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The Unemployment Challenge

Follow me, playing as me, as I take an adventure through world football...
Started on 20 April 2015 by InvertedWingbacks
Latest Reply on 15 May 2015 by Laurens
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February 2015 Roundup




Although we’ve now got no Cup ties to look forward to, our form in the league hasn’t suffered in the wake of crashing out of both competitions. Our opening game this month was a glorious 6-1 victory over Havant and Waterloovile, in which Shaq opened the scoring after just 7 minutes, which was followed by a Ricky Wellard strike on 18 minutes. After that, it was all Sutton United, with Bedsente Gomis, Jerson dos Santos and a second Wellard goal taking us to 5-0, and Ed Harris did us a favour by scoring an own goal for our 6th, before JJ Hooper scored a 90th minute consolation for the hosts.

We didn’t stop there, embarking on another 3 game unbeaten, in which Shaq scored 4 goals in 3 starts, and Dan Wishart was a beacon of consistency, before Staines put an end to our party, by putting 3 past what was looking like a tired, shaky defence at the end of the month. However, with 4 wins in 5 matches, i’m encouraged by our form this month, as we keep creeping towards the top of the table.


Next Month



Player Of The Month: Dan Wishart

I have yet to find things sexier than a girl managing on fm, when I do I shall inform you though.




Jokes aside, you've been doing great as always - and with such poor team too, may I add lol, cmon for back to back promotion!
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awww, you QT ;D means a lot to have your feeedbaaaack :)
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March 2015 Roundup




As we approach the end of the season, our fate is almost entirely in our own hands. This month, we opened with a disappointing draw against Hayes and Yeading, where Shaq’s late equaliser spared our blushes after Luke Williams’ early opener, and a thoroughly average display. I can only hope that we don’t regret those dropped points, as Basingstoke are the only team above us that we are still to play; a win there, and any error from Ebbsfleet, and we’ll look very good indeed for top spot.

Our other 3 games this month were straightforward affairs, with Shaq firing on all cylinders to really show why we’ve put so much faith in him, racking up 1 goal against Bishops Strotford (Dan Wishart scoring the other), 2 goals against Gosport (Wishart and Shaun Cooper providing the others in a 4-0 win) and a hat-trick against Eastbourne Boro to quite rightly take home the match ball, and secure the league’s Player of the Month award! The youngster has been in impeccable form since he approached me asking for game-time, and i’m kicking myself for not starting him sooner.

Also this month, we brought in our newest intake of youth recruits, and one player really caught my eye: young midfielder George Bailey. Although not the most assured of players, his technical ability is absolutely astounding; though he often chooses the wrong moment to show off, with the physicality of professional football often overwhelming for him at just 15. However, with dedication and the right training, he could become a really solid player for us in the future

Next Month



Player Of The Month: Shaqulle Hippolyte-Patrick (Shaq)

Great month, and Shaq-Fu is performing well for you ;)
2015-04-27 10:33#212098 Icarus : Shaq-Fu

YES. This is his new name. <3
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Goals aplenty and an unbeaten month nice work bud
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Transfer Roundup: March 2015


As we continue to push towards promotion, It came to my attention that to be turning in good performances each and every week, we needed to bring in some new faces to give us some depth. With very little budget, it was key to look to the free transfer market, and see what that had to offer. I convinced to board to let us hold an open trial day, and from there, we picked up some great talents.

Nigel Seidu, and Lloyd Anderson, were both brought in before the start of the season, and have done a great job so far this season; and long may it continue. Added to that list, are Portugese Centerback Ricardo Viana, Italian Left Back Andrea Zola (son of Gianfranco!) who started his career at West Ham, Slovakian goalie Jakub Spiriak, previously of Derby County, and Tai Wai Chun of Hong Kong (who still awaits a work permit), who hails from Reading originally.

Between them, these guys have some good footballing pedigree, and i’m hoping they can help us to reach our goals - I have especially big hopes for Andrea Zola, who looks like he could go far in the game, if we can facilitate his development properly.

Player Profiles

Ricardo Viana looks like a decent player, I find that when doing back to back promotions in the early years I end up rebuilding the entire squad every promotion :/ theres a really big difference going from league to league (maybe the least different ones are league one to championship...)

Good signings all together tho, gl!
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April 2015 Roundup




As we continued our push for promotion, it started to turn into a push for top spot! A tough 4-4 draw with Chelmsford was our first fixture, with youth player George Bailey really turning on the style with 4 incredible goals! Our defence let us down though, with Lewis Gill netting a hattrick and Leon Redwood drawing our opponents level with a last gasp header. Our form continued against Boreham Wood, despite Junior Morias’ early goal, strikes from Callum Hart, Shaun Cooper and Jamie White. Basingstoke were next, and as our nearest competitors, this was to be our hardest task - Manny Williams and Shaun McAuley put them 2-0 up within 20 minutes, and we dug in, but even George Bailey’s wonder strike after 70 minutes couldn’t inspire a last-ditch attempt to salvage the point. It left me wondering...would we regret dropping those points come the end of the season?

