Unfortunately, my computer is messing me around. Whilst comfortably sitting 5th in the Prem with Hull City, my computer decided to freeze wiping out all of my data, not just on FM. But I'm back with a massive challenge that will see me through until I get FM 2015.
Starting unemployed with Sunday league reputation is my favourite challenge and I do it every year, but have only just started it now. Why, I don't know but it should be an enjoyable roller coaster.
July was a month to look for Conference South jobs but non were available. There were many teams available in lower leagues but I fancied a little higher. August was another month that passed me by without any jobs becoming available. September, and 4 Skrill South/North teams became available. I was offered an interview at three of them, Stockport, Colwyn Bay and Basingstoke. In October, Tomkinson was announced manager of Colwyn Bay who were bottom of the North. The interview and press conference will be coming shortly.
The Interview:
David Messom: Welcome Jake, we are glad that you've come along to discuss our plans for the clubs vision should we decide to appoint you as Colwyn Bays new manager.
Jake Tomkinson: I appreciate it very much and I hope I can persuade you that I am the right man to take this club forward.
David Messom: I like your ambition, now, would a top half of the table finish be a good target?
Jake Tomkinson: As we are in the relegation zone, my main aim is to stay up but I would hope that we can push for a top half finish.
David Messom: What would you like us to judge you on?
Jale Tomkinson: I would like to bring direct, attacking football. I would also like to focus on being a threat from set pieces.
David Messom: Well then, thank you for your time and we will be in contact with you soon.
Jake Tomkinson: Thank you, speak to you soon.
The First Press Conference:
Reporter: How do you feel about becoming the new Colwyn Bay manager?
Jake Tomkinson: It is a great starting point for my career and I hope I can turn this club around.
Reporter: Your first game is a tricky away trip to Stockport, how are you going to line up?
Jake Tomkinson: I'm afraid I can't answer that as I don't want to give to many hints away.
Reporter: Do you think the club are heading in the right direction?
Jake Tomkninson: Well, we are sat bottom of the Conference North so something can't be going right and that is what I am here for is to turn this club around. I have faith in the team that they will be able to do this.
Reporter: Fans feel that the appointment could prove to be risky as you have no managerial experience in you locker. Do you feel the same?
Jake Tomkinson: I may have no experience but I feel that this is the right level for me to be starting at. I will be the one responsible for any ups and downs but hopefully this can be the right move.
Reporter: Thank you for your time today Mr Tomkinson.
Jake Tomkinson: It is a pleasure and I hope I have a long and successful career at Colwyn Bay.
Good luck
1
Robert Salatheil joins relegation threatened Colwyn Bay on a two year deal worth £90 a week. The ex Cardiff trainee has joined as a backup striker to Ade Akinbiyi and Mike Williams.
Salatheil has expressed his delight to be working at Colwyn Bay and has said that they are a great club to work with.
Tomkinson: We would like to announce the signing of Robert Salatheil. We hope he has a good journey with Colwyn Bay that can lead to a very promising career. He has great potential and a massive future. There is a quality player in there and we are ready to use it. He is a natural goal scorer that should score for fun in this division.
Salatheil: I am very proud to be here at Colwyn Bay. The club has massive ambitions and I want to help us reach that goal. I am joining a team with three quality strikers and one that has been all the way in his career (Ade Akinbiyi, 39.) I am privileged to be at Colwyn Bay under Tomkinson and I would like to thank him personally for bringing to the club. I want to play not just for the manager, but for the players and the magnificent fans. I just can't wait to get under way.
Results before Tomkinson took charge:
North Ferriby 3 - 1 Colwyn Bay
Harrogate 2 - 2 Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay 3 - 0 Gloucester
Solihull Moors 1 - 1 Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay 0 - 1 Stalybridge
Gainsborough 1 - 1 Colwyn Bay
Hyde 1 - 0 Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay 1 - 1 Gloucester 5-4 on penalties (Cup)
Hednesford 1 - 0 Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay 3 - 0 Arlesey (Cup)
Colwyn Bay 1 - 1 Brackley
Colwyn Bay 1 - 2 Worcester
Now was the time for Tomkinson to build on this mess. I may need a lot of luck!!!
Colwyn Bay 2 - 0 Barrow (FA Cup Third QUAL Round)
The perfect start to my career at Colwyn Bay. A dominant display that proved to be too much for Barrow. 23 chances in the games for Colwyn Bay but only two scored, attackers are much needed already. Barrow offered no threat when they attacked with the back 5 keeping then at bay. Tom Smyth was solid at right back allowing the left winger no room. Michael Lea also put in a perfect display. The three centre backs had nothing to do in the game, Barrow could only manage shots from 20 plus yards out. The midfield three were dominant, keeping possession of the ball before spraying it forward for the strikers to feed on. Jamie Tolley was magnificent in feeding Mike Williams and Ade Akinbiyi up front.
The first twenty minutes were all Colwyn Bay but they produced nothing to show for it. Williams missing many a opportunity in the final third. Then in the 32nd minute Ade Akinbiyi latched on to Tolley's 50 yard pass to round the keeper and slot home. Colwyn Bay had something to show for. The whistle went for half time at 1-0. Barrow would surely come out better in the second half so 1 goal might not be enough. I was proved right, Barrow attacked quicker but still didn't look a threat. Bay soon killed the game off when Lea popped home from a corner in the 63rd minute. After the goal, Barrow looked deflated and Bay kicked on but couldn't pop it in the back of the net. The final whistle couldn't come quick enough for Barrow as Colwyn Bay attacked and attacked. The whistle went, Tomkinson had his first win and Colwyn Bay were closer too the first round of the FA Cup.
