AFC Telford United - Road to Glory

Hi everyone, i'm new to FM Scout and this is my new save into managing the team i support AFC Telford United. We will start off by giving you a brief history of the club and i will be aiming to achieve glory by getting to the premier league and eventually european football if we get that far
Association Football Club Telford United is a football club based in Telford, Shropshire, England. The club was formed in 2004 after the original Telford United, founded in 1872, folded due to financial problems. Currently members of the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, they play home matches at the New Bucks Head in Wellington, part of the new town of Telford. Their colours are white with navy blue and red trim.

Updates to follow regarding staff, signings and a look at my current squad and objectives for my first season in charge!

So pre season is complete!

This will be the squad which we go into the new season with. I've only made 2 signings as the squad is already quite versatile and i have cover in a lot of areas already.

This is the tactic i will be using to start the season at least and it could change throughout. I want us to be a hard working side who press teams we come up against. It suits the main players we have in the squad also.

Louie Swain is our first signing on a free transfer who has experience at this level, he will be my backup left back as i want rotation in every position this season. Not the greatest but will do for now.

James Wesolowski is our second signing and he is again, for rotation but in the midfield. Experienced midfielder who has played in levels much higher than ours in his career and i look forward to see how he gets on.

I brought in a few new staff members but i want to see how we get on with the current batch, especially as some of our players are coaches also.

And finally, this is how we got on in our pre season friendlies, some decent results in there but we rotated between 2 squads for fitness.

Hi mate, it appears you've made a few errors with the coding. Please use this link to help: https://www.fmscout.com/a-bbcode-tags-and-reusable-icons.html - any queries let myself or another admin know.

As Scott said, if you need some help with the coding feel free to ask. Best of luck with the save and story. Some good results in pre-season especially the draw against big spending Salford.

So, i am 3 months in with my beloved Telford! We have been going pretty well seeming as we were expected to finish mid table. There hasn't really been any stand out performers so far but we seem to be scraping through. Following is our August results in which we surprisingly went unbeaten. Forward Marcus Dinanga was in fine form scoring 7 goals throughout.





The players seem to be getting used to how i want the team to play and are gelling well. The next month brought along the FA Cup qualifying rounds where we comfortably beat Bishop's Cleeve away to advance. The next team we play before the proper rounds are Barrow away who are doing ok in the league above.



We have had the most inconsistent month so far this month but the main highlight of the month is advancing through to the FA Cup First round proper after drawing away to Barrow in which we went 1-0 up in. We're doing ok in the league and unfortunately suffered a close away loss to Hereford. The finances are looking up though advancing but unfortunately draw League 1 Wimbledon away in the first round.



This is how we are doing in the league so far and all in all i am happy with our progress. The team seem to be understanding each other and are still getting to grips on how i want them to play, rotation has been key so far as there has been no standout performers. Worries me a little bit of our lack of clean sheets but hopefully we can tweak something to sort this out.



See you soon folks!

So a decent month in the league as we go unbeaten and avoid defeat against title contenders in Chester and York. This month saw us go up against Wimbledon in the FA Cup who are 3 leagues above us. We went 1-0 up at their place but they scored a late equaliser to force a replay. Heartbreak for the travelling Telford fans in the away end. The replay was a tight affair also but it was all one way traffic after i had made all 3 subs and Daniels goes and gets himself injured leaving us with 10 men. Unlucky but the boys gave it everything and this was good for the finances. We advanced in the next round of the FA Trophy with a scrappy 1-0 away win over Alfreton though so all in all i'm happy.





Another solid month for December as we go unbeaten in the league again. The FA Trophy saw us up against National League side Chesterfield away and even though we gave a good account of ourselves slipped to a 1-0 loss. It shows we can compete if we're to go up in the future.

2 New signings joined us to help the cause this season as Jonathon Royle left the club on a free to Connah's Quay as he really wasn't good enough and hardly played. Welcome Sam Walker and Kwasikosi Mpolu. Sam is an experienced midfielder at this level and above and although he is 32 i think he could bring us the right experience to finish off the season well. Mpolu is a young left back who is only on a pay when he plays contract. He is a product of Everton's academy so hopefully he can become good.







Another amazing month in January as we're on fire at the moment and just can't lose. It's close at the top of the table so we need to carry it on as much as we can. The tactic is still working fine and we seem to be scoring a fair few. Just need to tighten up at the back at times.



An inconsistent month in February. We're very good at home but our away form is letting us down. We smashed teams like Kings Lynn and Kettering but just couldn't find that winning goal either time. With 2 months to go the title race is hotting up and any of us 4 could win it. I play Chester away and York at home in the run in so fingers crossed we can push on and find some consistent form.



