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Deleted Account #151676
#87039 Rick's Non-League Story
Five Players Released
Brothers Adam & Tom Betteridge (left & centre right respectively) are amongst the released players.
New manager Richard Beale has wasted no time in clearing the decks as he looks to begin building for his first season in the hot seat.
Beale has shown five players the door, including long time servants Adam and Tom Betteridge, older brother Tom has been with Gressley since his arrival from Mickleover in 2005, making over 150 appearances for the Moatmen. Adam, also a Mickleover recruit spent last season on loan at East Midlands Counties side Borrowash Victoria has made 76 league starts for Gresley but still finds himself surplus to requirement.
Completing the list are young wingers Alex Britton and Kyle Bryant as well as big centre forward Phil Massingham. The club wishes them them the best of luck in the future endeavours.
#87017 Rick's Non-League Story
Friendly Dates Confirmed
Gresley will go head to head with local rivals Burton Albion for the first time in four years when the Brewers visit the Moat ground this August.
The visit of Gray Rowett's men is undoubtedly the highlight of a pre-season schedule that includes outings against fellow locals Shepshed Dynamo, Rocester and Conference side Nuneaton.
The Moatmen last tangled with Burton in the 2008 Bass Vase final, losing on penalty's to Nigel Clough's Brewers after beating Nottingham Forest in the semi final, you have to go back to new years day 1999 for the last league meeting between the two sides as the Brewers were again the victors, this time winning 2-0 at the Moat.
Full Schedule
Saturday 21st July - Shepshed Dynamo
Monday 23rd July - Ibstock United
Thursday 26th July - Ellistown
Tuesday 31st July - Rocester
Saturday 4th August - Nuneaton Town
Saturday 11th August - Burton Albion
*bold denotes home fixture
#87011 Rick's Non-League Story
Skipper Looking Forward To New Era
Gresley captain Gary Hateley today became the first player to speak publicly on the appointment of 25 year old Richard Beale as the new manager at the Moat ground.
The 29 year old goalkeeper was quick to welcome the change despite the new manager being four years younger than himself; "Age shouldn't come into it, if Rick has got a good footballing brain and the drive to succeed that's all he needs, Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas Boas had very little playing experience but started coaching and managing in their twenties and they are two of the finest coaches in the world."
Hatley was also keen to pay homage to former manager Gary Norton; "Gaz is a legend around here and I'll always have the utmost respect for him, he brought me here from Shepshed four years ago to help rebuild the playing staff after liquidation and I've loved every last minute of it, I'll always be grateful to him for giving me the chance to collect winners medals in both the Eastern Counties league and Midland Alliance."
#86947 The Lower League Thread
#86932 The Lower League Thread
#86925 Rick's Non-League Story
Meet The New Gaffer!
Gresley FC would like to extend a warm welcome to our new first team manager Richard Beale.
Beale, 25 has served the club as match day volunteer for several years whilst studying towards his coaching licence. The Birmingham born season ticket holder who now lives locally is said to be delighted to be offered the chance to begin his managerial career with the Moatmen and is full of optimism for the future; "I can't thank chairman Barry North enough for taking such a risk on an unproven coach such as myself, I want it know that although I may be young I feel ready for this challenge and I fully intend to continue to build upon the foundations laid by former manager Gary Norton."
Beale's only footballing experience came as a youth player for our divisional rivals Romulus and Sutton Coldfield Town where a knee injury ended his hopes of making it as a player, however the youngster perused his love of the game by training as a coach.
Will this gamble by the club pay off? Have your say below.
#86900 Rick's Non-League Story
Gary Norton Steps Down
After 10 years totalling 519 competitive games and almost 100 friendlies as manager of Gresley Rovers/Gresley FC, Gary Norton has decided to step down from his role after guiding the club to last seasons Midland Alliance title.
