The Final Fling

FA Trophy Cup Third Qualifying Round Draw

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With our poor turn out in the FA Cup we are determined to put in a good performance in this one. It doesn’t have the monetary benefits of the FA Cup but I feel like I owe both Nigel and the fans something out of this competition. No half strength sides this time.

October In Brief

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Although we managed to get back I the swing of things in the last two games, I felt that October wasn’t great. The Redditch result was a real kick in the nuts and I still can’t believe how we went about that game. The games at Altrincham and the home game against Workington was a hangover from the disappointment. This month is not going to be easy either with 3 away ties including that crucial FA trophy trip (down south for once) to Bromley.

I have, as you may have noticed, not been able to offload any players to ease the wage bill. I discretely enquired around a few clubs to see if they would like to take a few of my fringe players on loan but there were no takers. Nigel hasn’t mentioned anything to me regarding the wage bill this month so I’ll just wait until our meeting at the end of November. In this meeting we will talk about our targets for the season and beyond. It has been four months since I took over at the Tigers and no targets were set to begin with. I honestly think Nigel thought I wouldn’t be here by this time, he’s said nothing to that effect but having been privy to the financial situation at the club I’m beginning to piece it together. I was cheap and willing and he was skint and desperate.

At this meeting next month we will be able to talk about the future of this football club, if there is one.

My player of the month for October is our dead ball specialist Baroan Tagro. In the last 3 games especially he has worked his socks off and been able to supply goals as well as score. At 34 I don’t know if he’ll be here next season but so far he has had a season to remember. If he keeps up this consistency there’s no reason why he can’t be my player of the season.
Baroan has had a modest career starting in the lower leagues and eventually moving to Scotland. East Fife released him last season so he’s been grateful to be palying again. His fitness is starting to wain a bit due to his age but hopefully he’ll hold out and keep us in the higher echelons of the table. Well done Baroan

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NOVEMBER

Blue Square North
Wed 02.11.11 19.45
V Corby A
0 – 1 W
Lewis Whiteley 87

MoM Lewis Thomas

A dark November Wednesday night took us to Corby. I Love the North League it takes us to wonderful and exotic places I would never be lucky enough to go to… like Corby. 160 Corby fans made it out to see the game and I counted about 8 black and gold tiger shirts. The fans, I think, are really starting to get on board our campaign at the moment. I know 8 doesn’t sound a lot, but at our first away games we didn’t see any. It’s a long way to travel for them so it’s not fair that they plonked us in this league.

The 8 travelling fans though, saw a solid display from us for once. Now Camano is back I’m determined to stop leaking goals. For our position in the league we’ve leaked a lot. Both Bouadji and Camano on a few occasions made crucial tackles and interceptions.

There were few chances to speak of and I was keeping it tight and hoping that the speed of our attack might yield a countered goal late on… I was right. In the 87th minute a feeble attack from Corby was broken down and spread to Lewis Thomas on the left wing. He quickly advanced and hung a beautifully weighted ball high in the area. Lewis Whiteley, (a late Sub) who had hardly touched the ball, sprinted in from the right wing to meet it and headed a bullet past the flailing keeper.
The bench and the 8 travelling fans went crazy. Moments like this will really define our season. The grit and tenacity that the guys are displaying is so good to see. I patted each of the boys as they cam off the field. Well done fellas


Now, as our next away game was 3 days later against Blyth in the North East we thought we’d cut down on the travelling and give the boys a treat. After the squad had showered we got back on the bus and shot up to Durham. We had booked a hotel for the boys and had rented the use of the county cricket club’s training pitch for a couple of days befor the game at Blyth.
This will be a great opportunity for the guys to bond over training enjoy some good food and get ready for our second away game in 3 days.

After the Blyth game I have also got another treat for them.

I had earmarked these two fixtures for just such an excursion. During our melancholic discussions about the club’s finances I had managed to persuade Nigel to put aside a few grand for us to do this. He did state that this is the only expense of that kind we would be able to do this season which is a shame but I know the guys will enjoy it.



Blue Square North
Wed 02.11.11 19.45

It was a great couple of days training for the lads. I think the win at Corby had a lot to do with how much they were looking forward to the break away. The training on Friday was fairly intense and on Thursday night we took the guys out for a great meal and a couple of drinks. Including the backroom staff, about 30 guys were on the trip and we all sat round a long restaurant table.

Its really funny to see the little friendship pockets that are forming in the squad. The younger guys like Lloyd, Thomas and Comley all sit together and seem to get on really well.

