Brilliant work, Travis.
Samba looks brilliant mate, and I'm loving the updates! Good Luck for the rest of the season.
From the very start, unbelievable story. I could actually imagine the first update from start to finish. Not bothered about how you do in the league, just want some good updates 
Performance Review
Gav and I sat outside Tahir's office, twiddling our thumbs. It was time for our ten game performance review.The words from my first meeting with Tahir were burning into the back of my mind.
'No pressure.'
The team certainly hadn't played like there was any pressure. Having recovered from losing 3 of the first 4, Samba and Browny had reinvigorated us, and we lost just once since, conceding 7 goals in 6 as oppose to 13 in the opening 4.
Tahir came to the door and lead us in. We sat down and declined the offer of one of the little Indian's customary teas.
"Right then." Tahir began, adjusting his glasses and looking at some papers infront of him shrewdly. "Where to begin..."
The sounds of papers shuffling gave me a chance to assess Gav, who looked remarkably calmer, as if he'd done this before, which I knew he hadn't.
"The results have been good." Tahir stated. "The fans were delighted with the win at home to Hereford, and were it not for late goals being conceded at home to Southport and Nuneaton yesterday, we could have been 9th"
I thought that was a bit harsh. Considering that we had performed well above what we were capable of so far.
"Results wise and league position, we're pleased, are the board and I." Tahir concluded. "However, I have spoken to the Board regarding the wage budget, and it has to come down in January, we simply cannot afford the wages weare spending."
"But our wage expense is the lowest in the league!" I exclaimed. "Luton, Forest Green and Mansfield have 4 time the wage budget we do! And the wages we have are only enough to pay about 12 players! half our side is on part-time or non-contracts!"
"I'm sorry, but we can't afford it. If we have a cup run then possibly we can justify it til the season's end, but certainly no further. But so farthe board and I are incredibly impressed with you and Gav's work. That's the review concluded, I'm sure you both have places you'd rather be."
We were outside. Gav and I looked at each other, concerned expressions greeting each other.
"So." Gav said, after what seemed like an age, ""Who do we sell?"
Cup Runs Keep Clubs Running
I picked up he phone on the 4th ring. I knew it was Gav.
"Are you watching it?" he asked.
"Of course I am." I responded, a half empty bottle of Budweiser on the table next to me.
Silence followed between us as my eyes rested on the T.V. We'd done our bit, beating Southport 1-0 n the qualifying round, and now our fate rested in the hands of Mark Pougatch and the celebrity's who would pull us out of the hat.
"Hello I'm Mark Pougatch and welcome to coverage of the FA Cup with Budweiser's first round draw. Each team that is in this draw is only 6 matches away from Wembley, and here to decide their fates are former England Goalkeeper and FA cup winner David Seaman, and former Oasis guitarist and singer, Noel Gallagher. David will be drawing the home sides and Noel the away, so David if you could empty the ball into the pot, give them a good rustle around in there, and away we go..."
As Notts County drew Gateshead or Ilkeston, I was thankful we'd avoided that. We needed the cash, so either a big home tie or an easy home tie would be needed. As the draw progressed I noticed Gav shouting depending on whether he felt we should have drawn the team Mr.Seaman had read out. We didn't have to wait too long for our number to be selected.
"Hyde! Who beat Southport 1-0 to reach the first round will play... Newport County, an all Blue Square Premier clash there then."
The next few seconds were spent with positive shouts from Gav down the phone. I was happy with the draw, and was hopeful that round would allow me to keep my team together in January.
Dreams Come True
The rain at Spotland bounced of the turf as both sides thrashed out a to and fro battle. I hadn't sat all game. Intent on watching my first taste of football league opposition from as close to the pitch as I could get myself.
We had despatched of Newport County easily, and had been rewarded with a trip to Rochale. My heart sank when we heard the draw, inevitably presuming our exit was due. On top of this, Southport had beaten us in the FA Trophy over a replay, which had taken place three days before. Dale on the other hand had half a week extra off. Not that it had shown in the opening half hour. What the lads lacked or in ability and fitness was being made up for three fold in effort.
Corner. Tomsett delivers. Headed clear. Vinny is down. Arms go up, my own included, in hopeful appeal. Mr.Hartley points to the spot, much to the dismay of those around us.
"YES! YES YES YES YES YES!" I found myself fist in the air, as Jevons took the ball and placed it on the spot. Unable to watch, I turned and waited, eyes closed.