However, the Gresley faithful won't be getting rid of Gary just yet as he intends to remain at the club having accepted an offer from chairman Barry North to join him and his colleagues on the board of directors. Gary was quoted as saying "I am very honoured to have been offered this opportunity and I hope that I can be of assistance to the club and the existing board members in helping to take things forward off the pitch in support of the team on it for many years to come."
He then went on to say "The decision to step down from the team management after 14 years with the club - the last 10 of which have been as first team manager - has been something I've been considering for quite some time. Without doubt it's been one of the hardest decisions I've had to make in my life as anyone who knows me will know how much I absolutely love this football club and what a huge part of my life it has been, I am as proud to be in charge of the team today as I was when I was promoted as a 29 year old reserve team manager to replace Jon Newsome as manager back in July 2003.
However after much consideration, deliberation and discussion with my family I have come to the decision that after a decade in the dugout the time is now right for both the football club and myself to step down and take a break from the management side of things. I'd like to finish off by thanking everyone for their fantastic support of the team and myself over the years."
There is no clear front runner to replace Gary but you can be assured that we will bring you news as soon as it breaks!
#86401 What should I do next?
I'm currently in the agonisingly slow process of re-downloading the game and the vast expanse of graphics and editor data that go along with it. Whilst doing this I have been wondering what I should do now and decided to leave it up t those who will be reading, what kind of story would you be most interested in following?
Premiership (Aston Villa)
I was raised a Villa fan before getting a job at Walsall, I still have a massive soft spot for the Villa.
Football League
Probably with one of my local Midlands sides, Walsall would be the obvious choice as I know the club inside out but as I live on the border of Leicestershire and Derbyshire, Leicester City, Derby County or Burton Albion are also interesting possibility.
Non-League
Tamworth perhaps or even with a side from lower down the pyramid with the help of an expansion, I like playing as my local club Gresley FC, Maybe Sutton Coldfield or Coalville Town instead.
Little Brother
My attempt to manoeuvre a side that is perennially in the shadow of a more illustrious neighbour into the limelight, 1860 Munich or Espanyol spring to mind immediately, but if you have any other suggestions please go ahead.
World Hero
For those who don't know there are special achievements in Steam for taking a club from the bottom division to the highest in certain country's, my aim would be to collect them all.
Hexagon
The most difficult challenge on FM, collect the Champions League's of all six continents.
Metropolitan man
Five of the six largest city's in Europe have still never been graced with a Champions League winner, my task would be to go around them and right those wrongs.
South American Adventure
The same idea as what Shedender and Dan did once in going around Europe hypothetically and collecting the league championship of every country, except in the football crazy continent of South America.
#86129 Rick's Career
No unfortunately, from now on I think I will start saving to Dropbox instead of the computer to prevent this happening again.
Oh well, a big thank you to all who have read and commented upon my story, I hope you have found it entertaining and that you will read my next one if and when I decide to do it.
#86090 Rick's Career
I'm absolutely gutted, I haven't got into a save so much in a long time and was really enjoying myself. I may do another thread at some point but right now my motivation to play FM is gone.
#85849 Rick's Career
A very solid win over Baltic neighbours Finland saw us jump above the Finns into second place with top of the group Russia looming in the final game;
What a result! in my wildest imagination I never expected that! the Russians hadn't dropped a single point throughout the campaign so I had been fully prepared for a potentially heavy defeat but clearly my side was having none of that as we recorded what is surely one of Latvian footballs greatest moments at any level.
Second place in that group is quite an achievement, especially after the pumping Romania gave us back in October last year, unfortunately it wasn't enough to qualify for the play-off's but the team can take a lot of encouragement for the next campaign;
The dropped points against Lichtenstein and Finland in the opening two games came back to haunt us, had we won them we would have qualified, but hey, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
I resigned my post immediately after the Russia game to concentrate on finishing the season with Skonto as we look to secure the second half of a wonderful quadruple having already collected the Livonia cup and Baltic League. Just the Virsliga and Kauss to go and I can leave Latvian football a very happy man. (If I indeed do leave at the end of the season)
Will I return to International football? I would like to, but probably only at senior level next time, If the Latvian national side job opens up I would quite happily take that.
