2012-2013 Season
The Start of a RevolutionWho are Boreham Wood? I'll tell you now, they are a team in the Blue Square Bet South. After losing their manager to a cardiac arrest during the summer, the club was in serious danger of going backwards. Their search for an experienced manager was unsuccessful and the owner was forced to give a very innexperienced Joshua Morris, a forty year-old Englishman keen to prove his ability in the world ouside of the popular video-game Football Manager.
Who is Joshua Morris? Coming from a not so small town called Leeds, Joshua grew up in the heart of football. He was an avid Leeds United fan by tradition and was only three years-old when his childhood team won the much coveted European Cup. He started his footballing career at the tender age of six where he played for Leeds United U-8s. He was fast-tracked over the years and was dubbed as the next "John Giles" by the age of fifteen. By the age of seventeen he was in the Leeds United senoir team but only in training sessions. He found the physical requirements a step too far for his ability but he continued on.
His dream of becoming one of the greatest footballers in history was cut short when he was in the receiving end of a deadly Paolo Maldini tackle during a pre-season friendly against Italian giants AC Milan. His injury was irreversable as he tore all the ligaments in his left knee. Paolo Maldini showed great sportsmanship as he often visited the disappointed Joshua Morris in hospital. It is believed that even today, the two former footballers still keep in close touch.
With no future in football, Joshua turned his head towards journalism and he became a football reporter for The Daily Mirror. He wrote articles on tactics, managers and players. He was deemed an expert in player analysis and squad management. He put his knowledge of these two down to the popluar gaming series, Football Manager. He often used this game for background research and his research seems unquestionable.
How did he get the job? Having aqcuired his coaching badges, Joshua was looking for a break away from journalism to pursue his dreams of managing a football team. He looked at all the vacancies and saw that Boreham Wood was amongst them. Remembering the article he wrote on their late manager's style of play, he applied and got a response within days. He went to the interview with a great deal of optimism and determination. He wore his smartest suit and his shiniest shoes. The interview lasted a whole sixty-nine minutes and the result was that Danny Hunter gave him a one-season contract. The hard work began from there.
What happened next? Joshua packed his bags and moved in to an apartment merely five minuted from his new club's home. He met with the first team and the staff, if you could call a couple of inadequate coaches staff. He quickly brought in his own staff before making no less than thirteen signings for his squad. He planned to revolutionize this team and his array of tactics would surely help.
How did the season start? Morris' Boreham Wood played nine league games and one FA Cup qualifying round in August and September. He won seven league games, drew one and lost just one. They also blasted their way passed weak opposition in the FA Cup. Joshua Morris based his system on the great Milan side from not so long ago where they had the likes of the legendary Paolo Maldini in defence. This system seemed to work as just three goals were conceded in his first ten games, while an impressive twnety goals were scored.
October and November saw Boreham rock the Blue Square Bet South, winning game after game to stay on top by a two point margin and a game-in-hand over second place Salisbury. Unfortunately, Boreham were defeated by Hayes and Yeading in the FA Trophy and Swindon were too strong for Morris' overperforming side in the FA Cup First Round. This left just the league for Morris to win.
Joshua Morris was working wonders in his first managerial position as he won all six games in December, meaning 2012 finished with Boreham having an elevn point gap at the top of the league. This kind of form provoked Leeds United manager Neil Warnock to say how such a great manager Joshua Morris is. Neil described how he kept an eye on Joshua as a footballer but was more than happy to see him succeed from the tocuhline. This seemed to have really pleased Joshua who claimed that it was Neil Warnock's spell at Leeds which has kept them in a steady position over the last few years.
After February, the gap at the top of the table was as wide as Joshua's new girlfriend's legs, the notorious Jessica Hunter (Danny Hunter's daughter). The twenty point lead may have saved his job as Mr. Hunter was surely unsatisfied with his daughter's desicion to date an employee of his. Joshua spoke of his happiness at Boreham Wood. He was delighted with the progress made by the club and he stated how happy he would be to stay there for the rest of his life.
How did the rampant Boreham finish this exciting season? Boreham finished the season winning every other game bar two, losing two and drawing one. Their defensive exploits were clear as they conceded just seven goals in these final twelve games. Finishing the season with a staggering ninety-nine points meant that Joshua Morris and Boreham Wood had won the Blue Square Bet South and by a mouth watering twenty-seven points! He also won the Manager of the Year award for that division. At last, things were looking bright for a man who might have been one of the greatest players in football history but is quickly becoming one of the greatest managers in football history.
Danny Hunter was delighted and offered a one year extension to Mr. Morris' contract at an estimated wage of £650 p/w. It was happy days for everybody involved with the club, especially as Joshua married Jessica at Meadow Park in the summer . This might be good enough security for his job should he not continue Boreham's climb but a manager as talented as Joshua is surely destined for greatness with Boreham Wood. How will cope with the Blue Square Bet Premier? Will he continue his rapid ascent to fame? Only time will tell!
Nick Johnson,
The Daily Mirror
1
