December 2013 Update
Matches
Kettering 0 @ Boston United 2
Very embarrassing!
Braintree 0 @ Kettering 0
Kettering 0 @ Bishop's Stortford 0
Histon 1 @ Kettering 1
Nuneaton 2 @ Kettering 1
Kettering 0 @ Stalybridge 1
Gainsborough 3 @ Kettering 1
Transfers
- Attacking midfielder Jamie Hawkins in on a free transfer from Hednesford on a free transfer; his contract is 3 years, 12,250 pounds/year. I wanted to weaken Hednesford, a rival in the race to avoid relegation, while strengthening my own forward midfield. Since he's a regen, here's a picture of his stats:
Injuries
12.18.2013 - Spencer McCall out 4-5 weeks with twisted knee.
Standings
Not sure if I want to get fired now or wait until the end of the season and see if I can survive. This is the first time my charges have failed to win a single match in a month.
January 2014 Update
Matches
Kettering 2 @ Hednesford 2
Kettering 4 @ Stafford 0
Solihull Moors 4 @ Kettering 1
Kettering 0 @ Harrogate 2
Vauxhall 1 @ Kettering 0
http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/597005142578390633/DD44485EF839BCAFEFFD892F14355F3AD663F6D8/Transfers
- AMC Wayne Brooksby in on a free transfer from Gateshead, 3 year contract, 25,000 pounds/year.
- Boston United agreed to a 5,000 pound transfer fee for GK Tom Halsall but he refused to negotiate with us.
- Midfielder Lewis Hawkins loaned to Kettering from Hartlepool Reserves for free for the rest of the season.
- Nick Beastall's contract bought out for 2,000 pounds and released.
Injuries
1.15.2014 - John Randall suffered a twisted knee and will be out 6-7 weeks.
1.17.2014 - Wayne Brooksby suffered a damaged foot and will be out 4-5 weeks.
1.22.2014 - Mani O'Sullivan suffered a sprained ankle and will be out 7 weeks-2 months.
Standings
At this point, all I can do is avoid relegation.
February 2014 Update
Matches
Guiseley 4 @ Kettering 2
Kettering 1 @ Workington 1
The penalty was a real bailout, but Alex Moth scores a goal on his debut!
Transfers
- In a desperation move to get a better finisher onto the squad, Kettering has signed Alex Moth to a 1 year, 14,000 pound per year contract with 8,000 pound loyalty bonus.
- Right winger Jordan Villums signed to a 1 year, 14,000 pound per year contract.
- Left winger Matt Warner signed to a 1 year, 14,000 pound per year contract with 5,000 pound loyalty bonus.
- Striker Steve Diggin taken in on loan from Brackley until the end of the season for 0% wages.
- Striker Richard Dobson given unilateral release from contract, paid 1,500 pounds.
Injuries and Other News
- Gus Mufuta fined 1 week's wages for missing training.
Standings
Two months left, three points behind Hednesford, although if we tied at the end of the season we would surely win on goal differential. We need to start winning some games, though! Hopefully my transfers help to accomplish that.
March 2014 Update
Kettering 0 @ Worcester 2
Kettering 0 @ AFC Telford 2
Brackley 1 @ Kettering 0
Gloucester 4 @ Kettering 1
Kettering 1 @ Bradford PA 4
Transfers
Injuries and Other News
- Gus Mufuta fined 1 week's wages for missing training.- 3.25.2014: Lewis Hawkins out 4 weeks with thigh strain.
Standings
I hope it felt good to steal those 37,500 pounds from Kettering Town. We need to scavenge at least 5 points to escape relegation, and potentially more depending on how Solihull does.
April-May 2014 Update
Matches
Bishop's Stortford 2 @ Kettering 1
Kettering 2 @ Chester 3
Boston United 1 @ Kettering 2
SUCK IT BOSTON UNITED! Still, 6 points behind in the relegation chase and only 3 fixtures left, we need to win every single last one and hope for a lot of help.
Kettering 0 @ Histon 3
Loss ensures Kettering's relegation.
Droylsden 0 @ Kettering 1
Kettering 0 @ Braintree 1
Transfers
Injuries and Other News
- Shaun Wilkinson skips training, fined 1 week's wages.- Shaun Wilkinson skips training, fined 2 week's wages.