The away fans erupted. Gav nearly sent me across the soaked turf as his rugby tackle was only just anticipated. Somehow, we led. Right on half-time.
"Where are we getting this energy from?" I asked bewildered and dazed, as the lads sat down. "Liam, keep it simple, short and sweet, look for Ray and Sedgy. Scotty you keep working like that and we're laughing. And defensively, that was the best performance I've seen from you 4, Mike's barely had a save to make. If we can replicate that, we'll win this."
Not only did we replicate it, we improved. 7 minutes into the second half, Spencer and Jevons linked up, Jevons fed Liam, who calm as ever slid the ball into the bottom corner.
Delirium set in. We spent the rest of the game camped 20 yards infront of Mike's goal, putting the ball back over their full-backs heads at every opportunity. When the final whistle went, as oppose to the patented knee drop, I stood still, allowing my staff to engulf me as my players saluted the travelling fans. The cup run was still going, and the financial input, should we get a big team, would be safe.
Chiles Play
The draw for the third round was a special occasion, Tahir let us use the player's lounge, if you could call it that. 21 players, Gav, Tahir and I, scattered around a gentleman's club watching a flat screen telly in the top corner. Sky, ITV and ESPN all had a camera in the opposite corner, hoping to see jubilation at the draw.
Once again Mark Pougatch introduced himself, Graham Taylor and Serge Pizzorno to do the draw. And the waiting began. This wait was much longer, watching team after team get drawn out. There was an ardous sigh every time a Premier League team got drawn out, even more noticeable when Manchester United drew Sheffield United, and Arsenal met Stoke.
And so it came to the last 8. Norwich, Liverpool, Wigan, Coventry, Burnley, Barnsley, Leeds... and Hyde.
"And Burnley.... Will Play.... Coventry City!"
"Thank fuck for that!" Jevo shouted from the back, to much laughter.
There was a 60% chance of playing a top flight team. Fingers crossed.
"Norwich City... Will Play... Hyde!"
The roar was unrivalled. 24 men became one entangled body of limbs and joy. After several seconds one of the lads began chanting "We're all going on a trip to Carrow Road." which soon began blaring around the room and back through the Television Screen towards us. A moment I would savour for the rest of my career.
Festive Cheer
The training complex was empty as I made my way through reception. It was the 20th of December, and the lads had been rewarded for their performances with a week off until the boxing day clash at Stockport. I was only here for Tahir's pre-Christmas review. I was confident we'd done enough to keep the team together for now, confident enough not to request Gav being there with me.I knocked twice on Tahir's door. I was instructed to sit, before the chairman gazed down at his papers between sips of his standard tea.
"I'm impressed." he began. "We're on course to hir 60 points, we've made enough from the cup to keep the squad together, even more after the third round. And barring something ridiculous we'll be in this division next season.
I was waiting for the but...
"But... And it's only a slight hinderance, don't take it as me nit picking Daniel because you're first half season here has been superb, but look at how many points we've lost t home from winning positions! I can understand a few but the Gateshead game was unbelievable! We were 4-2 up on 75 minutes for Christ's sake!"
He was right, Gav and I had been trying to fix this for a while, the intensity and urgency of this problem had been enhanced ten fold following the collapse against Gateshead.
"Overall excellent. I'm very glad I made the right choice in putting my faith in you, but that doesn't mean we ease up. You can stay off until Stockport. Merry Christmas."
And with that, I was ushered out of the door, a smug grin on my face, free to enjoy the rest of the day in a bar of my choosing.
"Savour the Moment Lads."
Many of the lads will remember the 5th of January 2013 for the rest of their lives. The bus pulled up at Carrow Road in the cold January drizzle, to mixed noises of awe and shouts of "Pinch me." Norwich's ground held about 4 times as Ewen fields, but their attendances were about 40 times greater. We'd earnt this right to play infront of a big crowd, and we would wreak the financial rewards.
We had a pre-match meal, met the opposition, Chris Houghton shook my hand and commended our club on it's achievements. It felt good to here an established manager praise Hyde and myself, and it was good to know that someone in the footballing world was watching.
"Right then lads. Whatever happens, you've earnt this day. The score doesn't matter, just give it your best. Savour the crowd. Savour the moment. Now let's go create a piece of history shall we?" It was a short and sweet team talk, because the player's didn't need talking to. The morale was high, and the atmosphere was buzzing.
