My last post unfortunately had to share with you the appalling change in fortunes for FC Halifax. We had gone from being comfortably at the top of the league, games in hand, a four point lead and everything suggested we would be winning the league with no issues. How wrong was I? The club were breaking records and not good ones. We managed to break the clubs record for the most number of games played without a win. The team were simple sinking without a trace and so were our league title hopes. I thought I was going to have to leave the club in order for their fortunes to change...but I didn’t. What then happened could not have been predicted just like the bad run of results could not have been.
The change in fortunes was dramatic and unbelievable. I don’t think anyone saw it coming. What a set of results and what a set of performances. Paul Marshall has been instrumental in every single performance. He has commanded the midfield and contributed to so many of the goals my team have managed to score. He put in a performance that would be a strong contender for performance of the season. The side went down to 10 men after talisman Gareth Seddon got sent off for a second yellow card. I then expected the team to crumble but Marshall had different ideas. He put away four goals which very vital to getting us the win.

Lenell John-Lewis has suddenly woken up and is loving the lone striker role and even though he isn’t scoring many goals he is doing a great job of holding up the ball for the likes of Marshall to run onto. John-Lewis is a big lad and he is not afraid to get up for headers of which he wins many. Another revelation has been youngster Jason Mooney in goal. He has put in some outstanding performances and has been solid between the sticks. He now has a consistent back four which is rarely changed unless someone needs a rest so he is forming a good relationship with them which is benefiting the team.
I would love to write a special mention to James Knowles who I brought in to add depth to the midfield. He has played more games than I had expected him to and this meant he has deserved his call up to the Northern Ireland Under 21 team. It is great to have an international player in our team which just shows how well he is doing.
What are our chances of winning the league? They are so good. It is totally within our grasp. All we have to make sure we do is continue to win games and hope that Altrincham mess up along the way. We do come up against Altrincham in a couple of weeks time and it is definitely going to be seen as a title clincher. Bring it on.

Short update: things are still going well since the change in fortunes. I'm now looking for a good way of sharing the final few matches of the season - it is going to be tight. Hope you have enjoyed reading so far.

It has been a very long time since my last few posts. I have been really trying to find a way of sharing the emotion that has been thrown my way towards the end of my first season in charge of FC Halifax. The season has potentially come down to one match...one win against my closest rival league wise could secure the title for me and the club.

Match Build Up

The team early on in the season looked like they were going to meet all expectations, which were to achieve promotion without any real problems. The team just kept winning and the players just kept performing at such a high standard, how could anyone doubt us? Confidence was high amongst everyone associated with the club, the board were over the moon about how things were going for their club. I was impressing on all fronts; we were playing beautiful football and most importantly, winning games.

We did go through an awful patch where we just couldn’t get a win. I couldn’t get my head around why the team’s fortunes suddenly changed and my players just seemed to stop playing. The task of turning the bad run around seemed an impossible task at times. We could get a goal but teams would come back with two of their own. The poor run of games was ended with a win against Corby, who did not put up much of a challenge, but the team still performed poorly. They still didn’t look happy playing but then the wins just kept coming and coming and now the morale is higher than ever. They can see the league title is within their grasp.

It is now simply down to me to pick the right team and tactics for the upcoming games and most importantly, the players to want to go out and win it.


The team are in a lovely position with them having already achieved a play-off spot so we have nothing to lose. I am confident that even if we manage to hit another blip that we could win comfortably in the play-offs.


I guess I will have to mention the challengers. Altrincham appeared to come from nowhere. They had never been considered serious challengers for the league title but now they have it within their grasp, as long as we slip up at some point further along the line. Their stand-out player has to be Damien Reeves, 27 years of age, who has managed to launch the club to be the highest scorers in the league. In 37 games he has managed to put away 32 goals. That is a fantastic contribution from the player and he will surely be the main threat to my team in the match.

Commentary

Altrincham are hot on FC Halifax’s trail and will be hoping this match will give them the chance to move back above them. Altrincham have mathematically secured a play-off place, as have FC Halifax, but they will still be determined to bag the league title. The media predictions think that FC Halifax have enough about them in order to secure a win here.
We have reached 3 o’clock and the referee Mr Stockbridge has blown his whistle and signalled the start of the match.

