Dartford - Behind the Scenes

This story will start at Dartford. Why here? Because I already made a save with them and it was a great one. It was my second Lower League Management save after Worcester on FM11 and I managed to reach Npower League 2 after 2 seasons (starting in Blue Square Bet South). In the second season we also reached the F.A Cup third round and managed to draw against Man City (2-2) before losing 5-1 at the Etihad.

Dartford was also the club were Alex Sonwild made his managing debut, before managing numerous clubs such as Man City, Braga, Aberdeen, Spartakos Kitiou, Olympiakos, Real Sociedad, Barcelona or more recently Paris FC. But now Alex Sonwild is back home and he will try to bring even more success than during his first spell.

Before loading the game I've done several changes on the game data that you will soon spot. As I play on FM12 I could have put Dartford in Blue Square Bet Premier because they were promoted to it last season but I want to start were I started last time, when they were still in BSB South, so I didn't change that (I've put Welling in their place because they lost the play-off final against Dartford).

I hope you will enjoy the story. Comments are welcome and tell me if anything is wrong with my style :)

I will sure in hell enjoy your new story!

Smashing that mate! Hope to see dartford climbing up the leagues! Will be following!

2013-03-01 23:53#83053 PaukerJ : I will sure in hell enjoy your new story!

Jeremy Pauker has the first reply on this story, what a surprise I hope you will enjoy it

2013-03-01 23:56#83055 Liambrocklesby : Smashing that mate! Hope to see dartford climbing up the leagues! Will be following!

Thanks m8 I'm sure we can reach Npower League 1 with successive promotion. After we will see

nice start good reasons to go back to Dartford good luck m8

Finally, the new story after Paris Will be following!

2013-03-02 00:20#83059 MarkKolatowicz : nice start good reasons to go back to Dartford good luck m8

2013-03-02 00:21#83060 neal09 : Finally, the new story after Paris Will be following!

Thanks guys, I hope you will enjoy

1st July 2011

Rumours began yesterday, saying that Blue Square Bet South side Dartford were searching for a new manager, yet there was no information on the departure of club's legend Toni Burman from his post, a move that wouldn't have been welcomed by Darts fans.
But this morning a post on the Dartford site wrote that Toni wasn't leaving the club, he was becoming director of football after 10 years as the club's gaffer. The club didn't explain why the manager who led Dartford to Blue Square Bet South had made this change and latter information said that all would be revealed to the fans when the club signed a new manager. We have no more indication on who could be the new manager but we know that it should be Burman who will choose his successor.

I have a Dartford save at the moment. Will be interesting to see what you do differentltly! Will be following.

Good luck Alex

2013-03-02 01:18#83068 Spurs_Fan_89 : I have a Dartford save at the moment. Will be interesting to see what you do differentltly! Will be following.

I didn't think anyone on the site would be playing with Dartford Yeah it would be interesting, good luck

2013-03-02 09:46#83094 Blue : Good luck Alex

Thanks m8

5 July 2011

That was last night's post on our Facebook page. But we didn't know who this man was until 11am, and it's quite a surprise.

Alex Sonwild, is the new manager of DFC. The 30 year old doesn't have experience as a professional player or as manager but he has worked as coach, youth team coach and scout for several non-league clubs since the age of 22. Sonwild also knows Tony Burman personally and they could have worked together a couple of times but disagreement on contract talks didn't see Alex sign as coach (first attempt) or scout (second attempt) for Dartford. A press conference has been arranged for tomorrow and Alex Sonwild will be attending alongside Tony Burman and the club chairman Bill Archer.

Alex Arturo Sonwild

Born at Porto Alegre (Brazil) on the 14th August 1981.
Son of a Brazilian athlete and an American Samoa international footballer, Alex grew up in a sport environment. His dad wanted him to be a footballer and to play for Brazil but Alex, who played with Grêmio's youths, didn't have the talent that his dad saw in him.
Alex was more passionate about coaching and was twenty when he took control of a little Brazilian U15 team in Rio de Janeiro (and he had good results). Two years later he joined Europe and England with the hope of becoming manager. He started as a coach at Maidenhead United in the Isthmian League and stayed for two years at the club. Then he went on to Accrington (coach), Woking (coach and scout), Worcester (coach then youth coach) and Bromley (scout then coach) and now he has finally managed to become a manager.

6 July 2011

In the little conference room of Dartford we were two journalists waiting for the new Dartford leading trio to come in. When Bill Archer (the chairman), Tony Burman (the new football director) and Alex Sonwild (the new manager) took their places in front of us applause began to fill the room. The reporters who were there are based in the region and it's not the first time they have seen Bill Archer or Tony Burman who has been manager of the club since 2001 and played 333 games at Dartford in the 80's, scoring 115 goals. After a few words, Bill Archer told us to start asking our questions.

Journalist (The Non-League Paper) : Okay, Tony you're were manager since 2001, why did you decide to change role?

T.Burman : A football director is not someone you always need in football but I thought it could be pretty useful and I spoke about it to Bill. He agreed with me but said that we couldn't find someone with the good profile and willing to sign with us just like that. And then I had this idea and said I could be director of football and...

B.Archer : And I didn't really like the idea at the beginning but Tony convinced me and I'm sure he has made the good choice for our club.

