Football Manager 2010

[kev panther]

With the release of the New 2010 Football Manager, it is now possible to play down to NWCounties Div 2. However you need a super douper PC to run it down to that level, Howevr you can run down to Northern Premier Div 1.
And So...We take over Skem Utd. Most of the current players are registered, the stats are not up to much. I have edited in a few that were not in game.


I will up date on the progress or lack of it, during the coming weeks.

[kev panther]

If I was to take the Skem job, the Chairman had to go, there is no way I could work with him, so my insider contact gave him the shove and Arthur was re instated.

My orders from above was that Promotion was amust and the bookies saw it that way and made us and Leigh odds on Favs to go up closely followed by Halifax and Curzon

The players stats at this level and my best defender Whitey has tackling of 5, Were up sheet creek.

I picked up Leddy who was unattached and Quarless on a free from Witton. To bolster the squad 33 yr old Gretton was brought in as player/coach. That was up to my limit in wages and no transfere funds, I would have to seek out some loans.

Pre season was a mixed bag with good wins against St Helens, Chelmsford and Carnavon coupled with defeats at the hands of Burscough, Worcester and Leamington. A creditable draw away at Macclesfield. Towey and Houghton both in the goals.

This seasons FA Cup run didnt last long we managed a 1-0 win home to Stocksbridge before crashing out at Woodford 0-2
Colwyn went out to Romulus and Halifax crashed at Boldmere.

A defeat in he Unibond Challenge Cup by Burscough ended another Cup run, but A win against Rossendale in the Presidents Cup gave a little glimmer of hope.
The Liverpool Senior Cup (Yes they do go down to this level) St Helens were thrashed 1-0 and a Leddy hatrick put paid to Burscough at their place with a thumping 5-2 victory. Hey !! were in it to win it !!!

In the league first game up and a backs to the wall 1-0 victory over Halifax and wins against Prescot and Mossley got us off to a flyer. Woodley were despatched and only a last minute equaliser stopped our 100% record at Leigh.
5 games gone and we are top of the pile Radcliffe and Curzon close by. Leigh were rooted at the bottom with just one point, Clitheroe and Harrogate also finding the early season going a little to tough

We kept the good form going by disposing of Harrogate, who had two men sent off, we won 1-0. A trip to Curzon and we were lucky to scrape a goalless draw, battered.
Halifax were putting a run together and moving up to 7th, Colwyn in 6th.

There was further doom and gloom as we lost to Rossendale and Fylde and there was calls from the supporters for my head "Bring back Tommy" We were still second !!!!!!!!!!
My best defender Whitey has been out for a while and Akkers will be out months, still we soldier on.

Shawe View didnt change the current run as we drew 0-0 with Trafford but worse was to come as second bottom Salford came and beat us on our turf, embarrasing !!! and the players know it

After 11 games we are 5th behind
Chorley 24, Radcliffe Boro 22, Colwyn and Garforth 20 Skem 18
netted 12 times and conceeded 6, leading goalscorer A Wade with 4
at the bottom
Leigh prop the lot with just 3 points, Ossett and Mossley make up the relegation places Halifax, Lancaster and Curzon make up 11, 12, 13

more to follow

[kev panther]

..and on we go...our bad run continues away at Wakefield, due to poor refereeing costing us a lat min pen in a 3-2 defeat The supporters make there feelings known on the forums.

However they are appeased when table toppers Chorley are thrashed silly 3-1, Warrington provide a sterner test and manage a 1-1 draw, again a penalty costing the 3points. Halifax are now 17th but only 8pts from the Top. Its TIGHT !!!

Have to dip into the loans market and bring in two kids Defender Eastman from Blackpool and Tranmeres McCauley a giant of a striker, Now thats rare at White Moss Park.

Colwyn come crashing down with a Houghto hatrick 3-0 and we are back up to 2nd.

Dark horses Bamber Bridge in 6th but with 4 games in hand put us to the sword and we are lucky we only get beat 1-0. Bridge jump above us into 2nd. Radcliffe remain top with Chorley and Garforth making the play-off places.

Leigh are 10 pts from safety at the bottom with Ossett and Wakefield, who were the last team from League in FA Cup defeated by Hyde in 4th Q Rd.

