DNZY
15 years ago
3 weeks ago
1,882
Premium
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England


Domestic Leagues:
  • English Premier League
  • Sky Bet Championship
  • Sky Bet League 1
  • Sky Bet League 2
  • Vanarama National League
  • Vanarama National League North
  • Vanarama National League South
Domestic Cups:
  • The Emirates FA Cup
  • Carabao Cup
  • McDonalds FA Community Shield
  • Checkatrade Trophy
  • Buildbase FA Trophy
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Scotland


Domestic Leagues:
  • Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership
  • Ladbrokes Scottish Championship
  • Ladbrokes Scottish League 1
  • Ladbrokes Scottish League 2
Domestic Cups:
  • William Hill Scottish Cup
  • Betfred Cup
  • Irn-Bru Cup (with Scottish team)
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Republic of Ireland


Domestic Leagues:
  • SSE Airtricity Premier Division
  • SSE Airtricity First Division
Domestic Cups:
  • FAI Irish Daily Mail Senior Cup
  • EA Sports Cup
  • Munster Senior Cup
  • Leinster Senior Cup
  • Irish President's Cup
  • Irn-Bru Cup (with Rep. Irish team (optional))
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Northern Ireland


Domestic Leagues:
  • Danske Bank Premiership
  • Bluefin Sport Championship
  • Premier Intermediate League
Domestic Cups:
  • Irish FA Challenge Cup
  • Northern Ireland Football League Cup
  • County Antrim Shield
  • Toals Steel & Sons Cup
  • Coca Cola Intermediate Cup
  • Rushmere Shopping Centre Mid-Ulster Cup
  • NIFL Charity Shield
  • Irn-Bru Cup (with Northern Irish team (optional))
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Wales


Domestic Leagues:
  • JD Welsh Premier League
Domestic Cups:
  • JD FAW Welsh Cup
  • Nathaniel MG Cup
  • Irn-Bru Cup (with Welsh team (optional))
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
KEZ_7
17 years ago
11 hours ago
1,875
bigmattb28
10 years ago
2 days ago
1,474
Premium
Your Jacob's ladder thread was awesome, can't wait for this! On a side note, I've done the British & Irish challenge a couple of times myself, if you're sticking to the rule of only signing / using British players, Northern Ireland is a nightmare!! Good luck!
Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
@DNZY.

Good to see you're doing a career thread for FM19 and it's the British Steel challenge, something I had been considering doing myself as I've never been able to complete it due to different circumstances - from being shit at the game to getting attached at one club. Good luck with this buddy.
DNZY
15 years ago
3 weeks ago
1,882
Premium
@Dan @Shedender @bigmattb28 @KEZ_7 - Glad to have you on board!

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So three teams have come forward to seek my services to ride through this mammoth challenge:

- In Northern Ireland, we've the Constitutes of Dergview in the second tier who look to aim avoiding the drop at an unflattering 100-1 odds in the season preview.

- On the other hand, I could delve straight into the English leagues with Hertfordshire based Hemel Hempstead in the Vanarama South. The board expect a top half finish and with an extra allocation of playoff places might help us move up divisions, but as I'm seeking trophies this may not be the smartest option to start.

- Perhaps the most appealing offer comes in the land of tartan, Albion Rovers in Scottish League 2. Another side with low ambitions of maintaining league status and with the bookies having us favourites to get relegated or at best conquer the relegation playoff this may be a poisoned chalice.
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Tough choices as expected from the start, I'd say Scotland is probably the most appealing from the get go
bigmattb28
10 years ago
2 days ago
1,474
Premium
Albion Rovers for me. If only for 1 season you could keep them up and move on.
Shedender
17 years ago
1 month ago
13,751
Similar to both @Dan and @bigmattb28, I'd recommend starting with Albion.
Grimnir
16 years ago
2 months ago
2,727
Classic British & Irish challenge! Got to love it!

Best of luck with this.

If we're voting, Hemel Hempstead gets mine!
tongey
14 years ago
1 month ago
1,101
Hemel Hempstead for me too! Love a British Steel challenge! Best of luck!
TinakoFM
10 years ago
1 day ago
1,522
I'd take the Albion Rovers job. For footballing reasons, definitely not for the extra wage.
Joe Boy
15 years ago
1 week ago
324
Premium
Good luck with this one chap. Who knew there was so much to win in Norn Ireland? Beautiful artwork
SrWer
11 years ago
7 months ago
7,002
I agree with @Joe Boy , beautiful artwork !!

Good luck with this one chap. Who knew there was so much to win in Norn Ireland? Beautiful artwork


The Challenge seems to me very good. Fairly successful as always @DNZY
AdamRK
12 years ago
4 years ago
157
I’ll throw a spanner in the works and say take the Dergview job! Look forward to seeing how this goes on @DNZY!
DNZY
15 years ago
3 weeks ago
1,882
Premium
Wow, overwhelming response so far thank you all!

@Dan @bigmattb28 @Shedender @r96Skinner all say Albion.

@Suffolk Seasider & @tongey for Hemel Hempstead.

@AdamRK taking the leftfield approach with Dergview.

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Life in this challenge begins in Scotland to League 2 outfit Albion Rovers. The Wee Rovers have been on a rather downward trajectory during their lifespan, from once being a well established Championship side to even dipping their toes into the Scottish Premiership to now being almost bottom of the food chain. In fact, they've practically been fourth tier since the mid nineties but did however spend a couple of seasons in League 1 before their recent relegation to their 'level'. Three honours to Albion's name, winning the Championship once in 1934, League 1 in 1989 and most recently League 2 in 2015.

