From the video you made (quality btw) he's incredible with one-on-ones - long live Kabongo!
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Making a Manager - The Story
Ryan Ferguson returns for another English LLM journey
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You have the patience of a saint to put that video together! Incredible! Long live Kabongo!
City To Upgrade Training Facilities
Oxford City Have Made Plans To Upgrade Training Facilities Significantly
18/09/2019
National League South team Oxford City have announced plans to improve the club's training facilities. Initial plans have been made for works to begin at the end of the current football season, in May, and are scheduled to be completed by the end of September of next year.
Oxford City's dramatic rise as a football club has been notable and, with their stadium currently under expansion, the club are targeting continued improvement to the existing infrastructure. The club is expected to announce further infrastructure developments in the future.
The planned training facilities work will include the construction of a new fully-kitted gym for the senior players, a new all-weather training pitch, a new video analysis and meeting room, new changing and washroom facilities, a specialised physio and medical room and a new locker room for the squad.
The total cost of the facilities are expected to amount to £400,000. Oxford City expect this fee will be available from prize money and gate receipts earned from last season's FA Cup and FA Trophy runs, as well as any earned from this season's editions of the cups.
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Oxford City's dramatic rise as a football club has been notable and, with their stadium currently under expansion, the club are targeting continued improvement to the existing infrastructure. The club is expected to announce further infrastructure developments in the future.
The planned training facilities work will include the construction of a new fully-kitted gym for the senior players, a new all-weather training pitch, a new video analysis and meeting room, new changing and washroom facilities, a specialised physio and medical room and a new locker room for the squad.
The total cost of the facilities are expected to amount to £400,000. Oxford City expect this fee will be available from prize money and gate receipts earned from last season's FA Cup and FA Trophy runs, as well as any earned from this season's editions of the cups.
Oxford City Will Spend £400,000 On Improved Training Facilities
Brian Cox (Oxford City Chairman):
"We are very happy that we have plans in place to improve the training facilities we have available for our squad. We see the infrastructure of the football club as an important facet to improve and we are determined to spend the money we have available to improve the football club.
Initial plans are for the works to begin at the end of the season and to finish up by roughly this time next year. This will be of great help to the team and I'm sure they will find the new facilities we have planned very beneficial to their development on a day-to-day basis.
I am fully committed to improving this football club in every way possible and this is a major step in the right direction. This is a repayment for the incredible work done on the pitch by the team, under the guidance of our incredible manager, and to the fans who have supported us throughout the years."
Comment Section
ScottT, nanananananananananana nananananananananananaJack, he misses as many as he gets, in truth, but I won't complain about his conversion rate if he scores this amount of goals
mgriffin2012, took a modest 3-3.5 hrs to complete, all-in-all. Not too long considering there are other updates in this story which take almost as long to type
Previous Update: #46 - Kabongo Hits Half-Century Mark In Style
Next Update: #48 - Season 2019-2020: August - October
Great news about the new facilities, and even better in the knowledge that a loan to fund it will probably not be necessary! I'm sure the physics of the facilities will be perfect with Brian Cox as the chairman 
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Great to see the club repaying their faith in you by upgrading the facilities and trying to take the team to the next level off the pitch like you are doing on it
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Season 2019-2020: August - October
An Overview Of Oxford City In August - October 2019
Ryan Ferguson:
"Pre-season was well and truly behind us. We had recruited well and we were looking forward to playing in the National League. We knew that we couldn't let our foot off the gas and a good start would be important. Time for action."
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Transfers
Transfers
Ben Chapman Joined The Club As Fringe Players Departed
Major Transfers In(No. Name | Age | Position | Fee | Signed From | CA/PA)
15. Ben Chapman | 20 (31/12/1998) | MC | £0 | Free Transfer | 
/ 
Wage: £300 p/w | Expiry Date: 30/06/2023 | Value: £18,250
Discussion
Just one player joined the club in the three opening months of the season. Former Braintree midfielder Ben Chapman joined our ranks to bolster our midfield. We had a number of players leave, including a few released, and I jumped at the opportunity to grab this decent midfield prospect.
Joe Oastler, Craig King and Lee Cox were among those to leave the club. They were unlikely to feature at all this season and were on wages. They had to go.
Joe Oastler, Craig King and Lee Cox were among those to leave the club. They were unlikely to feature at all this season and were on wages. They had to go.
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Results
Results
Oxford City Were Unbeaten In Their Opening Three Months Of The Season
Well.... I think we did quite alright! We were made to work in the opening game, drawing away to Braintree, but the results picked up straight after. Three consecutive victories, including a 6-1 thrashing of Sutton United, set the tone for the season, we recorded some very important victories. Our defensive record probably wasn't the best but it was improving going into October, where conceded three times in six games. Work in progress.
Our FA Cup campaign started brilliantly. We hammered Bognor Regis Town 5-0 to secure progress to the first round of the competition. Not too bad at all. We were hoping to secure a similar run of form to last season.
