The Royal Redemption

Neal, hopefully!
pompeyblue, oops I forgot to post them I'll post them for the end of the season, I promise!

I know i shouldn't but ever since the chairman game i've had a soft spot for Cheltenham... Up the Robins!

Transfers

As I did forget to include my transfers in the previous update, here is who I signed this season. We did spend a bit of money but it was needed in order to strengthen my squad in order to push for promotion.

Vanarama Conference Premier

We played nineteen league games since the turn of the year and boasted a record of 10-5-4 from these fixtures. This is a better record than what we had posted earlier on in the season and in this time, we scored 35, conceding 27. I'm happy with how we performed, considering we were only just promoted. As you can see from our results, we did make the play-offs and won, which means we get promoted for a second year running!

We finished the league season in a very respectable fourth position, meaning we would play Kidderminster in the play-off semi-finals. We outscored them in both games to progress to the final, where Gateshead were favourites. However, a late winner from left winger David Martin at Wembley saw us win and earn promotion!

FA Cup

As you already know, Cheltenham knocked us out.

FA Trophy

Damn you, Cheltenham!

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So there you have it. Another season, another promotion! What's next for Prince William's army?

Previous Update: Season Two: August - December
Next Update: Season Three: Entire Season

Excellent results Justice, and another promotion to cap off a brilliant season!
Should be interesting to see how you make the step up to professional football, hopefully yet another promotion is on the way.

Promotion is a fantastic result, next step conquer the football league

pompeyblue, thanks!
Walter, I'll try to!

David Martin the hero of the season with an 85th minute winner in the playoff final! Brilliant work Steve

2014-12-03 22:06#202465 Neal : David Martin the hero of the season with an 85th minute winner in the playoff final! Brilliant work Steve

Yes, the former Luton star is the hero! Thank you Emma

Transfers

A large overhaul was required with the promotion and a handful of new players arrived at the club. There will be many summers of mass changes approaching and this is no different. The best performer out of these new signings would probably have been, in my opinion, Craig Clay.

Sky Bet League 2

Well, as you can see, we were far from consistent over the course of the season. We were overwhelmed by the step up in to the Football League and as a result, we struggled for large spells of the season. Our lowest point of the season came on the final day when we were humiliated by Crewe in front of our own fans, where we lost 0-4. Our brightest moment of the season, however, came rather unexpectedly at home to Stevenage, where we won 7-2 in a thrilling encounter. Overall, I cannot be disappointed with a record of 13-11-22 straight after promotion in what will prove to be our most difficult season ever. The difference between a Conference team and a Football League team tells, as in one season our income rose by over 600%, and this was our debut season in the Football League, with our reputation and regular income still on the rise. We will improve for next season, without a shadow of a doubt.

FA Cup

We were drawn against a Preston side who were considerable favourites against us. While we did post a spirited comeback in the second half by scoring three times, although we did lose 3-5. This was an expected defeat and we were unlucky to have been put against such a formidable side.

Capital One Cup

A last minute winner from captain and hero Danny Mills secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Cheltenham in the Preliminary Round, before we were placed against the much favoured Walsall. Needless to say, we suffered a defeat but we kept the game tight and were perhaps unlucky to not bring the fixture to extra time.

Johnstone's Paint Trophy

Not in one FM save have I ever cared enough about this competition, nor will I begin to. It's only purpose, in my opinion, is to make your players more fatigued and increase the rate of injuries.

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Another season down, let's hope for better things next season!

Previous Update: Season Two: January - May
Next Update: Season Four: Pre-Season

Well done to survive, gotta build on that for next year!

Good start in The Football League.. Premier League soon??

Neal, yeah I'm just focusing on improving every single season. If promotion comes, I'm more than delighted but I won't be too disappointed if I don't get it
wellsy1498, hopefully!

Survival in your first season in the Football League is a great achievement, and certainly gives you plenty to build on, so well done.
Let's hope your summer signings for the next season really will improve your squad, and help propel you to an even more successful season - perhaps play-offs?

2014-12-13 19:16#203609 pompeyblue : Survival in your first season in the Football League is a great achievement, and certainly gives you plenty to build on, so well done.
Let's hope your summer signings for the next season really will improve your squad, and help propel you to an even more successful season - perhaps play-offs?

Thanks, hopefully we can make it to the play-offs next season!


I am back to updating each season a lot more thoroughly and this is due to the dramatic seasons which you are about to witness. I won't reveal anything, but it will be special!