I like to socialise with Nigel, obviously, Neil Mustoe, Martin Camano (my vice captian) and new signing Gary Wales is such a good guy to be around, a real asset to the dressing room. I’m even starting to get on a lot better with Adie (my assistant).
I think he was a bit angry when Mehew was ousted, there was still a lot of loyalty there. I’m always fair and respectful to all the lads so I think he’s beginning to warm to me. I’ve let him really take the lead in training and have learnt a lot from him so the free reign he has, has pleased him.

V Corby A
0 – 0 D

MoM Wayne Buchanan

Apart from the impotency up front (Adam was anonymous today) the game was another successful fixture. Although no goals were scored we kept it really tight at the back. Our possession wasn’t great but we limited them to a handful of chances and did really well to pick up 4 points on our travels this week. We’ve dropped to 2nd but we’re really starting to pull away from the pack chasing the play off’s.

The boys slept the night in the hotel again and awoke to find out what I had in store for them.
Nigel had been busy the last couple of weeks, at my request, trying to organise a tour at the Newcastle United stadium and to take in there fixture against Wigan at 4pm.

We arrived by coach and were taken by the officials to see the pitch and dressing rooms, we were even received by Alan Pardew in the directors box. He’s such a great bloke. He’s obviously never heard of me, but he was polite enough to ask how the season was going and how last nights game went. He’d even asked about Nikki Ahmed (our reserve full back) who he’d tried to sign on loan for Southampton a few years back. I was cheeky enough to try enquiring about a few loan deals for the Tigers. He smiled and humoured me…. I’ll keep trying.

The toon lost 1.0 but the atmosphere was incredible. Being a Toon fan myself it was sad to see but I know the lads will have enjoyed this. Some of the younger players would be hoping to play on a stage like this one-day. I hope it’s with the Tigers.

Blue Square North
Sun 20.11.11 15.00
V Colwyn Bay H

After our foolish exit from the FA Cup we had a whopping 15 days to recover before our all-important top of the table clash against the inform Colwyn Bay. Our team sheet this week will be:

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Yvan Tomatula

Our team selection features a surprising choice.

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AMC/ST Yvan Tomatula has put in some good performances for us over the season. He gets himself into some good positions but his final ball seems to let him down.
I have been discussing with Neil and Adie in recent weeks about pushing him out to the left wing. He’s been working on it in training. Lets see how he does today.

15 days out left us cold, and a few minutes into the first half a corner from Colwyn bay was poorly cleared. It fell to Jon Newbie who fired it straight through the crowd and past the unsighted Gilpin.

1 nil down inside 4 minutes, not a good start.

We then started to put our passes together and had 6 good chances that all failed to result in a goal. When half time came I realised that Tomatula’s debut at left wing wasn’t going to well. We lacked width and Wales up front looked sluggish.

When Newbie was brought down by the struggling Ray Kenny on 58 minutes, I knew it was time for a change. A triple substituition saw Kenny, Tomatula and Wales replaced by Lock, Tagro and the recovering Reilly.

Newbie lined up to take the penalty… and missed! Game on!

Immediately it started to happen for us down the left wing. Tagro was causing havoc, and on 86 minutes he fires an early cross toward the danger zone. Reilly timed his run perfectly and bundled the ball across the goal line. Shades of offside, but I’m not complaining. The 350 paying customers roar.

Should I go for the 3 point? Or should I be happy with the bird in hand? With much of the season left to go I went for the latter.

1 – 1 D
Jon Newbie 4
Martin Reilly 87

MoM Brian Moogan


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A pleasing result that see’s us drop to 3rd having been leap frogged by Stalybridge. 1 point in it and 2 weeks until our next league game… home to Boston United. Next Saturday sees my first taste of the FA Trophy.

FA Trophy 3rd Qual. Rnd
Sat 26.11.11 15.00
V Bromley

Although he had a bit of an indifferent time out on the left against Colwyn Bay, I saw enough about the player to warrant giving him another go today. I believe that Yvan Tomatula has all the hallmarks of a great left wing. He just needs time.

I was determined to win this cup game so a full strength side was called for. With Reilly still unfit Adam came in the front line again. He needs to show me something today, he’s been off the boil of late. The line up…

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We arrived in the south-east of London knowing that we were facing a team struggling our sister league. But as we all know, form doesn’t mean anything in a cup game.