Our FA Cup campaign started brilliantly. We hammered Bognor Regis Town 5-0 to secure progress to the first round of the competition. Not too bad at all. We were hoping to secure a similar run of form to last season.
Player of the Month
Nathan Ferguson Was Oxford City's Star Player During August - October 2019
Nathan Ferguson was initially signed to be a rotation option for midfield but he has starred in the games he has played. His all-action performances have been credited with 5 goals and 3 assists in just 13 games as a box to box midfielder. Not bad at all.
Disciplinary Record
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National League
National League
Oxford City Are Top Of The Table After 16 Games
Our magnificent early season form put us right into first place. We had a four point lead over second placed Gateshead and third placed AFC Flyde. We were doing well but we knew we couldn't let our foot off the gas.
Finances
Oxford City's Finances Were In Good Condition
We were in a good place financially. We had well over half a million in the bank and with FA Cup matches on the horizon, we knew it would only get better.
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Upcoming Fixtures
Oxford City Will Play Against Wycombe Wanderers In The FA Cup
Wycombe Wanderers awaited us in the FA Cup. This was the big game for us in November. We were very excited about this game and we were confident we could get something out of it, despite being underdogs.
Comment Section
Jack, being able to afford it ourselves is a major privilege for the football club, it'll be a fantastic addition!mgriffin2012, the chairman has been very supportive since the start and I'm quite happy with what he has done
Previous Update: #47 - City To Upgrade Training Facilities
Next Update: #49 - Fergie: Mentality Has Changed
It amazes me how consistent you are in terms of results. I've never seen you struggle in a save and that frustrates me. I just want to see you fail for once, as you make me feel bad about how much I usually struggle!
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Everything seems to be going very sweet from the performances on the pitch all the way to the incoming cash into the club coffers! What a club!
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Finally caught up with this fine work. I admire how you weave in-game events into narrative and frankly, as a dinosaur who doesn't use graphics in posting, I envy how they add to your work.
And as a former Oxford United manager in this series, your success leads me to believe that retirement is my best option.
And as a former Oxford United manager in this series, your success leads me to believe that retirement is my best option.
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Fergie: Mentality Has Changed
Ryan Ferguson Has Praised His Players For Evolving Their Football
01/11/2019
It has been dream start to the season for newly promoted National League side Oxford City. Following their promotion from National League South, Oxford City have taken to life in National League like a duck to water. City top the table after sixteen games and are currently unbeaten in all competitions.
Manager Ryan Ferguson has received a lot of praise for transforming how the team has evolved on the pitch. The wide attackers have developed from traditional wingers into inside forwards, adding more bodies in the box during attacks and using the half-spaces between the opposition defenders, while the defence has become more composed and more focused in their tasks.
Evidence of the defensive evolution can be seen in the most previous month of football. Three clean sheets in six games in October epitomised the work that was done on the training ground by Oxford City. Fifteen goals conceded after sixteen league games for Oxford City makes for much better reading than the twenty conceded at the same stage last season, in a lower division.
Ryan Ferguson has played down the part he played in the defensive improvement, instead pointing to his players for improving their mentality in the past year. The Liverpool-born manager emphasised that there was still plenty of work to do but that he was happy with the progress made to date.
Manager Ryan Ferguson has received a lot of praise for transforming how the team has evolved on the pitch. The wide attackers have developed from traditional wingers into inside forwards, adding more bodies in the box during attacks and using the half-spaces between the opposition defenders, while the defence has become more composed and more focused in their tasks.
Evidence of the defensive evolution can be seen in the most previous month of football. Three clean sheets in six games in October epitomised the work that was done on the training ground by Oxford City. Fifteen goals conceded after sixteen league games for Oxford City makes for much better reading than the twenty conceded at the same stage last season, in a lower division.
Ryan Ferguson has played down the part he played in the defensive improvement, instead pointing to his players for improving their mentality in the past year. The Liverpool-born manager emphasised that there was still plenty of work to do but that he was happy with the progress made to date.
Ryan Ferguson:
"We've done well. I'm obviously delighted that we are top of the league at this stage and we have progressed to the first round of the FA Cup. We should be very proud of what we have achieved this season. I don't think many of those outside the club would have expected us to be in the position we are in now.
We've worked hard on the training ground to improve how we play, both defensively and offensively. Our defensive organisation has been much better, which our record proves. We can still make some improvements in this area and I believe our goals concession record in the league will only improve as the season goes on.
In terms of attacking style, we've altered how we approach things. We're playing a little bit more narrow and using the half-spaces more than we used to. It is taking a bit of time for the players to adjust to the different types of movement required to take full advantage of this new style but we're moving in the right direction. It is a work in progress but we are happy with what we have achieved so far.
The main thing for us has been the change in mentality. I think it is fair to say that our style of play last season brought a lot of chaos for both teams. There were a lot of goals. We've got more control in the games we play now. It is definitely more of a 'controlled chaos' that we set out to achieve now. I think we're improving with how we manage games and that is evident with the recent results we've had.