Friendlies

I had organised friendlies against quite a few high-profile teams, most notably Newcastle and Celtic. It is no surprise that we struggled against these teams but the experience and the money earned from these matches is invaluable. Our best result came against Reading, where we grinded out a 1-1 draw! I can't complain with our pre-season, in all honesty. Our players earned match fitness and we got some money in from high-profile fixtures.

Transfers

We released a huge amount of players, mostly youth, and brought in eight permanent signings and one loan signing from our parent club Brighton. I'm pleased with the signings we brought in and you can expect a number of them to fit in to the starting eleven, are be rotated in and out of the squad. Hopefully these new players can fire us to glory this season.

William Humphries was my first signing of the window, and my first regen signing of the save! The nineteen year old central midfielder was signed from Stoke City on a pre-contract arrangement dating back to January. In all honesty, I am absolutely clueless as to why Stoke let such a talented youngster go! He played 11 Championship games for them last season, which is outstanding for a young footballer. Hopefully he can become a gem for us in the future.
Fee: £0 from Stoke City (ENG)
Value For Money:

Billy Roast was our second signing of the summer. The young central defender plied his trade at Colchester previously, although he was on loan at Morecambe in League 2 last season. Standing at 189cm, his aerial ability was the main reason for me signing him. Hopefully he will prove to be a clever signing.
Fee: Free Transfer
Value For Money:

Eddie Oshodi joined us on the same as Billy Roast and has come in to further strengthen our defence. The former Watford and Forest Green man is a left back by trade, but can fill in well in central defence when required. His athletic ability and defensive intelligence will be a huge asset to us this season as we push for promotion.
Fee: Free Transfer
Value For Money:

Alban Bunjaku joins us for free from FC United of Manchester. The Albanian winger might be a very selfish player and lacks true physical ability, but he is a very technically gifted player and I need individual brilliance somewhere in my squad to perform the impossible at times. He may not be a team player, but he can be the difference in tough games for us when all seems lost.
Fee: £0 from FC United (ENG)
Value For Money:

Ryan Brunt became our fifth signing of the window after he signed for us on a free transfer. The former Bristol City and Stoke City player most recently played for Bristol Rovers in League 2 and Vanarama Conference and while he does not have the most impressive scoring record, he is a very hard-working player who will help put opposition under pressure when required. He is very much an opposite to Alban Bunjaku and this variety in our attack may prove to be invaluable.
Fee: Free Transfer
Value For Money:

River Allen is a player who I had chased last season but he chose to move Luton Town over us. Luckily, his contract expired and he chose to leave the club rather than stay with them after their relegation. While he is a little one-dimensional as a midfielder, his defensive qualities might prove to be invaluable as we look to greatly improve our defensive record from last season.
Fee: Free Transfer
Value For Money:

Ben Wilson comes in to play back-up to our current number one Ross Fitzsimons. Wilson played twelve times for Bury in League 2 last season, conceding 22 goals. He might not be the most talented goalkeepers but he is very vocal and can prove to be a great presence in the dressing room, which is why I brought him in. He is a very ambitious player and hopefully he can encourage those around him to improve their game and succeed.
Fee: Free Transfer
Value For Money:

Cameron Lancaster rounds up my permanent signings for this season. The former Tottenham striker played once in the Premier League before being shipped out to Stevenage, where he struggled to find regular game time. Loaned out to Hereford last season, he scored three times in thirteen starts. He comes to Whitehawk with a lot of ambition and he most certainly adds to the mentality of the squad. He will be in and out of the squad and hopefully he can chip in with a few goals here and there.
Fee: Free Transfer
Value For Money:

Kevin Griffiths comes to us on loan from our parent club Brighton. I'm not going to lie, I didn't particularly want to bring this player in to the club but he was offered to us without the cost of wages so I was obliged to take him in. He is not the most technically gifted but he has a lot of pace and can be explosive in attack. Hopefully we can create a threat out of him and utilise him well when he is required.
Loan Fee: £0 from Brighton (0% wages)
Value For Money:

August Fixtures

We start our season in a tough away trip to Port Vale before travelling to Walsall in the Capital One Cup. Our first home game comes against Newport County before daunting encounters with Crewe and Doncaster. We could not have asked for a worse opening month than this and we will be lucky to get many good results. Hopefully we can upset the apple cart and get something out of these games.

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Previous Update: Season Three: Entire Season
Next Update: Season Four: Pre-Season Manager Talk