Rule Britannia

Having failed in my attempts to get to grips with the daunting Pentagon challenge and leaving the dream of turning Wales into a footballing super power to those who can do it justice, I'm hoping that a return to one of the first challenges I ever attempted on these forums could be just what I need to finally get me involed in a career for Football Manager 2013.

For those of you who dont know, The British Steel Challenge, involves trying to win every single one of these trophies...


Premiership, Championship, League One, League Two, Blue Square Premier,Blue Square N/S, FA Cup, Capital One Cup, Community Sheild, Johnstones Paint Trophy, FA Trophy


First division, Second Division, Third Division, Scottish Cup, League Cup, Challenge Cup


Premier, Welsh Cup, Premier League Cup


Premier, First Division, Senior Challenge Cup, League Cup, Munster Senior Cup


Premier, First Division, Second Division, Irish Cup, League Cup, Co.Antrim Sheild, Steel & Sons Cup, Intermediate Cup, Mid Ulster Cup, Setanta Cup


Its a tough ask at the best of times but on top of this, I can only use Home-Grown players from the British Isles, whilst also starting unemployed with only my Sunday league experience supporting my very weak CV.

I'm hoping this monumental challenge is just what I need but what is far more likely is that by this time next week I'll be crying myself to sleep with a hammer embedded in my laptop...

So firsts thing first, I need to get myself a job and sharpish.



As luck would have it there are already a couple of suitable jobs readily available for me, both in the lowest leagues of their respective countries.





Athlone Town, are a Semi professional outfit currently trying to fight it out in the First division of Ireland, with very little in the way of money or talent its hardly the most appealing of job offers, whilst Blue Square South side, Havant and Waterlooville are a a relativley newly formed up and coming club looking to push their way into the football league.

I knew which job I wanted, however things never work out as eaisly as planned in Football Manager....

Good luck mate. I love your graphics by the way.

The graphics are fantastic, did you do them? good luck matey

Thanks Rick, I hope I can live up to your awesome challenge.

Cheers Dan, I cant take credit for the font thats far beyond me, all I did was type it out put the flags inside the letters. I have photoshop but I'm not really very savvy with it.

As things would have it, Athlone Town quickly recruited former Crazy Gang member, Mark Dziadulewicz to fill in as manager, whilst Havant and Waterlooville left me waiting an entire week before kindly informing me that former Brechin assistant manager Kevin McAllister would be given the reigns for the coming season.



In a strange coincidence it was actually Brechin City that offered me first potential job role, as the Scottish club desperatley searched around for a manager who could steady the ship in the Scottish Second division. As much as I was tempted by the opportunity to create a club that could fill the void left by Rangers in the Scottish Premier League, having to go back and complete the third division didn't really appeal to me and I once again opted to take my chances in the job market.

Fortunatley I wasnt left waiting much longer...


Former Stalybridge Celtic manager, Jim Harvey had jumped ship just one month before the beginning of the season to take the role of Northern Irelands Under Twenty Ones manager, leaving the small club from Greater Manchester, scrambling for a quick replacement and thats were I step in...





Despite being formed way back in 1909, the club have never played in the Football League and with limited finances, no youth facilities and a thread-bare squad, I don't think I'm going to be the man to take them into the promised land quite yet.
With just £200 per week available for wages, it looks highly unlikely that I will be troubling the transfer market without doing a bit of financial juggling but a quick glance at the squad shows that I'm certinaly going to have to do something if were to make it through the season in one piece.



Just sixteen players on the books and with no reserves or youth players to use as back up, I'm desperate to try and add some much needed depth to a squad strong on potential but weak on actual ability.

The team actually holds some of the brightest prospects in the division but until these promising youngsters come to age, its simply going to be a matter of survival in the league, whether or not I will have survived long enough to see them reach their potential remains to be seen but I'm eager to find out..

Good luck with Stalybridge mate. I might join you in this challenge as my current game has seen me get sacked from two clubs in the space of a year. I think it's a sign things aren't going to work out for me.

Damn thats rough Rick. Hopefully a spell in LLM might give us both a bit more luck!

As said I was keen to reorganise the finances of the squad to free up some space to bring in some new talent for our eventual promotion push and I didnt waste any time getting to work.


Just three days on the job and I already sent my first player packing as highest earner, Thirty Seven year old player/assistant manager Tim Ryan was given his marching orders, as I look to bring in my own assistant and one that I hope will develop alongside me throughout the length of this career.

Following him out of the door was young striker, Jack Laird. To be honest hes a world away from breaking into the first team at the minute but hopefully with a succesful loan spell at Matlock, he could possibly develop into a useful player for us.

Last to leave as we neared the start of the season were the only two non British nationals in the team. I was desperatley trying to free up some more cash so rashly opted to send both Aussie midfielder, Mitchell Austin and Congolese defender, Bembo-Leta out on frees with only the young defender managing to find himself a club for the coming season.

With three players leaving, I hardly managed to free alot of space in that wage budget but its amazing what you can do with a little bit of money in the lower leagues but before I got to work building a squad capable of pushing for promotion, there was the small matter of finding my new right hand man.

