KuPS - The Rocky Road To Glory

2013-01-01 21:28#75020 The FM Rookie : Screw it! Guys, I'm going to buy FM13 on the 9th, yes the 9th January 2013. That is when I can start this story! (properly)

2013-01-02 16:25#75079 or.dabool :

2013-01-01 21:28#75020 The FM Rookie : Screw it! Guys, I'm going to buy FM13 on the 9th, yes the 9th January 2013. That is when I can start this story! (properly)

This, right there, is better than any update
we are doing KuPS vs. Boreham Wood sometime!

The Meeting

2013-01-07 22:37#76049 FM King : and yet again another great update

2013-01-07 23:01#76059 PaukerJ : OMG. Your writing is amazing and I think that this story will be one of the best!

2013-01-07 23:04#76060 or.dabool : As always, amazing writing. I still have a lot of learning to do

The Contract

"This is a very generous contract and I accept," I reply.

I sign the contract with a signiture I have not practiced in many, many years.

"Here is my expectation for you in the league. In terms of the Cups, I want you to put up a good show and the Europa League will be all about experience."



"Ok, I'm happy with these expectations. When can I meet my assisstant manager?"

"Training starts tomorrow at 7.30 A.M. I expect you will want to be there at 6.30 A.M. to prepare."

"Yes, I will be there then. Thank you for the opportunity and I will try my God-damned hardest to succeed!"

I shake Mr. Lahti's hand and walked out of the door. I couldn't help but do a little dance of joy to celebrate. I noticed the secretary staring at my lower boday and I realised that my zipper had been open and my little friend had flopped out. I blush, zip up and walk away quickly with plans and ideas in my mind.

It was that day, 21st December 2012, that will be remembered as the day when Nick Johnson took over Kuopion Palloseura as manager. Will he succeed? Only time will tell so, stay tuned!

The Meetings

I walked in to the training facilities the next day and I was surprised. The facilities were better than expected, although not anywhere near world class. I looked around for my office and I found it at the end of one of the corridors. The same secretary was sitting at a desk outiside.

"I've been assigned as your personal assisstant. Just call me if you need any help," she said with a smile that just made you feel happy.

"Thank you very much. What is your name?"

"Tanja," she said with a wink.

"Ok Tanja, I presume you know my name. Now could you make me a coffee please? Black with no sugars. Thank you."

I walked in to my office and sat down at my new desk. There was a team report and a scout report laid down in front of me. I looked around at Esa Pekkonen's old office. There were pictures of former KuPS teams hanging on each wall. Memories of great times, no doubt. There was a KuPS scarf hanging over the door in which I entered. I opened up the reports and read through them.

There was a knock on the door. I called for whoever it was to come in. It was Tanja with my coffee. I thanked her and as she exited, a middle-aged man walked in.

"Hi, I'm Harri Ylonen and I'm your assisstant manager unless you decide otherwise," he shook my hand.

"I'll need your help big time," I said. "Let's look at the team and scout reports."

We spent the next hour looking at the reports and discussing likely transfers. Suddenly it dawned on me that the players were waiting for me to meet them. Me and Harri went to the players' dressing room. They stopped talking and waited for me to say something.

"I've never done this before and right now making a speech feels like a daunting task but I think I'll give it my best shot. I'm sure you all know who I am by now and after reading up on the team report, I know who you guys are. I know Esa was a great manager here and you had a good relationship with him. I'm not asking for us to click like that. All I ask of you is to try your damn hardest when you pull on the KuPS shirt. Esa didn't leave you guys so that you can give up. He left you to keep on fighting and keep on winning! I'm not asking you to improve every day but what I am asking you to do is to never give up! I want you to fight for every single inch on the pitch! On this team, we fight for that inch! You are not alone! I bet if you look to the guy next to you, look in to his eyes, you will see a guy who is willing to die for that inch! I want you to claw with your teeth and nails for that inch! Tear down the walls around you, for that inch! And when we add up all those inches, we have everything! So I want you to go out there and show me you are willing to fight for that inch!"

The players jog out of the dressing room, shaking my hand as they do, with a new-found determination in their eyes.

"That was quite a speech you made there," said Harri, with a look of surprise on his face."

I wasn't listening to him. I was thinking of one particular player, he had fire in his eyes. He had a passion, a raging will which could burn down a fortress at will. I knew straight away that he would be a key figure. His name was Ilja Venalainen.