Breaking News: Ed Moss refuses to play for Colwyn Bay after a training ground bust up with Marc Williams. Moss was angry after Williams put in a rash challenge that saw Moss treated for 10 minutes. Tomkinson spoke to Williams about his tackle and he apologised Immediately. Moss however, did not keep his cool, and went straight for Williams. Moss packed a punch leaving Williams flat on the ground. Tomkinson kept Moss behind after training and said that he needs to buck up his act if he has a chance of playing for the club again. Moss replied that he would be glad to leave the club. Moss then said that he was treated badly not only by the players but by the staff as well and he would report the club to the FA. Moss was placed on the transfer list and the loan list. Unfortunately, only Nantwich came in for Moss on a year long loan.
After reporting the club to the FA, the FA responded, and found that there was no sufficient evidence to punish Colwyn Bay but they would remain on the case. Moss then came out and said that he was disappointed with the results but would not give up on his attempt.
The League:
It isn't looking too pretty for Colwyn Bay as they sit bottom of the Skrill North. Only one victory in the league and that was at home to Gloucester on the 3rd game of the season.
October Review:
Stockport 1-0 Colwyn Bay
Not the start that Tomkinson wanted. There were many positives to take, the back 5 are looking solid, the attack looks dangerous but goals are short to come. Bay dominated the first half but only had 1 shot on target which was recorded from Ade Akinbiyi who shot straight at the keeper. Stockport's only real chance came in the 11th minute when a mistake from Michael Lea allowed the Stockport attacker through on goal but he blazed a wonderful chance over the bar. The second half was very even with only 3 chances created in the half, one of which, went in. Stockport's John Lamb scored from close range in the 83rd minute to send Colwyn Bay home empty handed.
Colwyn Bay 1-0 Chester
Chester, top of e league, visited Colwyn Bay after recording 4 wins on the bounce. This proved to be a stern test for Colwyn Bay but in one that they delivered. A fourth minute goal from Marc Williams was the difference as his shot from 9 yards flew into the top corner leaving the keeper no chance. A great victory for Colwyn Bay but with a tricky cup tie against Gateshead on the way, they would have to sharpen up in front of goal.
Colwyn Bay 0-0 Gateshead
Colwyn Bay looked confident after beating Chester in the league and they were spraying the ball around with a quick flow about them. Only one chance in the game stood out and that was for Colwyn Bay. Jamie Tolley was sent through from a lively Cameron Darkwah, however Tolley hit the bar from 12 yards out. That could have seen Bay through if he'd have scored but now going to Gateshead might just prove their FA Cup journey over.
Gateshead 0-4 Colwyn Bay
WOW!!! That was the only way to describe this victory. Darkwah put Bay infront after 14 minutes from the penalty spot. The lead was then doubled early in the second half when Chris Noone scored a bullet of a header from 8 yards. Gateshead then had a penalty saved in the 63rd minute, a poor penalty that was hit straight at the keeper. Darkwah then scored again in the 81st minute from 23 yards, a quality strike in to the top left hand corner. Gateshead had thrown everything at Colwyn Bay but that 3rd goal had killed them. The last thing they expected was a fourth from Ade Akinbiyi. A tap in from 3 yards after Simon Richman sent in an inviting cross from the edge of the area. This victory saw Colwyn Bay make a dream trip to MK Dons, a game set for TV. This is a massive milestone in the history of Colwyn Bay.
The FA Cup First Round:
MK Dons vs Colwyn Bay
This was it, Colwyn Bay, what they have been waiting for in a long time, a good FA Cup run.
Commentary:
8: The first chance of the game comes to MK Dons and Wolves loanee Zeli Ismail blazes the ball over the bar from 9 yards. Should be 1-0 to the Dons.
13: Colwyn Bay are playing an attractive style of play, and they soon find a gap in the MK Dons back four. Josh McKenna found a lively Marc Willaims for him to shoot wide from a one on one position. That was the chance.
26: GOAL - MK Dons take a deserved lead through new signing Cody McDonald. A quality strike from the edge of the area saw Ollerenshaw stand and watch as it flew into the top corner. MK Dons have the wind in their sails now.
38: It should be two. McDonald again found space and spread it out wide to Ismail for him to cross in for Grigg who scooped his shot over the bar from 5 yards. What a miss.
44: Suddenly, Colwyn Bay look like they have belief after that miss and Ade Akinbiyi maybe should have put them on level terms. He latched on to a 40 yard pass from Simon Richman to send his weak header in to the great-full hands of David Martin.
53: GOAL - MK Dons 1-1 Colwyn Bay. MK Dons look shell-shocked. They have dominated the second half. Ismail whipped in an MK Dons corner for it to be headed out. It fell to the feet of Marc Williams who lost his man and was in on goal. He looked cool and rounded the helpless keeper to slot home into an empty net. Game On.
74: The game has gone tense, neither team attacking in numbers. A chance comes for MK Dons after Bay give the ball away at the back but Will Grigg squandered his chance in some fashion by blazing it a good 15 yards over the bar.
81: GOAL - MK Dons 1-2 Colwyn Bay. Unbelievable stuff here as Michael Lea heads home from. A Jamie Tolley free kick. 9 minutes to hang on to a magical trip into the 2nd round of the FA Cup for Colwyn Bay.
94: MK are throwing everything forward but nothing is coming from it. Danny Green gives the ball away and Ollerenshaw grabs the ball gleefully. He boots the ball up field and THERE WE HAVE IT, THE FULL TIME WHISTLE.
FT: MK DONS 1-2 COLWYN BAY
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