I searched long and hard for the ideal candidate to partner me in this long journey and came up with just one perfect man for the job.

Dean Windass.

An absolute legend and in my mind a player that pretty much embodies what a proper British football player should be. Determined, fool hardy and perhaps just that little bit insane. Having spent more time behind a camera then on the sidelines over the last few seasons, its fair to say Windass isnt the most experienced of choices and infact his coaching ability can pretty much be summed up as "useless" but what he lacks in technique he makes up for in attitude and I'm genuinley interested to see how far we both can develop together.

Commented instead of posted an update...One day I will get the hang of this new career forum!

A thin squad and little in the way of finances it was always going to be an interesting transfer window to get through but having managed to free up some space in the wage budget and with the ever present loan market rich with talent, I wasn't going to be held back in my attempts to strengthen the squad.




First of our season long loanees to arrive at the club was Doncaster Rovers young midfielder, Jake McCormick. Central midfielders are the life blood of every team and with Barrow and Pepper proving to be the only current players that can do a solid job in the middle of the field, I was eager to add some strength in depth, with the promising Eighteen year old, proving to be the ideal utility midfielder for the coming season.


Taking loanees from the Blue Square Premier league might not seem like the best plan but want away midfielder, Micheal Potts actually does posess some talent. A former Manchester United and Blackburn youth player hes certainly falling down the ranks pretty rapidly but hopefully a season with Stalybridge might see him discover something that once saw him training with the Red Devils.


Crewe have long been producing some quality players from their ranks and right back, Oliver Turton is another who is destined for bigger and better things but hopefully before that he will be able to put in some quality displays as our first choice right back. At just nineteen its a lot of responsibility for the young player but having made a few appearances for Crewes first team in league two hes proven hes got what it takes.


Rounding up our collection of loanees is the son of legendary musician and occasional England winger, Chris Waddle. Young Jack Waddle is keen to follow in his fathers footsteps. He perhaps doesnt quite posess the potential to live up to his dads lofty heights but he could certainly look to provide some strength and flair down the flanks for our growing young team.


First of our new permanent signings was promising Northern Irish midfielder, Sammy Stewart. With a number of League Two sides chasing the former Aberdeen midfielder we were extremley fortunate to land him, even if it did take a reasonably large signing fee but his brief experience of life in the Scottish Premier League will add some undoubted ability to our team.


With Turton strengthening on the right side, in came Diabhibd McIvor to add some much needed strenght to the left. Having never played outside of the Emerald Isle its sure to be a big test for the young defender to see how he copes in the English game. His only really technically gifted at tackling but for a left back in the lowest rung of the English football league ladder what else do you need?


With Bembo-Leta being sent packing, we were in dire need of another strong central defender and McIvors compatriot, Robinson certainly fits the bill. At just nineteen hes already an extremley gifted defender for this level and will hopefully only continue to get better with our now extremley youthful side.


The fourth and final, permanent signing and yet another Northern Irish player to join was left winger Jody Lynch. Ive honestly paid more for a pint before and with just a fiver swapping hands it was one of the easiest transfers Ive ever made. Ive never really used the flanks to their full in previous Football Managers but im keen to give it a shot this year and with Lynch's strong crossing ability and nippy pace he could prove to be a very effective addition to out team



So Eight new signings arrive at Bower Fold, Four on a season long loan and Four on a permanent basis and everyone under Twenty Three.I firmly believe these players have what it takes to see our club rise up the table and im eager to see them in action as we aim to try and secure our first trophy of what will hopefully be a long and fruitful career.

Good signings mate I am also Stalybridge at the moment on my journeyman save

Cheers George, how are they doing for you? Please dont tell me you've won the Champions League already!?

With players gradually trickling into the club, the preseason was certainly going to be interesting one but with only four games until the start of the season we barely had any time to develop tactics or blend the new players into the squad. Needless to say it was a complete disaster...

A four goal whitewash by League Twos Rotherham saw my career at Stalybridge get off to quite possibly the worst start, whilst a struggling defeat to Southend and a goalless draw with non league Worksop didnt exactly fill the Celtic fans with alot of hope for my ability to guide their beloved club up the league.

A narrow loss to Oldham was unfortunatley about as good as it got as it became apparent to me I was going to need to develop some tactics to suit my newly formed team. A quick run out with 4-4-2 was clearly not working and my usual fall back plan of a narrow 4-1-2-1-2 formation just simply wouldnt work with the players I had assembled.

Instead I came up with this...

God knows if it will work and heaven help me if it doesnt but using our exciting wide players and of course our depth in defensive midifielders to try and strengthen my apparently sloppy defence im hoping that I can build from the back to create a tactic that will see us grind out the results.

With just a fortnight till the first game of the season, theres little time for the squad to get used to this new formation but if I'm going to get anything out of this season there going to have to adapt and fast.

ha ha no only just taken over lost first game 2-0 away the squad at the start really is poor.

