town's win vaults them to second position in the D1N and Wodson Park drops to 8th on the table, however the Parkmen have played seven games less than the current leaders, Garforth.
---------- Post added at 11:58 AM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 06:54 PM ----------
Skelmersdale United provide the next opponent in D1N play, White Moss Park will host the event with a dry, if not brisk fall day in West Lancashire.
Skelmersdale United 0 : 1 Wodson Park
(Williams 7)
I guess a game where you gain three points is a good game, but this was a pretty bad game, and Clarke may miss 11 days with cracked ribs.
A bit of good news as Oliver Burgess returns from eight weeks on the injury list.
Wodson Park return to Ware for a game against D1N side Whitby Town, who currently sit in 14th in the league.
Wodson Park 1 : 1 Whitby Town
(Thomas 63 Mills 88)
Thomas rips his first, with a blast just outside the six yard box! But Mills equalizes very late and the game ends in a draw. In addition, Stewart Keith has pulled his hamstring and may miss six weeks.
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