Standings
Well, that's the end of the season. Relegated for the first time in my FM career, despite all the different tactics, tweaks, and signings I made. It hurts more because I know it was my fault. I assume I'm not going to be resigned, but I wouldn't resign anyway since Kettering is going to an unplayable league.
I don't know what the future will bring. I don't know if I'll stay in England, or give one of the other top league systems a chance.
May 6, 2014
Elliott Resigns as Kettering Manager
"This is for the best of both of club and manager. The club needs a clean break from me and get on with continuing their history, and I need to get on with a new club as early in the offseason as possible to get a head start on resurrecting my career. I'm sorry that I disappointed the Kettering Town fans, they expected better when they were promoted to the Blue Square North, and I could not provide it for them. Thank you for supporting us through thin and thin, and I hope the next manager can provide better for you. As for me, I'm not sure what's next, or who will want me after this, but we'll see where the road takes me. Once again, thank you everyone for having me here." - resignation speech
Here's how I imagine the conversation went down:
David Bosomworth: Thank you for signing the contract, now I can officially say, "Welcome to the Shaymen!"
Shylo Elliott: Uh...isn't that a Pokemon?
David Bosomworth: Definitely not!...I'm not sure what Shaymen are, myself, but I can assure you it is not a Pokemon.
Shylo Elliott: I'm pretty sure it's a Pokemon...anyway, glad to be part of the club, too!
Summer 2014 Update
Tactics
I think I might have gotten too cute with the attacking and defensive midfielders. There are only 5 subs in this league, I need more generalized roles. So, I'm going to a bog standard 4-4-2 with Halifax. You all know what it looks like, I don't need to take a picture:
I have made three versions of this tactic, one with Standard, one with Attacking, and one with Defensive. I'll let the players play and that should get me the results.
Lower level players aren't really creative, so I want them to be more disciplined. I prefer crossing to the far post, and a hard-pressing, hard-tackling, aggressive style.
Transfers
Once again, the team I joined is shortstaffed and I will have to assemble one on my own:Assistant Manager: Danny Spiller (11,250 pounds/year)
Chief Scout: Robbie Kember (8,250 pounds/year)
Coaches: Craig Farley (9,000 pounds/year), Callum Khan (9,000 pounds/year)
Head Physio: Terry Baker (9,000 pounds/year)
Thankfully, the roster is already mostly set. Here are player transactions:
- Slovenian midfielder Albert Rusnak in on a 2 year, 16,500 pound/year contract from free agency
- Center back Tom Anderson resigns with Halifax to a 2 year, 12,750 pound/year contract.
- Center back Jack Errington resigns with Halifax to a 2 year, 8,250 pound/year contract
- Goalkeeper Harry Campbell resigns with Halifax to a 2 year, 17,000 pound/year contract
- Niall Maher, Matt Glennon, and Kevin McIntyre are not resigned and go out of contract.
- Left midfielder Steven Leslie resigns with Halifax to a 2 year, 36,000 pound/year contract.
- Scottish midfielder Malcolm Melvin in on a 2 year, 1,400 pound/year contract from free agency
- Scottish left back Ross McKinnon in on loan from Macclesfield until end of season; 0% wages.
- English striker Billy Brickness in on loan from Wrexham until end of season; 0% wages.
- Right back Bradley Wood resigns with Halifax to a 1 year, 36,000 pound/year deal, with 10,000 pound loyalty bonus
Injuries and Other News
N/ASummer 2014 Update - Friendlies
Matches
Aldershot 3 @ FC Halifax 0
West Brom Reserves 1 @ FC Halifax 4
Port Vale 4 @ FC Halifax 3
Macclesfield 3 @ FC Halifax 0
Barnsley 3 @ FC Halifax 0
It was a tough slate of friendlies, only one win, but the attack looked deadly for a couple of games, and we've been fighting way above our weight class in these friendlies.
Transfers
- Left back Smith Tiesse signed a 2 year deal worth 2,500 pounds per year.Injuries and Other News
- Albert Rusniak suffered a damaged neck in the match against Port Vale. He will see a specialist and only miss 2-3 weeks.You are reading "Pilgrimage Season 6: Professionals".