I told the boys to go out and hit them early on. That they did. After 8 minutes we were a goal up. A long range effort from Wales was palmed away by the Bromley Keeper but only as far as Lloyd. Lloyd seized the opportunity and sent the ball crashing back inside the far post.

Tomatula was looking bright and when the ball came to him on 23 minutes on the left wing, he chose to drift inside and meet the equisite run of Lloyd who buried the ball into a seemingly empty net. The quick thinking and ingenouity of Yvan’s ball comletly flummoxed the keeper.

Bromley got one back on 30 minutes against the run of play. A well delivered corner was met by Joseph Dubois.

5 minutes later the win was sealed. A corner of our own, delivered by Tomatula, was smashed in by Wales at the second time of asking.

We saw out the rest of the game with out incident…. Almost… on the 89th minute Camano was stretchered off with an injury. I hope its not serious.

A good solid performance. Boston united at home next.

1 – 3 W
George Lloyd 9, 24
Pierre Joseph-Dubois
Gary Wales 36

MoM George Lloyd

Alan Pardew Sacked

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Having only spoke to him a couple of weeks back, the Toon Alan Pardew has been given the boot. As a Geordie fan I’m quite miffed about this. Although not flying high in the Prem, Alan was steering Newcastle in the right direction. The press had been touting the idea that a falling out with Ben Arfa and poor league form were the reasons behind the sacking.

I’d love to manage a club like the Magpies. I’m not expecting a phone call anytime soon though. Poor Alan, if I had his number I’d send him a text.


Camano injury turned out not to be serious. He'll be back in contention in a few days.

PLAYER IN?

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I’ve got some explaining to do to Nigel at this months meeting if this deal comes through. I’ve been in negotiations with Sean Fitzharris over a possible move to Black Bridge.

I’ve been very happy with George Lloyd’s performences this season but I feel we need to work at getting more balls to our front guys. Apart from the Bromley game we haven’t been firing up front or getting the chances our play deserves.

Sean was released from Celtic recently and my head Scout Paul Beard alerted me to his availability. Only trouple is East Fyfe are in negotiations too. I’ve managed to get the boy down to £70 per week with a promise of more if promoted. Hopefully that poultry sum won’t upset Nigel too much and he approves it… If Sean can see that Gloucester is the place for him. I hope I did enough to persuade him

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November in Brief

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November was a short month with only three league games to contend with. Our trip away up north brought us back 4 well-earned points. A home game against the league leaders ended evenly and a full strength Tigers side was a force to be reckoned with against League South Bromley

We currently sit a point away from top spot in third

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We’ve played ok this month. The goals dried up for us a little bit this month, but with Reilly back to full fitness hopefully can boost our fire power. I’m happy that we are staying in touch with the big boys and are plugging away quietly under the radar.

My Player of the month would have to be Full back Lewis Thomas. Although not picked against Blyth his defensive contribution has been solid. That’s his second Managers player this season, he’s really starting to make that LB position his own, especially with Stewart Devine waiting in the wings.

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Team Meeting

With another successful month behind us Nigel and I sat down in the bar at Whaddon Road for our Scheduled Manager meeting. Nigel revealed straight away the bad news. We were now £86,000 in debt and losing money at a rate of £15,000 a month. At this rate we would be over £100,000 in debt by the last kick of the season.

He explained that attendences were rising slowly, so that could help the defecit if it continued. If we could mount a charge in the FA trophy, that could also help things.

I asked him to give me the bottom line. It was clear by his face that something drastic had to happen.

His plan was:

To set up some two mid season friendlies – which would raise a few thousand

Sell some fringe players – I explained my attempt last month to jettison some of the squad. He understood and said he would have a go himself.

Win the Blue Square South and at least a quarterfinal run in the FA Trophy.

I liked this solution best of all. Nigel was full of praise for the last 4 months, the new players I brought in, although expensive, were causing him some real excitement.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him about Fitzharris, I’ll leave that joy for if and when it happens.

There should definitely more comments on this story - it is a very good one. You think you can win the BSS? The top teams are very close to one another and one bad patch would ruin your chances. Anyway, getting Fitzharris down so low would be beneficial to you the next couple of seasons, before you can sell him off for profit.

#64661 akash.vidyasagar : There should definitely more comments on this story - it is a very good one. You think you cann the BSS? The top teams are very close to one another and one bad patch would ruin your chances. Anyway, getting Fitzharris down so low would be beneficial to you the next couple of seasons, before you can sell him off for profit.

Cheers, I need to Win the league badly. I've really over spent. The majority of my players are on 1 year deals and ive a feeling i wont be able to meet their demands unless I clear the debt and get a bigger budget.