#85843 Rick's Career
Our European season ended in the exact same way as last season as we came up just short against Lech in the third round of the Champions League qualifiers despite a plucky second leg performance, much like last year against Basel before getting lumped with a tough ask in the Europa League play-off where another hard working show failed to bear fruit as FC Copenhagen just edged us out 4-3 on aggregate. A frustrating sense of deja-vue hung over Riga with memories of Lokomotiv Moscow last season re-surfacing.
In the league Olimps briefly got a nine point jump on us, however after wins against Dugava, Ventspils and Rezekne we are right back on their tails, narrowing the gap back down to three points with a huge first vs. second tie looming large on the horizon next month.
All three of our goals against Daugava came from players who usually don't feature often on the score sheet, Austrian winger Marco Meilinger, midfielder Vitalijs Trofimovs and centreback Aleksejs Skarbardis making this important result possible, in Skarbardis's case it was the 20 year old's first goal for the club.
With us 2-1 down from the home leg I didn't go to Poland to face Lech with too much optimism, however when Grzegorz Tomasiewicz fired us into the lead midway through the first half my hopes were raised, of course due to Lech's two away goals we would need another, Lech's goal in the 53rd minute didn't change too much as we still just needed one to force extra time, it took just two minutes for Tomasiewicz to find that goal, unfortunately we couldn't hold of for extra time as Lech scored with ten minutes to go to send us out of the competition despite a fighting performance.
Tomasiewicz was back on the score sheet in the always difficult derby with Ventspils, the Polish striker slotted in what proved to be the winning goal shortly after half time to avenge the defeat we suffered against our old rivals last time out. Daugava D proved tricky lock to pick as they held on for a draw, allowing Olimps to evade our clutches again.
The Europa League pitted us against Danish giants FC Copenhagen with the first leg at FCK's Parken stadium, Tomasiewicz fired us into an unexpected lead completely against the run of play after half an hour, however the Lions front line was overwhelming and pulled level in stoppage time at the end of the first half, Our dynamic performance was undone on the hour mark as Ulrik Hakansson put the ten time Danish champions ahead with what proved to be the winning goal, however with our away goal we weren't dead and buried in this tie as we prepared for the home leg.
A 88th minute strike from substitute Valdis Riherts won us the game against Rezkene as we came from behind, a defeat would have seen us slide down to third so the 25 year old's late winner was huge relief.
Keeping the score down to 2-1 in the first leg against Copenhagen meant we needed to win 1-0, just 1-0 to cause a big upset in front of our own fans, when Tomasiewicz belted us ahead in the 57th minute the place erupted, however the visitors were able to claw back an equaliser against the torrent of our attacking football to send us out of the Europa league at final hurdle for a second year running.
I've been having second thoughts about leaving Skonto at the end of this season and am now seriously considering staying on to try and guide the club further in one of the European competitions, Skonto celebrate their thirtieth anniversary in two years time which seems like a natural target to achieve reaching the group stages for the first time ever by. What do you guys think? should I stay or should I go now?
#85774 Transfer Rumours 2013/14
#85719 The Lower League Thread
#85717 The Lower League Thread
So we have no strikers at the moment....
#85697 Rick's Career
Although July was a good month in the cups I can't help but feel disappointed that we've lost ground on Olimps who have shown themselves to be far more serious n their title challenge then I thought they could be.
A straight forward win over Gulbene in the Virsliga was followed by us lifting the Baltic League trophy in front of our own supporters as we made light work of Lithuanian outfit Suduva, our very own Lithuanian international Airvarus Mockus claimed the man of the match award for his display on the right wing, scoring two goals and assisting another.
We suffered a bit of a cup hangover against Metalurgs as we failed to find the net despite keeping them on the backfoot throughout, giving Olimps breathing space at the top of Virsliga.