Another defeat at Lancaster who are putting a run together 0-1 Connerton
We cant score and conceed far to early.
More calls on the forum for me to go "SB's" & "Distressed"not to happy.
Ex Skem favourite Lee Thompson scores after 1min for Garforth but we rally and record a much needed win 2-1, Its the same score at Table topping Radcliffe as we close the gap Towey with a brace.
Houghto joins in the fun and bags a brace as we dispose of Ilkeston in FA Trophy, were in the hat for the First Round !!!!!
Strugglers Ossett make us work hard as Fostter is Sent Off but we come away with all 3 points.
A 1-1 draw at home to Clitheroe brought the first half of the season to a close




more to follow.

[kev panther]

.....we win £5000 (The chairman is pleased)and a place in FA trophy 2nd round as we beat Ossett Town away but get beaten by Lincoln Utd in the Presidents Cup. Were still in the Liverpool Senior Cup !!!!

Back to the league and Prescott fight back from 2 goals down but Houghto hits the winer in stoppage time, Houghto is back amongst the goals as he puts in 2 at a frozen Seal Park as we continue the good run with a 3-1 rout.

Bring in young midfielder Rothwell on loan from Bury, he looks top class, Can I have some money Mr Chairman !!!!!!!

The biggy before xmas, away at the Shay as Halifax move ever closer to the play offs with a 2-1 win. Our defeat puts Curzon on top. The Boos ring out from the Skem supporters at the final whisle. I can see my time here will be short. I have players out injured, Akkers has not played all season Whiteys been in ond out, Leddy wants another move. (Busy Bee dont have a team in this version of the game !)
Bamber Bridge are still in with the biggest shout as they are 4th with 2 games in hand. Ossett and Leigh looked doomed.

Liverpool Senior Cup QF and a largly experimental side come away with a victory at Prescot, goals from loanees McCauley and Rothwell.
Can the supporters not dig deep and fund the transfer's
We get Everton in the Semi's

There is stalemate at home to Woodley as the supporters leave in droves well before the Final whistle 0-0

A slight turn of fortune as we travel to York in the 2nd Round of the FA Trophy and come back from 3-1 to snatch a well earned draw. One of the SBs wants to buy me a pint but its £3 and he quickly backs out !!!

Curzon prove to be to good and gain a late penalty (thats 8 we have conceeded) to get the three points but being honest we were not at the races.
More misery as McCauley joins the sick list and returns to Tranmere. Akkers and Foster both out long term. Try to delve into the transfer market. Chadwick at FCMU wont join us, neither will a couple of others, Try and get Roberts from Burscough but they are holding out. Manage to get a striker in Steve Moore from Salford..on a free but go over my budget, someone has got to go.

In the FAT replay we are kicked off the park, 2-2 at the final whistle but ET is played with the walking wounded as Leddy, Morrison (out 2 mths) and Burke all receive injuries, everyone behind the ball.It pays off and we triumph in the shoot out. £6000 better of and Cambridge at Home, Bryn Jones is inundated with ticket requests. SB's buys that pint. ouch !!!.


Harrogate and Leigh are both despatched and were on the trail of leaders Curzon, Clitheroe have gone 13 games unbeaten and lie in 3rd, Chorley and Bamber Bridge follow. The bottom is still Leigh and Ossett with Rossendale and Mossley next.

The young defender Eastman's loan is up and doesnt want to commit. Help im stuck, no defenders.

FAT and Cambridge are sent packing, Over 500 see Wade and Houghton with a last gasp goal clinches it, although Mr Odgens relative in the middle do us no favours but were through to the last 8 and another £7000 in the kitty. (its Vauxhall or Bromley at Home in the QF) Mr Jones can I have a ticket please !!! . NBJ is not happy someone took his speck !!
A dour 0-0 draw at Warrington, followed by a comprehensive 2-0 win over B Bridge put us back on track, still cant get anyone on loan to cover defence, Wheres my contacts when I need em, "calling Tommy"
Rossendale are a bit in the mire as they have gone 21 games without a win. I hate Dark Lane.



Getting to the nitty gritty part of the season, still worried about Halifax !!

......

[kev panther]

...Rossy are next up, but there is nothing Peter McGee can do to stop the torrential rain and its "match off". Fylde away next up and what is the best game of the season so far, 2-2 as both sets of supporters go home happy.
Another £8000 comes our way as we defeat Bromley in the FAT Houghto weaves his magic and gets both goals in a 2-1 win, Att of 300 and NBJ gets his speck back.
The Rossy game is re-arranged but we fail to convert any chances, New signing Steve Moore proves to be the most wasteful, he's not happy as he is put on the transfer list, as the manager realises his mistake he wanted Steve Foster !!!, However the supporters are happy with the performance, Strange lot these Skem folk !!.
Still 2nd, 3pts behind Curzon. Halifax have some work to do to make the Play-Offs.
Another 0-0 draw at Trafford saw us fall further behind at the top, worse to follow as Salford grabed a late late equaliser at Moor Park, 7 pts behind with Clitheroe closing in fast, Chorley B Bridge and radcliffe pushingfor play-off spots.Halifax beat Bridge Leigh moved off the bottom, Rossy fall