The most important thing now is that we stay relentless in our performances and results. The results must be a priority for us and we have to take due consideration that we achieve what we want to achieve. After that, we cannot let our performance levels drop. We must play at our best all of the time. That is the only way we will succeed."
Comment Section
ScottT, I think the best way to form consistency is to first find the highest level your players can play at and then ensure that those performance levels don't drop. You have to keep them on their toes, but praise them when they're at their best. That should give them enough encouragement to pursue consistency.Jack, it is all going well so far but it is by no means a time to stop and reflect. We just have to keep marching on and make more positive strides.
tenthreeleader, I am very flattered by the praise! I don't believe graphic-usage is a necessity in story writing but what I always do before I write up a post is I think of how I would like the post to be, as a reader. If I can enjoy reading back on a post, I ca enjoy writing that post because I know I will be happy with the end product. As a person who deals with charts, tables and other graphical usage on a day-to-day basis in the real world, these are the kind of things that appeal to me. As for Oxford City & Oxford United's relationships, I urge you to continue reading on in the story for some very interesting later updates regarding the two clubs
Previous Update: #48 - Season 2019-2020: August - October
Next Update: #50 - Fergie Rejects Multiple Job Offers
It's amazing to see how much Oxford City have evolved under the new regime. A lot of praise has to be given to RF for this, as he's got the best out of players and pushed them beyond. A lot of clubs will be interested in acquiring his services, I'm sure.
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Brilliant work, keep it up
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Happy to read on. My United bought Josh Ashby from City and he was well worth it. Carry on!
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Fergie Rejects Multiple Job Offers
Oxford City Manager Ryan Ferguson Has Been The Subject Of Major Interest
08/11/2019
Oxford City manager Ryan Ferguson has been the subject of significant amounts of interest from clubs based in the English Football League. The Liverpool-born manager, who turns twenty-nine next week, has turned down all offers received, however, and has outlined his intentions to stay committed to Oxford City.
Northampton Town were among the forerunners for Ryan Ferguson's signature. The EFL League Two club have won just four league games this turn, with Kevin Nolan facing the sack for their poor run of form at the back end of last month. Nathan Jones has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role.
Fellow EFL League Two side Swindon Town sacked manager Richard Shaw two weeks ago following a poor run of results. Shaw made his managerial debut for Swindon Town against Oxford City and Ryan Ferguson in the FA Cup last season, guiding Swindon to 19th place last season after a poor start to the season, but has lost his job after just three league victories this campaign.
Tranmere Rovers and Newport County of EFL League Two have also been linked to Oxford City's young manager. Both clubs have endured difficult starts to the campaign and believe Ferguson could revitalise their form.
Despite the interest in his services, Ferguson has refused to diclose details of any offers he may have received. The Liverpool-born manager reannounced his committment to his current club, stating he would not be leaving Oxford City any time soon.
Northampton Town were among the forerunners for Ryan Ferguson's signature. The EFL League Two club have won just four league games this turn, with Kevin Nolan facing the sack for their poor run of form at the back end of last month. Nathan Jones has also been mentioned as a potential candidate for the role.
Fellow EFL League Two side Swindon Town sacked manager Richard Shaw two weeks ago following a poor run of results. Shaw made his managerial debut for Swindon Town against Oxford City and Ryan Ferguson in the FA Cup last season, guiding Swindon to 19th place last season after a poor start to the season, but has lost his job after just three league victories this campaign.
Tranmere Rovers and Newport County of EFL League Two have also been linked to Oxford City's young manager. Both clubs have endured difficult starts to the campaign and believe Ferguson could revitalise their form.
Despite the interest in his services, Ferguson has refused to diclose details of any offers he may have received. The Liverpool-born manager reannounced his committment to his current club, stating he would not be leaving Oxford City any time soon.
Ryan Ferguson:
"I'll take the media focus on me as a compliment. I must be doing something right if I'm being linked with professional jobs! It is always nice to be talked about in a positive light by the press. I think it is a real testament to what this football club has achieved in the last year and a half.
I won't disclose any details of any job offers I may have received. I haven't accepted any offers and I believe it would be thoroughly unprofessional to tell the media who may or may not have approached me. I believe in confidentiality when it comes to these kind of things and I will respect that.
I am fully focused and fully committed to Oxford City Football Club. I have a contract here at this club until 2021 and, more importantly, I have a fantastic personal connection to this club. I have loved my time here and I want to spend the foreseeable future as manager of Oxford City Football Club. It fills be with pride to be in this role and it isn't one I would let go lightly.
Comment Section
ScottT, I've pre-written these updates several weeks ago, yet you've somehow predicted the theme of each of my last two updates?Scousenotscouse, thank you
tenethreeleader, he's a very talented player for this level, I'm hoping he can continue to make a major impact!
Previous Update: #49 - Fergie: Mentality Has Changed
Next Update: #51 - Oxford City Overcome Wycombe In Cup
Great to see Ferguson declaring his commitment to what is an incredibly exciting project and it is great to see the man praising his players for the hard work that is reshaping the clubs future!
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