Our Champions League campaign got under way against Hungarian side Videoton, a 4-0 away win all but ensured our place in the next round, Janis Krasovskis claiming a hat-trick in the process.
Despite our dazzling cup form we again failed to impress in the league as we were held to a draw by the normally crap Spartaks Jurmala to allow Olimps to go six points clear of us, Is this Rangers all over again?
The second leg against Videoton was a straight forward affair as we eased into the third qualifying round against Polish side Lech Pozan before getting back to winning ways in Virsliga by coming from behind against RFS.
Our home game with Lech came next, it was essential we got off to a good start at home as going to Poland and beating Lech would be a tall order, we begin well as Krasovskis fired us into the lead before half time, however Lech's quality began to show in the second half as they came from behind to take a 2-1 away goal lead to make our task a daunting one in the second leg.
#85693 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Is having them bth plugged into the same socket causing a power surge?
#85609 Team Susie?
#85597 Rick's Career
One day yes, but I'm enjoying it on the Continent at the moment and I've certainly got my heart set on moving on to one of the bigger Eastern European or Scandinavian nations, which I think is a nice realistic progression.
#85587 Rick's Career
Not at all mate, thank you.
#85585 Looking for help re: Data update
#85584 Rick's Career
That's the clubs seventh Baltic League victory, it also means I have now won everything open to me at Skonto at least once, with the exceptions of the Europa or Champions League which I'm never likely to collect here.
#85575 Rick's Career
A slip up against title rivals Olimps has seen us slip off of the top of Virsliga for the time being, although we still hold a game in hand over the pesky upstarts so there is no cause for concern just yet.
In the Latvian cup we have advanced into the last four where we will face Ventspils for the oppertunity to reach the final and hopefully retain the cup.
We looked to have blown our 3-1 half time lead against Daugava as the the home side drew level in the 88th minute, however my side showed great character to rouse themselves in order to strike back and win deep into stoppage time as the currently unstoppable Airvarus Mockus rifled in the winner, the Lithuanian wingers fourth goal in three games, in fact he has been so impressive he has kept £1M record signing Olexiy Babyr out of the team.
Mockus put in another golden performance in the second leg of the Baltic League semi final against Spartaks as he walked off with the match ball for scoring a tremendous hat-trick, helping us secure our place in the final against his compatriots FK Suduva next month.
We thumped the other Daugava side by the same scoreline in the following game as we returned to Virsliga action even young full back Ivan Gorkss got in on the scoring in this very one sided affair.
Beating one rival only set us up to face another in the semi finals of the Latvian cup as we dispatched Metalurgs 2-0 in the quarter final, only to be drawn at home to Ventspils in the last four, always a tricky game.
Finally we squared off with second place Olimps at home, knowing a win would take us four points clear, unfortunately with this opportunity dangling temptingly above their heads, my players stumbled, things looked to be fizzling out into a thoroughly boring 0-0, that was until midfielder Vitalijs Trofimovs saw red in the 54th minute. Olimps took full advantage of the extra space, going on to win 2-0 as I berated Trofimovs, the costly red card cost him to weeks wages.
In other news;
The draw fr the Champions League has been made, hopefully this will be the year the club can finally reach the group stages of the competitin, or t the very least reach the final qualifying round so if we lose we drop straight into the Europa League groups.
I doubt Hungarian side Videoton will be easy but I'm fairly confident we can advance if we play our best.
I reached another personal milestone this month as I reached my 300th game in management in the 5-1 win over Daugava;
It's certainly been fun! I wonder where I'll be in another 300 games time.
#85393 Rick's Career
May was a gruelling nine game slog but we have come out the other side still leading the pack and looking odds on to be playing in the Baltic League final in July after beating Spartaks 3-2 away from home.
A simple 2-0 win over over Trans secured a 9-0 aggregate romp against the Estonians to advance into the semis of the tournament, this was followed up on with a straight forward cup win over Daugava to see us safely through into the quarter finals, can we retain the Kauss this year?