Against Bath, we had the chance to go 2 points clear, although Basingstoke had a game in hand over us. And boy, did we take that chance. Jamie White opened the scoring after just 10 minutes with an inch-perfect volley, before Shaq (Or Shaq-Fu as some fans call him) opened that gap even further on the hour, and our lead at the top was extended. As Full time approached, Frankie Artus struck for the home team to make it 2-1

Next up, final day jitters - we play Maidenhead at Home, and Basingstoke travelled to Weston-Super-Mare. Even if we win, we need Basingstoke to slip up, or the best we can hope for is 2nd place, and the long haul through the play-offs!




The Final Day: Sutton United v Maidenhead


As the watery sun beat down on the pitch, the players emerged in front of our biggest crowd to date: 1029! The team that I put out on the final day was based entirely on training performances, rather than the way the team have played this season so far.

Starting XI: Jakub Spiriak, Ricardo Viana, Jamie Collins, Nigel Seidu, Shaun Cooper (c), Dan Wishart, Bedsente Gomis, Ricky Wellard, George Bailey, Shaqulle Hippolyte-Patrick, Jerson dos Santos


We had the early kick off, so no matter what was to happen, we wouldn’t know the destination of the league title until much later, with Basingstoke not kicking off until 5pm. The club had arranged for the game’s local radio coverage to be played over the stadium’s tannoy system, and players and fans alike would gather around to listen, to know our fate. But first, we had a match to win. George Bailey kicked off, and the race for the title was on. The pace was frantic, and we were, on the whole, the better side. Ricky Wellard went close after just 4 minutes after a solid volley in the midst of a goalmouth scramble, but it was Mr. Reliable - Shaq - who made the breakthrough; a lofted ball from George Bailey found the youngster in the middle of the box, and Shaq made no mistake - hammering a volley high and hard past the goalkeeper, and the stadium erupted.

From then, it was all one-way traffic, but we couldn’t make it count - chance after chance fizzled out, but our defence, lead by Ricardo Viana, held strong, and we saw our what could still go down as a historic victory. We were top of the league, and unless Basingstoke won, we would stay there!



Gander Green Lane: 9.15pm


15 minutes to go. It was 1-0 to Basingstoke, and right now, the title was theirs. The players were mingling with fans - George Bailey and Shaq were huddled in the centre circle, alongside Dan Wishart, and there was an air of expectation around the stadium. Just then, there was a burst of sound from the speaker, and the 978 fans still in the stadium (some of the older fans had headed home to listen in the comfort of their own home) erupted - Lari Yoa had scored for Weston-Super-Mare! 1-1! The part was just cranking up, when all hell broke loose - Bradley Ash had scored in the 89th minute! 2-1 to Weston-Super-Mare! WE ARE CHAMPIONS!

Sutton United: Vanarama Conference South Champions 2014/15!


Congratulations on finishing top of the table! Good luck on your next season :D Great story so far :)
Great to see someone do a story on one of my local clubs, Sutton United! Well done finishing top, I'm enjoying it!
2015-04-27 18:53#212125 Icarus : Congratulations on finishing top of the table! Good luck on your next season :D Great story so far :)

thanks man! glad you're enjoying and continuing to read my story! means a lot!

2015-04-27 20:08#212126 Glory : Great to see someone do a story on one of my local clubs, Sutton United! Well done finishing top, I'm enjoying it!

Cheers man! hopefully we can go on to even higher heights! Welcome to the site!
CHAMPIONS!
Pre-Season 2015
As we prepare for life in the Vanarama Conference, pre-season was important for us. While our first 3 opponents were teams who were below us in the league system, the closing match against affiliate club Notts County, which drew almost 600 fans, saw us take on a team 2 leagues above us, in League 1, and come out victorious!

Match One: Weston-Super-Mare 1-3 Sutton United (Friendly)
Attendance: 79
Darragh Lenihan, Alex Osborn, Jerson dos Santos
George Bailey

Match Two: St. Albans 1-4 Sutton United (Friendly)
Attendance: 204
Shaqulle Hippolyte-Patrick, Danny Ramasut,George Bailey (x2)
George Bailey

Match Three: Gloucester 1-1 Sutton United (Friendly)
Attendance: 81
George Bailey
Ricardo Viana

Match Four: Sutton Utd 4-3 Notts County (Friendly)
Attendance: 563
Louis John, Danny Ramasut, Bedsente Gomis, Shaqulle Hippolyte-Patrick
Louis John

Player Of The Month: George Bailey
George has been incredible this month, playing behind our strikers to devastating effect. Still only 16, this kid really does look to have a huge future in this game, and I can only hope to hold onto him for as long as possible.

Injury List
Tai Wai Chun - Pulled Hamstring, 8 Days - 2 Weeks
Danny Ramasut - Fractured Arm - 4-5 Weeks

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