Atleast I'm not alone on this then, I think given time this team will walk the BSN but for now it needs alot of work

Did it Again, I really need to start clicking the right button

So with the squad brimming with young potential, we head into the first month of my debut season in charge of Stalybridge Celtic. Predicted for a mid-table finish, its probably going to be one of those irritating topsy-turvy seasons but given enough time and plenty of encouragement im sure this team can one day make it to the Blue Square Premier League...



A goalless draw with Workington saw our league campaign splutter into life as the newly formed formation held its own in encouraging fashion as we battled to claim our first point of the season.

From then on though things just simply got better.

Lone striker Corey Gregory lived up to Dean Windass's high praise and went on an early season scoring spree, picking up a brace to see off Gainsborough in a bitter battle at home and repeating the feat as we thrashed a sorry looking Dorylsden by four goals to give us a sensational start to the season at Bower Fold.

The young striker rounded off his fantastic month by netting one more in the dieing minutes of the game as we strolled past a lacklustre Colwyn bay to pick up our third straight victory in the league.

Unsuprisingly Gregory picked up the player of the month award following his sensational displays upfront for Stalybridge and he wasnt the only one to take something from our near perfect start to the season.




Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself. The formation appears to be working for our young guns and striker Corey Gregory has really taken to his role as lone striker like a duck to water.

With us sitting pretty at the top of the table the signs are encouraging for the forth coming season but theres still plenty of games to come and im taking nothing for granted at this stage.

Great start in the league! I seem to always have success in the lowest league due to it not being that difficult when you can make some great signings and they start to gel together. Adding some quality players really make the difference.

A decent start to competitive football buddy, the signings youve made could make a big difference this season

Cheers Webby, I tend to just bounce around whatever league I start off in when I begin a career im not really the brightest of starters in the league but Ive certainly had some luck this time around. Could have something to do with the fact I always end up signing young and inexperienced players.

Thanks Dan, heres hoping but I think there more likely to make a difference once they've developed alot further.

Top of the table and sitting pretty. Everything at Stalybridge was going perfectly, however my honeymoon period at the helm of the club didn't exactly last long.



Our good run of form briefly continued into September, all be it with a run of dull draws, against Hinckley, Bradford Park Avenue and Gloucester before our good fortune came to an abrupt end.

An unconvincing display against Histon saw us go behind to two goals within the first twenty minutes and in similar fashion, league favourites Chester were also gifted with a perfect start to the game as they cruised to a comfortable three points in our own backyard courtesy of a sloppy mistake by rookie goalkeeper, Lloyd Rigby.

The only positive of a decidedly weak month was a convincing victory in the FA Cup second qualifying round as we strolled part Blyth Spartans and one step closer to a much needed money spinning tie in the first round of the biggest cup competition in England.

bit of a sour september but I'm sure its nothing you can't turn around

Heres hoping so Dan, though I think my chances of some first season silverware might have slipped away already!

Following a lacklustre September in which our sole victory came from a minor victory over non league Blyth Spartans, I was keen to get back to winning ways in the league and it seems I wasnt the only one....



Summer signing Sammy Stewart and the increasingly impressive striker, Corey Gregory almost single handedly got our promotion push back on track with some incredible performances on the pitch as a resurgent side blasted through a jam packed October.

A goalless draw with Guiseley hardly saw us burst back into life but two encouraging victorys over Worcester and Boston in the league saw us quickly rise back up the table with only a narrow loss to hard fighting Oxford City putting a dampener on a solid month for the Celtic.

However it was in the FA Cup that the club really continued to impress.

Stalybridge are desperate for funds, with the club leaking money on an alarmingly regular basis it is paramount that the club make the most of the rare opportunities for a cup run. A straight forward victory over non league Northwich saw Corey Gregory once again take the plaudits, whilst midfield maestro Sammy Stewart saved us from an embaressing exit against Frickley United courtesy of a late thirty yard piledriver, before sending us into the first round of the competition with two well placed penalties in the replay at Bower Fold.

Fingers crossed for a high profile first round draw against the likes of Sheffield United

cracking effort to get into the first proper round of the fa cup and picking up just one defeat that month is a really good month mate!

Thanks Dan, I was pretty pleased. Nothing beats a good old fashioned cup run!

Our hopes of a money spinning tie in the FA Cup failed to materialise as Blue Square Premier Leagues, Woking arrived at Bowers Fold and duely sent us packing from the competition in ruthless fashion.

With any money from the FA Cup now well and truely beyond us, our final hope of acheiving some unexpected silverware in the cup competitions lies solely with the FA Trophy. A four goal thrashing of non league Romulus sent us easily into the first proper round of the competition but it was to prove the only highlight of the compeition as a lacklustre perfromance against minnows Kidsgrove saw us bow out of the compeition.

With only the league left to concentrate on, you might have thought our performances might have steadily improved, however a demoralised and increasingly fatigued team struggled to keep up with the frantic pace of the fixtures amassing just three points courtesy of a very fortunate extra time goal from reliable lone striker Corey Gregory against struggling Brackley.

Were sat firmly in mid table but with no one yet to take the league by storm and a good chunk of the season left to play, all hope for some success is not quite lost yet.

Not a great month mate still got a chance though

I know this has no relevance to this story, but I am just letting you know that Zak Ansah made the Arsenal bench last night!