Metalurgs gave us a tight game as we returned to Virsliga action but Valdis Riherts's strike just after half time was just about enough to earn the three points.
Olimps were up next, Olimps have emerged as a force in Virsliga in the last couple of years, they pushed us quite hard last season but didn't have the strength in depth to maintain that momentum and fell away towards the end, however they have strengthened over the summer by signing the likes of Latvian Internationals Igors Kozlovs, Vadims Gailus as well as Vitalijs Melgalvis from us. Considering their improving stature this 2-0 win could be invaluable as we loo to prevent the building momentum and passing us.
Considering our last four games with Spartaks have ended 7-0, 4-0, 5-0 and 4-0 again, you may have expected us to have given the Seahorses another spanking, however a 89th minute strike robbed us of an unexpectedly narrow win much to my immense frustration.
We returned to winning ways against Gulbene, a outstanding solo run and finish from Nail Zamaliev was undoubtedly the highlight of this one.
Our Baltic League adventure continued as we again came up against Spartaks, this time there was no slip up as we took a vital away goal advantage into the return leg, a hat trick from Janis Krasovskis did the trick for us. Janis was again on target against newly promoted RFS as we held on, 3-0 up at half time we allowed RFS to battle back to 3-2 which was a bit unnerving, thankfully we regained our composure and went on to add to our lead and wrap up the result.
Finally came the always tricky clash with rivals Ventspils, we twice fell behind but equalised almost instantly, however a 91st minute Igors Kohans strike denied us a point which would have been fair, This is the second or third time those bastards have robbed us in injury time, ending my hopes of an unbeaten season in the process.
The win over Metalurgs was a personal milestone for me as I reached 100 games as Skonto manager;
#85376 Team Susie?
Looks like so much fun.
#85157 The Lower League Thread
#84960 Confederations Cup 2013
#84908 Confederations Cup 2013
#84703 Rick's Career
An unbeaten month has seen us cling on to our lofty perch at the top of Virsliga after some pretty resounding victories. we're also as good as through to the semi final of the Baltic league after pumping Estonian side Trans 6-0 in the first leg.
Trans simply couldn't cope with our insatiable front line as they time and again fell victim to the trickery and skill of the forwards, this result follows on from the 7-0 opening day win over Spartaks, thirteen goals in two games, not bad eh?
Most would have been expecting us to hammer newly promoted RFS (Riga Football School) as well but the Virsliga new comers put on a show of resilience that most of the more established clubs in the league can rarely provide against us as they parked the bus and repeatedly frustrated my team. kudos to them.
Arch-rivals Ventspils were not so difficult as we dispatched the seven times champions with relative ease before another six goal glut against Daugava who looked distinctly toothless without their talismanic forward Janis Krasovskis who rose from our bench to score against his former club.
The other Daugava side and Rezekne proved far sterner tests as we had to come from behind in both games to collect four points, I think these two will be our main competitors this season, Rezekne in particular have a potent attack and should do well.
#84560 Rick's Career
Just the two competitive games in this month, one for either of my teams, Skonto began 2019 by showcasing exactly why we're expected to retain our Championship again, an emphatic 7-0 rout against Spartaks puts us top right from the very start.
It was good to see début goals for both Babyr and Krasovskis among the more familiar names, It's going to be fascinating to see the duel between Krasovskis and Tomasieswciz to see who gets to hold on to a starting place up front.
In terms of targets this season just winning that landmark twentieth Virsliga title will allow me to depart Latvia a happy man at the end of the season, however I also want to play group stage football in either the CL or EL, something no Latvian side has ever done before. Winning the Baltic League would also be nice just so I can say I have lifted it before I leave.
My Latvian youngsters also put on a good show against Romania although they couldn't quite manage to snare all three points;
Although we could still finish second in our group I don't think we can still qualify for the tournament through the second place league. even so I will finish up the campaign and likely step down after the final game with Russia.