21mins – PENALTY TO ALTRINCHAM! A long throw from Wholey of Altrincham into the middle of the FC Halifax area and Qualter of FC Halifax has clattered into the Altrincham player. It is a clear penalty. FC Halifax can have no complaints.

21mins - GOAL! Waldren has stepped up and rifled the penalty into the top corner of the goal. Mooney in the FC Halifax goal did not have a chance of saving that. What a brilliantly taken penalty.

This means that Altrincham have leap frogged FC Halifax to take first place in the league. FC Halifax need to sort it out at the back and started converting their possession into chances.

32mins - GOAL! It is all square now! A lovely passing move by FC Halifax down the right side which has resulted in John-Lewis passing a dangerous ball into the box where Marshall has run on to it and slotted the ball past the Altrincham goalkeeper.

The league is now back to where it was at the beginning of the game with FC Halifax in first and Altrincham in second.

43mins – PENALTY TO FC HALIFAX! The tale of two penalties. Joyce the FC Halifax right back has hoofed the ball into the Altrincham box where Seddon has jumped to nod the ball on. It was a clear push in the back. Another stone wall penalty. Well done referee.

43mins - GOAL! Seddon, Mr Reliable for FC Halifax, has stepped up as confidently as Waldren did with his and has put his penalty away.

This latest goal has meant that FC Halifax have moved a clear 5 points ahead of Altrincham. This surely will make the FC Halifax manager feel more confident as the half time whistle is blown.


The FC Halifax will be the happier of the two managers’. His side have had fewer chances but have still come in with a one goal advantage. He will surely be looking for his team to go out and grab another goal to make the lead a bit more secure.

80mins - What a stupid challenge. There was absolutely need for the challenge from Joyce the FC Halifax right back. The ball was going out of play but he has still managed to bundle into Clee who has gone to the floor quite dramatically. What a tense last 10 minutes this is now going to be for the FC Halifax manager as he has used all his available substitutes.

94mins – The final whistle has been blown and FC Halifax have managed to secure what will surely be a massive result. This win will surely mean that FC Halifax go on to lift the BSN Division title in James Gallagher’s first year of club management.

Final Three League Games

League Champions

I could not be any happier right now. What an amazing first season in club management. The team have achieved what we deserved. Yes people may question whether it is actually deserved to say we went on such a bad run of games but it took courage and determination to come out of that rut and go on such an impressive unbeaten streak. I have to admit the final result, league wise, was a little bit too close to call and it probably should have been more comfortable. All that matters is that we are at the top of the league and the title is ours. Very proud of everyone associated with the club and it is now going to be an interesting summer. Do I stay or do I try and get myself in the front door of a higher reputation club?

Tough Decision

I cannot decide whether I wish to carry on with FC Halifax or take a chance and see if a club with a higher reputation would take me on. I doubt that a club would do it with me only being in management on year but then I am also worried that FC Halifax won’t progress next year. Some main players are leaving due to such high contract demands which the club just cannot meet. This means the team will not be as strong as it was this season and I don’t feel like the club would attract the quality of player needed to help us do well next season. There are a lot of negatives linked to staying with FC Halifax but I am also curious of what I could achieve with them in the BSN Premier division.

I have delayed the contract until the end of the season to just put feelers out and do a bit of looking around come the end of everyone’s seasons to see what jobs do come available. The board agreed to the delay.

The Future

I have decided to sign a contract extension with the club for one more year at the club. The main reason for my decision is that I don’t think a club at a higher level would be interested in my services just yet. However, I am confident that another good season with FC Halifax will help raise my reputation and get my name out there and this will hopefully make another team curious in obtaining my services. I have been given a significant wage rise; I’m personally not bothered how much I am being paid. The only condition I had was that I did not want to sign for the long term. I do not want to stay at the club for another season, two at maximum.


I think the club is definitely getting the recognition that they deserve and I think that this is latest news item sums the season up. The team have been allowed to turn professional which shows acknowledgement that FC Halifax will be playing at a higher level and will be in and amongst now fellow professional clubs. Exciting times are around The Shay at the moment and hopefully these will continue with further changes occurring in the not too distant future.