One more signing has been made also, i didn't really need to bring anyone else in but i couldn't help myself when Florent Cuvelier popped up available on a free transfer, tons of experience in league one and was bought for £250k by Sheffield United a few seasons ago. Solid midfielder for this level and very excited to see how he gets on.



That's it for now folks, wish me luck in the final run in and hopefully i come back with a promotion!

You're going well and I think with the recent addition of Cuvelier you will be a tough side to beat moving forward. He has that bit of quality that will really unlock defences at this level.

So it's the final run in for us at the end of the league, hopefully we can be consistent and pick up some big points against the title contenders!



So a decent month really but i am disappointed to lose at home to Hereford to make it tight at the top, a big month to come! We're sitting in 2nd but still have York to play at home and a tough away game at Chester!





After 2 unbelievable results against York and Chester we let ourselves down to draw against both Gateshead and Blyth. We was in winning positions in both games as well but unfortunately we finish the season in 2nd as York punished us. Luckily we will play our play off games at home, even if we manage to get to the final!





We draw against Darlington at home and i feel confident against anyone at home as we haven't lost at the Buck's Head this season. Hopefully we can get it packed out for the finances and to get behind the lads!



What a performance, Dinanga has been ever present for us this season and showed up when it counts. No wonder he is the league's top scorer! Kidderminster smashed Chester 4-0 so we will play against them in the final which will again be at our place. Let's get it!



AND WE'VE DONE IT!



It was a cagey game but like i said earlier i always back us to win at home and whenever Marcus Dinanga is playing i always believe that he will score. What a great first season, it is a shame we couldn't go up as champions but i would have bit your hand off at the start of the season if you said we'd even make the playoffs.



I also won manager of the season which i am very proud of and the board have rewarded me with a new contract! I can't wait for next season now. James McQuilkin, our CAM has unfortunately agreed to join Northern Irish side Crusaders at the end of the season after a great term with us. Luyumbula, our goalkeeper and Matt Stenson were also only loanees so they will be returning to their respective clubs. Join me next time as we prepare for the step up in leagues. Transfers and pre season friendlies to follow!

COME ON YOU BUCKS

So the players have been on their holidays while i have been busy preparing for the new season. There have been a lot of ins and outs as i know the difference is massive as we're still a part time team and most of the clubs in the National League are professional these days. I called the following players and told them that unfortunately I will not be renewing their contracts:

Sheridan Martinez (GK), Zak Lilly (CB), Theo Streete (CB), Louie Swain (LB), Riccardo Calder (LB), Adam Walker (CM), Darryl Knights (CAM), James Wesolowski (CM), Andre Brown (ST) and Matthew Barnes-Homer (ST).

They all played their part in a great season but we need to try and improve on the areas i thought were weak. So see the screenshots below of the players I've brought in. I think i've added a bit more experience for this level and a good couple of youth players who can progress and stay with us for a while.



Matt Urwin will be our first choice goalkeeper this summer after Luyumbula went back to Birmingham. He's a solid keeper who played at this level last year. It's hard to find a good keeper with the poor scouting system we've got!



Ted Cann will be our backup keeper, he will only get better and he's still young.



Rene Steer will be our first choice left back this season. He also has experience at this level and looks very solid.



Joe West will be his backup and could potentially battle Steer for a starting spot as he has solid stats and is only 20 years old.



Oliver Denham joins on a free from Manchester United. He will probably be battling for a starting spot straight away, he's also only 18 so has plenty of time to improve and hopefully be with us up the leagues.



Alan Massey also has decent stats for the level and experience in this league. Denham and Massey are looking like my preferable back 2.



Olagunju is a backup who will be 4th choice after captain Shane Sutton. Decent youngster who could improve in the future, is only 18 and on a pay per play contract so it was a no brainer.



Josh Austerfield will be our backup attacking midfielder, signing on a free from Huddersfield. Good player who could improve.



Very excited about this one! Shashoua joins from Spurs on a free transfer, looks like a promising young player who will start straight away, rotating with Austerfield. Hope he can deliver as much as i expect him to.



Stenson joins on a free from Solihull after a successful loan spell with us last season. He will compete with Daniels on that left wing and can also play as a striker.



Stanley is a good young right winger from Manchester United who will be starting most games. I want to invest in a few young players and have a good core to the squad, excited to see him grow.



And finally, Lionel Ainsworth joins to compete with Stanley. Can play both sides and has experience, playing football league for most of his career.

I am very happy with the transfer business we've made this summer. We spent no money but i feel like we have a good squad with competition for places in every position. The board want me to just stay up this season but mid table would be what I'm personally aiming for.



I am happy with pre season with some decent results in there. Hopefully we can kick on and start the season positively. I'll update you again once i've completed the first 3 months.

COME ON YOU BUCKS!