Journalist (The Non-League Paper) : But won't you miss your manager post? Is it still a option to get back into management.

T.Burman : Yes I will miss management but I'm sure I will enjoy my time as director of football and why not come back on the bench in the future? But for now I'm the football director of Dartford and I will do my best in this post.

Journalist (Pitchero Non-League) : You first act at this post was to name M.Sonwild as your successor. Why him? Was he the club's first choice?

T.Burman : We had several candidates for the post and there was no first choice. I spoke to each of them, some didn't agree on contract negotiations and the others didn't share our ambition for the club so Alex was the perfect choice.

Journalist (The Non-League Paper) : You talk of your ambition for the club. Can you tell us more? Or Alex could speak about them, he still hasn't spoken.

A.Sonwild : (Laughter) Don't worry I'm not dumb. We will try not to go down but I hope to secure a top half finish.

Journalist (Pitchero Non-League) : And which tactical approach on the game will you have?

A.Sonwild : In my first talk with Tony for taking the post we agreed quickly that we should continue playing the nice offensive game that he was using. Football is about entertainment and I want fans to come to Princes Park knowing they are going to see a nice game.

Journalist (Pitchero Non-League) : If you keep the same playing policy will you make changes to the team? Do you know who you are going to count on?

A.Sonwild : The advantage of having the previous manager to work with me is that he told me who I could count on but everyone will have a chance to make it in the first team...

B.Archer : As for transfers I don't want to many changes in the team. I want us to keep a certain stability, not only in the squad but also in the financial domain. To keep a good financial statue will be one of the first objectives of Tony as director of football and he will need to work in collaboration with Alex for that.

After a short pause the chairman asked :
No more questions?

Journalist (The Non-League Paper) : I have a last one for Alex. This is your first day as manager, how do you feel? Was it your dream?

A.Sonwild : Yeah it was a dream to be a manager, I left Brazil for that but I didn't see it coming until now. (He paused with a grin on his face before saying And now you've just made me notice that I'm really feeling greaaaaat!

7 July 2011

5 days ago

(me) - Hello

(Alex) - Hi Raph, it's Alex. How are you?

(me) -Fine and you, how are you doing?

(Alex) - Great I'm linked with Dartford...

(me) - Once again! As physio this time?

(Alex) - No as manager

(me) - LOL. You're kidding?

(Alex) - No, Tony Burman called me this afternoon.

(me) - But isn't Burman the manager of Dartford?

(Alex) - Not anymore, now he is director of football and I'm going to see him tomorrow. I'm not the only one but I have this feeling I will manage to have the post.

(me) - Good Luck mate, I hope you will get it.

(Alex) - Thanks, but listen I'm phoning you because I think I could have a job for you. If I get myself the post...

(me) - What are you talking about?

(Alex) - If I get the post I could find you a place on the staff. I mean you're 25 and the only thing you do is write articles on your sport blog and play Football Manager. You can't live with the little amount that you earn from your blog's sponsor. I can't guarantee you a big salary but it could be the start of a career.

(me) -... It's complete nonsense, I can't join your staff just like that and...

(Alex) - Yes you can because I'm the manager and I have faith in you. It's seems stupid like that but you're a great Football Manager player and you've learn a lot from that. And I read your blog, when you speak about football I can see that you have a great tactical knowledge but you have also passion and this could take you far.

(me) - Thanks for...trying to help, call me when you have the job, I will wait until then to see if I can accept your proposition.

(Alex) - Okay, see you soon bro.

(me) - Yeah, bye and good luck.


I stayed for at least one minute looking out of the window then with a big smile I turned to my computer and clicked on "Start New Game", I loaded the English league to Blue Square Bet North/South. When I came back from the kitchen ten minutes later I entered Alex Sonwild as the manager's name and chose Dartford as a team.
And before starting a new Football Manager adventure, I said :

"Let the story begin!"

7 July 2011

2 days ago

(Me) - Hello

(Alex) - Hi, it's me Alex, I...

(Me) - Congratulations mate! I was waiting for your call.

(Alex) - Oh good, you seem better than last time. So did you make your choice?

(Me) - Yeah, I've just won promotion to Npower League 2. It wasn't easy. But I'm happy. Two years at Dartford, two promotions, I don't know if I will have time to do next season before joining the real Dartford.

(Alex) - I see, great. Could you be here in two days time?

(Me) - Yeah, don't worry I will be here. I'll take the train tomorrow evening, I will just quickly visit my family in Normandy before. But where will I stay? I can be in a hotel for the first two days but not longer.

(Alex) - You should find a flat but you can still stay at my place until then.

(Me) - Okay, thanks. What am I going to be?

(Alex) - My assistant...

(Me) - Are you joking?

(Alex) - No I don't have one but if you don't want we...

(Me) - I want to be the assistant but won't Burman find this odd?

(Alex) - Probably but forget that, I will take care of it.

(Me) - Okay, if you say so.

(Alex) - So is that ok? You join me at Dartford in two days time. At what time?

(Me) - When do you go to work?

(Alex) - I will be at Princes Park around 10am.

(Me) - Okay, I will be there. See you then.

(Alex) - Okay, bye.