Staff Changes

Chief Scout

Scout

Transfers In

I had decided at the beginning of last season that Matt Glennon and Phil Senior would have to be replaced eventually as they were both getting too old and were not performing at a high standard. Last season I brought in Jason Money who became my number one with Phil Senior there for backup. Now Phil Senior has been released I have brought in Adam Davies who is a young talent who has greater ability and potential than Mooney. It will be interesting to see who the number one is this season.

I had been a bit naive in letting so many of my defenders leave the club on free transfers. I felt that I would be able to get in players that are more likely to play well at a higher level. This has been extremely difficult but I have across free agent Gregg Leigh. He is going to take up the left back role for the team in the majority of matches with youngsters from the Under 18 team being there for support.

My midfielders were getting on a bit and with a number of them either being released or them deciding to sign contracts with other teams it was important to bring in some youth and dept. Luke Dobie, formerly of Middlesborough, has been signed on a free transfer. He brings with him some good ability ratings but he needs to expect to be used as backup this coming season.

Another youngster brought in simply to add depth to the midfield. I cannot decide if he has more about him than Dobie but he was another player that has not cost the club a penny. I can see him becoming an important player if my first choice midfielders get injured or fatigued.

Forsyth has been brought in to replace the departing Gregory and Rainford. Gareth Seddon has signed a one year contract extension but he is going to find it tough playing at the higher level especially with him now being 33 years of age. We cannot just rely on him anymore. Forsyth is another youngster, whose favoured role is poacher (which is my personal favourite) will hopefully be able to become the next Mr Reliable. He will be given plenty of game time; let’s just hope that he pays back my faith and puts in some good performances.

John-Lewis was signed on loan last season and ended up contributing a lot towards the team. I have decided to retain his services but this time around it is on a permanent deal. Bury had been looking for up to £30k but I managed to get them down to a much more reasonable £14k. I think this is a great signing for the club as it provides more options up front and in the attacking midfield/winger positions.

I felt that the team could do with some experience. I have managed to persuade Stern John to join the club. Yes he is 36 years of age but he has played at the top level in his career and he will be a great player to bring on when we are looking to see out a game.
I have moved to add more strength to our attacking line. This in my eyes is a brilliant capture for the club, especially at the very low price of £5k. He has some brilliant ability ratings and will provide more options in matches instead of us having to rely on Gareth Seddon.

Transfers Out

A New Season

I have decided to take a different approach to this story for this upcoming season. I feel that I am spending too long on each post meaning that too much time is passing between posts. I have spent time looking at other people’s stories and have decided to adopt a similar approach to them. I am going to go down the route of providing monthly updates. The updates will focus on the results, players performances and how the team are performing in the league and cup competitions. If any key games occur then these will be looked at in more depth with commentary being provided. I hope that this new approach will attract more views and will make the read more enjoyable for you.

Board Expectations

These expectations came as a bit of a surprise. To say we have only just turned professional I had been hoping for this to be a consolidation season for the club and have the board expect me to just retain a place in the BSN Premier division. Instead they want me to be pushing up the league. Don’t get me wrong I think the team are capable of doing that, especially with the players I have brought in but I think it is going to place extra pressure on myself and the players. I am just hoping that the board remain patient if we don’t make a good start to the season.

Pre-season

My assistant manager Lee Nogan was asked to take control of the friendly matches. He has very poor ability ratings so will not have really known what he was doing. I never expected it to go well against bigger teams like Southampton and the matches, which were chosen by Nogan, were used more for the experience factor. I am glad we still got two wins and that it wasn’t all bad during pre-season. It hasn’t been the ideal preparation for the season ahead, especially where the media are already touting us as possible league challengers but it needs to be forgotten about so we can focus on the upcoming month of games.

Had enough of this story...going to move onto a different one...time to choose a team.

Great one of my favourite storys I have read! I am following

2012-12-16 00:23#72476 jamo86 : Great one of my favourite storys I have read! I am following

Apologies Jamo that this story has now ended and is no more. Thanks for reading though.

Why did you end it, it was going so well!

2012-12-16 13:10#72567 Sammmm : Why did you end it, it was going so well!

Boredom unfortunately took over and that the seasons took so much longer which meant that they kind of dragged on. I'm going to be starting a new story soon at a different level although I am sure I will eventually return to lower league management. Thanks for reading the story while it lasted.