The Liverpool Senior Cup sees Everton Res with Hibbert, Rodwell and Vaughan in the line up visit WMP. SBs resplendent in their new all blue suits. One half represents Skem the other Everton.
Kyle Armstrong scores a Duffyesque goal that has the crowd in raptures but its not enough as the make shift side fall apart in ET 1-2 but we did ourselves proud 600 on the gate to boost the coffers.
Liverpool win the other Semi Final, Wilko and chrisdrew are exstatic, they can watch the REDS in a Cup Final again !!!
We have bigger Fish to fry as we travel down to Stevenage for 1st Leg SF FA Trophy. Arthur Gore leads the way with his non stop singing on the coach down. The coach driver gets lost a la Buxton and the game kicks off 10 mins late. The match is at Rushden Ryan is on outstanding form as we come away with a goalless draw, It could have been different if Leddy had put away a spot kick, the Barmy Army arrive back home on tuesday !!
just in time to see our worst performance of the season as we crash out 2-0 at home to Wakefield. Bang go our chances of Automatic promotion yet again as Curzon stretch their lead!! We might not make the play-offs.
The Rushden return is a victim of the weather that seems to be just hitting Skelmersdale.
Two biggies coming up Chiorley (A) and Lancaster (H)who are creeping ever so closer. We need to win both or Im out of a job.

We are poor at Chorley and dont get anything, which is more than we deserve, On the forum Big E says "it was like extracting teeth"
I had to play the strongest side against the Axemen, sod the FA Trophy. "I gotta get outta this division" or else its the chop.
Curzon are champions elect as they have 70 pts from 37 games, followed by Chorley 61, Skem 59, Clitheroe 57, Radcliffe 56.
Bamber B, Lancaster and Wakeyfield 54.
Leigh have almost pulled of the great escape there out the bottom 3, now made up with Rossy, Mossley and Ossett.

We go away to Colwyn and thump them 2-0, best performance all season as we move back into 2nd, as Chorley drew with Curzon
Curzon are handed the title as we could only muster a 1-1 draw at home to a over aggresive Garfoth, The fans are furious Souper says its the worst performance he's seen since 1992 !!! , Halifax move up to 7th. Things get worse as we lose at Radcliffe surely the game should have been abandond, it was a mud bath, How can we hope to play football on a pitch like that. My days are numbered. The fans are up in arms with the referee Mr Oddgens.


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Two games to go we should make the play-offs !!!

We lose at Clitheroe who go above us into 3rd, Halifax join the play-offs in 5th, A Convincing 3-0 Home win to Ossett, Houghto hat-rick, gives us that bit of confidence needed for the games ahead !!



In the Liverpool Senior Cup Everton are the victors and Wilko, chris drew are to be found in the Busy bee after drowning their sorrows, Rafa's got to go !!!!


...............In to the play offs, Chris Almond pop up with a goal just before half time and thats all thats needed to see of Halifax 1,035 see the game, The supporters are rigt behind me now!!
Chorley win the other Semi and its game on.....

Houghto cashes on in from 35 yards early in the irst half as chorley mount a series of attacks, Ryan in goal and Duffy at the back are outstanding as we manage to hold on till the break.
More pressure from former Skemmer Phil Cooney gives us all kinds of problems and its hell, the most nervous I have been since i got married, Ive no fingers left never mind nails
late on in the second half..................................................
Leddy bags a penalty winner and we are up !!!!!!!!

There is rejoicing in the streets of Skem that night, scenes not witnessed since 1971. Oh how we partied.

Houghton bagged 25 goals, Foster was Player of the year and that of the supporters.

I resigned all the players apart from Quarless, we got an offer and we took it and Steve Moore was sent packing, not quietly he wanted 6 grand, cheeky bar steward.

The chairman and directors were not happy ? we finnished 5th, lowest for 3 seasons, and something to the tune of £130,000 in debt. What !!!!
Hey up lads !! Im in trouble here.
The only thing I was commended for was the FA Trophy.
Do I jump before im pushed !!!!!!!!

I only had a one year contract, they were not going to renew it !!

So over board I went.......Promoted and pushed !!!
Oh how they rejoiced, the partys lasted all night long. "Tommy Tommy Tommy............."

Now where is Formby ?






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