Hopefully the team can settle down and play some good football. They still have as yet to completly gel. Adam is dissapointing me so far, i heard big things about him and he's yet to competly deliver

Im not sure if ill get Fitzharris, East fyfe were in there well before me and i really negotiated hard. Have you bought and sold him before Akash? How did he do?

Shearer takes charge

Newcastle United legend Aland Shearer took the reigns of his former club today. Some will be excited by this appointment, I, however, remember the dismal 8 games he was gaffer before the clubs relegation. I’ll keep an eye on how he does.

At the moment the Prem looks like this.

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Blue Square North
Sat 03.12.11 15.00
V Boston United H
Att: 370

Our home games have born much fruit in recent weeks. The strength of our performences as well as being boyed by increased attendences have helped us achieve this.

We’ve been lucky with injuries and are fielding a full strength side with Tomatula continuing his experiment on the left.

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4 minutes in to the first half and the deadlock is broken a free kick on the left of the area is driftedto the far post by Lloyd Bouadji looks to wrestle away from his marker and powers a header top corner.

20 minutes later mullings plays in to the feet of Adam who dummies and uses the pace on the ball to beat Boston’s centre half Austin. Red faced, he turns to chase but Adam is well away. A controlled right foot sees the ball beat the keeper 2 – 0

On 38 minutes, being out played; Boston’s Richman gets the ball and advances to the goal. Without many options he rasps the ball from 40 yards. I even had to applaud that one. Good goal.

On 61 minutes With Tomatula struggling on the wing his natural replacement and player with most assists Tagro comes on the pitch to take a corner. It reaches Adam unmarked in the 6 yard box, goal! That’s his 6th of the season.

Adam had a fine game today and deservedly received man of the match with two goals. He could of got me more. I counted 3 more gilt edged chances that, honestly, I could of scored. On the up side, we’re getting Adam into those positions, which is good. Our goal chance creation needed improving. That win lifts us to second, with a week off to concentrate on the FA Trophy.

3 – 1 W
Romauld Bouadji 5
Jamil Adam 24, 61
Simon Richman 39

MoM Jamil Adam

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Fitzharris accepts

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My goodness. I’d almost given up on this signing. Fitzharris was in deep discussion with East Fyfe and Dundalk had made a late offer.

When I came off the phone I took a deep breath and walked into the Chairmans office. I can’t believe I was asking for another signing.

Nigel was calm enough to listen to what I had to say. At £70 per week on a two year deal wasn’t too much of hit. Nigel agreed on the proviso that 3 players would be put on the transfer list in readiness for the January transfer window. I agreed.

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After discussion we both decided that Jimmy Adcock, Jake Marsh and Hichum Abdellah (our Morocon u20’s international) though promising were surplus to requirements at present. I put them on the list. Then I phoned Sean back.

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It’s great to see Sean in a Tigers Shirt. He had the option to stay up in Scotland, but saw what we were trying to do down here in the Cotswolds. He’s got a lot of work to do to get back to fitness, he’s been without a club for a while.

FA Trophy 1st Rnd
Sat 10.12.11 15.00
V Hinckley A

Last time out against Hinkley we found ourselves 2 goals down inside 10 minutes. They are abviously very quick of the blocks. We shall have to batten down he hatches for the first 10 minutes to see how the game might pan out. I don’t want any dramas.

The team sheet:

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The first half saw us domintate possession but good interplay could only produce shots from distance. Towards the end of the first half Hinkley bgan to take control and produced a couple of clear cut chances.

In the second half I felt that our goal was getting too much attention I told the guys to keep a high line and push forward. We than began to claw back posseition.

The 80th minute arrived without a goal. I didn’t want to have to replay this game, our fixture list was going to start to get heavy over Christmas and I could ill afford the loss of energy.

I threw on Tomatula for Wales. It was his low angle cross from the right of the penalty area that found Tagro in space. His first shot was saved by Bevan, but as the keeper tried to right himself Tagro slotted in the rebound with 1 minute of normal time to play.

Time to defend.

We held on for a valuable win. Mullings picked up his fifth yellow of the season, hopefully Whiteley will deputise in the next game against Worcester.

I wonder who’ll we’ll get in Round 2?

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Coaching Badges

Over the next 2 weeks I shall be at Hartbury college getting my Level 1 coaching badge.

Non league football allow a 6 month grace period In which to attain it. I shall be going for my level 2 in the close season.