20,000 fans greeted the teams exiting the tunnel. I couldn't help but admire the pitch, and it's perfection. This was where I hoped to be one day, in a big stadium with thousands of fans. All in good time.
We started well, Jevons flashing 2 shots past Mark Bunn's posts before the inevitable pressure set in. Simeon Jackson and Grant Holt doing their best to unnerve Martyn and Samba, but to no avail. At half-time, little Hyde were drawing 0-0 at Carrow Road.
Encouragement at half-time was what was needed, but 45 seconds into the second half, Bradley Johnson found Simeon Jackson 3 yards out and the game was beyond us. Holt added a second 5 minutes later. Before Jackson scored a scrambly third.
'That's harsh' I thought. We didn't deserve that. 3 minutes later however, we got a consolation. Kelvin Lomax had drifted forward from left-back, Ray Putterill found him, and his deep cross found Scotty Spencer. Scotty, calmly rounded Mark Bunn and slotted home. 3-1.
Despite the knowledge of defeat, delirium ensued. Scotty had scored a goal he would remember for the rest of his career, and we had scored against Premier League opposition. Soon after the whistle went. Chris Houghton met me with a beaming smile, and a firm handshake.
"They did you proud today."was all he said before he headed off down the tunnel, and we headed back to non-league obscurity.
Cheers buddy, as always feedback is greatly appreciated 
Great work! A very good start to your story Keep it up.
Keep it up.
Just read from start to finish. Woah! This is one hell of a story. Keep up the amazing work Travis. Very nice to see this as a different type of story to many others - the quality of writing is top less. Well done.
Play-Off Push?
You wouldn't have thought it was March as I happily strode through reception in a t-shirt. The sun was shining proudly, reflecting the buoyant mood of everyone in the club right now. It was time for another meeting with my Chairman, I eagerly awaited the little Indian and his attempts to poke a hole in what had been a brilliant few months.
I didn't even knock as I entered, under the presumption that no-one else would be in, and I was correct. Even in these sunnier times Tahir still opted for his standard tea.
"Ah, Daniel. Sit. We have much to discuss." He said, his serious undertone ruined by the smile on his face.
I sat confidently, awaiting my review
"I can't fault you at all." Tahir began, which is always a great way to start a performance review. "We haven't lost in 6, you were very impressive at Carrow Road, the finances look good, the wage budget is down again, we might even make the play-offs!"
"Whoa! Whoa!" had I accepted Tahir's offer of tea it would have been dripping from his face following his last statement. I know we're on good form but we're still 7 off the play-offs and Mansfield have one in hand!"
Tahir slid me a copy of the league table.
"True, but you are also only 8 behind Southport with one in hand!" he beamed. "I don't expect the play-offs, to be in the top half at this point in the season is a monumental achievement for this football club, and you should be proud of the season you and the boys have had. But I can always hope Daniel. Hope is not a bad thing. Meeting adjourned, go and look after the boys.
Small Squad + Injuries = Loanees Needed.
Only 2 days after he glory of the meeting I found myself in Tahir's office again, this time with Gav. The air was a lot more strained than it had been 2 days ago.
"We have no fit forwards, 1 fit centre-back and the midfield are barely holding on." Gav blurted. He was right, We only had a squad of 18 and before Gateshead we only had 15 fit, injuries to Jevons, Pericard and Tomsett had further put the pressure on, as youth players were desperately being thrown onto the bench to save face.
"What do you want me to do? The transfer window is shut!" Tahir replied, his nonchalant shun of our problem angering me.
"We need some wage money to sign some players up til the end of the season, I shipped a grand off that wage budget in January, offloading players we could have done with right now, and to be honest 3 and a half thousand pound a week to run a semi-professional football team on is ludicrous anyway." I said unable to stop myself. The lack of support piled with the frustrations had really gotten to me. Tahir and Gav were startled by my unheard of outburst. After an awkward silence Tahir spoke.
"Look. I ant to give you money but the board will not allow me to. However, You can bring in loan players, albeit with the parent club paying their wages. That's all I can really suggest. The loan window closes in 3 weeks so you best hurry.
As the meeting came to a close, a defeated Gav and I trudged to find a computer and note down some potential loan signings that could save the club's season from falling away.
You are reading "The Leap of Faith - Daniel Karbassiyoon".