SQUAD

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A lot of versatility but a major concern is the lack of some natural central midfielders. It's unclear what formation I'll rock with but I need at least two CMs which needs to be addressed massively in the open transfer window. One highly influential player and two other influential players is a small enough circle to keep harmony up but could easily turn the team on me in an instant. Fair to say we'll need to strengthen the team to win anything here.

Key Player: Gary Fisher

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Expectations

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In summary: stay up, be grand.
bigmattb28
10 years ago
2 days ago
1,474
Premium
Good choice mate. Can see you at the very least staying up, and who knows you may even push for promotion with the right singings. Also what skin is that you're using?
Dan
12 years ago
4 months ago
16,964
Good luck, great first club choice
AdamRK
12 years ago
4 years ago
157
Good luck in Scotland! That Gary Fisher looks a player
DNZY
15 years ago
3 weeks ago
1,882
Premium
@bigmattb28 - The skin is TCS '19, highly recommend it.

@Dan - I wouldn't say 'great', just the best option out of the available.

@AdamRK - Yes, Gary can definitely kick a ball..I hope.

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TRANSFERS

IN


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I'd like to say we emptied our pockets for the first transfer window but with frugal funds available, frees and loans were the only alternative. Zac Butterworth arrives in from Rangers to add some creative flair to the midfield (I'm using terms loosely here), while Gavin Malin comes in to maintain the defensive/attacking transitions. As I've noticed over the months...defending isn't really our strong point, hence why defending additions in Michael Dunlop and John Higgins to try and hold the fort. Higgins may also double up as an overlapping option.

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MATCH IN FOCUS: JULY

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ALBION ROVERS vs. Queen's Park
Scottish League Cup Group E
Reigart Stadium



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It was to be our only group win, but thankfully it came against our arch rivals. A delightful looping ball over the Queen's Park defence paved way for Graham Gracie to fire home in the opening quarter. Gracie so nearly doubled our lead in the opening stages of the second half too but denied by Hart in goal (no, that ain't Joe). The visitors were wasteful with routine saves for Peter Morrison to gather and preserve a clean sheet. The game did however end in controversy with QP equalising in injury time but the flag was up for offside. Replays showed the ref correctly ruling it out.

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Mattered very little as the rest of the group took turns to whip us. Clyde softened us up for Queen of the South to give us a right pasting. Improved with the Queen's Park victory, however we came up short against Stranraer in a tight encounter.

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Unsurprisingly knocked out of the group stages and finishing bottom to boot. We were rank outsiders anyways so no complaints.

MATCH IN FOCUS: AUGUST

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Queen's Park vs. ALBION ROVERS
Scottish League 2
Hampden Park



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Second time around we weren't so fresh at the massive Hampden Park...for all 1400 fans to flock. Contrary to belief we actually were in the game despite slumping to a 3-0 half time deficit. A bit of a stern team talk and turned on the thrusts after the break. Gracie could have had a hat-trick in the game but settled for one via a counter attack to light the fuse. A penalty from Fisher helped us pull it back to 3-2 but midfielder Jamie Gallagher spurned the full comeback in injury time, heading straight at the keeper from a corner. Five clear cut chances in the game, we'll look back on this and wonder why we came away with nothing.

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Started life in League 2 very nicely with a rather fortunate late winner against Edinburgh City, courtesy of an own goal after Gracie bagged a nice brace. Gracie also netted at home to Peterhead in a rather flattering draw. However Rangers' Colts ran rings around us which had a knock on effect going into Elgin City and the Queen's Park result to leave us with only a single win from our opening four league games.

MATCH IN FOCUS: SEPTEMBER

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ALBION ROVERS vs. Stirling Albion
Scottish League 2
Reigart Stadium



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Shambles. This was a must win against the bottom side but Stirling prevailed victorious. Edged the first half with some close shaves, Graham Gracie seems to be the reliant goalscorer for us but denied by the post on the half hour. Keeper Peter Morrison might want to look away from the highlights reel, totally oblivious to his surroundings from a free kick as Daniel Jardine looped a header over him into an empty net. Stirling took control afterwards and Peter MacDonald should have added two more to the Stirling tally as we luckily escaped. Not looking good.

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September was forgettable. Berwick Rangers really should have been taken to the cleaners but ended in a standstill. David Goodwillie continues to be far too overpowered for this division, slotting a brace in a comfortable 2-0 win for Clyde. Couldn't even compete with Cowdenbeath, even more surprising that someone other than Gracie scored in that match too. The Stirling ended a miserable month.

LEAGUE TABLE

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Not going too well with the Wee Rovers. You can see my frustration with the Stirling result as they now move level on points with us at the wrong end of the table. Might not be a state of emergency just yet but unless our performances improve, this could become a fight for survival. Clyde cruising at the top.

SCOTTISH CUP

SECOND ROUND DRAW


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Speaking of whom, out of all the teams we could have faced in the second round of the Scottish cup, it had to be them.
bcsaulJ
5 years ago
1 year ago
51
This time I follow you from the beginning, I can't wait to see where this career will take you

p.s. the Jacob's ladder career is over?
bigmattb28
10 years ago
2 days ago
1,474
Premium
Oh man not the best form in the early going still loads of time to turn things round though

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