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Chapter 20: Top of the Pops

Having managed to win their last two games, Basil and Werribee headed into the remainder of November with a great deal of confidence about them. The monkey was off the back but there was no reason to sit back on one's laurels. Once you win one, you want to win the next one and the next one. However winning games is all well and good but it puts a bit of a target on your back for you to be shot at. Basil never believed in complacency as a player, he certainly wasn't going to believe it as a manager. Could the Bees maintain their unbeaten start to the season?

Matchday 6: FC Bulleen Lions 0 - 1 Werribee City

The Bees headed into game six feeling good, their hosts likewise. The two sides had played each other in pre-season, the Bees taking the honours that day with a 4-0 humbling but the Lions had improved since then. Going into the game, the Lions had made a very strong start to the new season: lying no lower than second. Given they were at home, this would be the biggest test so far for Basil and his side. By the end of it, they would have passed with flying colours. One goal was all that it needed when a deep cross from the recalled Nicholas Bavcar saw Alec Goodwin escape his markers and loop home a header for his third of the season. What a way to celebrate your new three year contract!

The Bees were unlucky not to win by more with Goodwin, Lisandro Paz and Brandon Zaffina all going close. It was the perfect away performance, that 27th minute winner being the icing on the cake.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Parkinson ©, Bavcar; Pistininzi; Zaffina (Murray 71), Ballan; Paz (Davis 81), Holden; Goodwin (Weaver 90). Unused Substitutes: Petrov, Dunn, Davies, Gorgovski.
Booked: Collett
Man of the Match: Alec Goodwin
Attendance: 662
Position After Game: 1st

Ahead of the game against second placed Kingston City, Basil again took advantage of the trial option. Arriving at Galvin Park Reserve was experienced 29 year old striker Nathan Elasi. Elasi had, in 2009-10, played at the top level when he played seven games in the A-League with Melbourne Victory but had had a nomadic career since. His most recent stop had been Wollongong United in the Illawarra Premier League where he scored a season best 15 goals in just 22 games; could he be the perfect back up for Goodwin with Shaun Weaver failing to impress? it was no risk with a possible reward.

Matchday 7: Werribee City 0 - 0 Kingston City

That game against Kingston would see the Bees extend their unbeaten start to the season to seven games; but relinquish the top spot after Brunswick City defeated North Geelong Warriors 3-1. It was a game which Werribee had the best of the chances with Matteo Ballan going the closest to breaking the deadlock in the 44th minute with a long range strike that thudded against the post before bouncing against the post. Kingston City offered few chances of their own, Todd Dekker heading straight at Alex Baird when well placed and substitute Steve Duvcevski replicating Ballan with a long ranger that clattered the post with the keeper scrambling across his line.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Parkinson ©, Bavcar; Pistininzi; Ballan, Zaffina (Murray 84); Paz, Holden (Davis 65); Goodwin (Weaver 84). Unused Substitutes: Petrov, Dunn, Davies, Gorgovski.
Booked: Bavcar
Man of the Match: Faisal Sakhizada (Kingston City)
Attendance: 481
Position After Game: 2nd

Matchday 8: Werribee City 1 - 0 Brunswick City

It's eight games unbeaten for Werribee City; a new Club and League record, as a single Michael Holden goal was enough to defeat Brunswick City at Galvin Park Reserve. The win was also good enough to see the Bees reclaim top spot at their visitors expense, and continue their good start under manager Basil Brush. The rookie English manager has overseen a resurgence of the Bees, and he has to be proud at what his team is achieving. That only goal came four minutes after the restart when Matteo Ballan played a superb ball inside the Brunswick right-back and Holden angled a low shot across Sebastian Mattei and into the far corner. It was the left winger's second goal of the season.

The game saw both sides be guilty of spurning chances but ultimately the Bees would prevail thanks to the winger's strike, and pundits are now speculating what next the team will achieve.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Parkinson ©, Bavcar; Pistininzi (Murray 90+3); Ballan, Zaffina (Gorgovski 71); Paz, Holden; Goodwin (Weaver 74). Unused Substitutes: Petrov, Dunn, Davis, Davies.
Man of the Match: Michael Holden
Attendance: 473
Position After Game: 1st

So this is how we fare at the end of November:

2026-27: Looking at the Squad

Alisson is still the undisputed first choice at Anfield, having arrived here from AS Roma in 2018. He's not getting any younger though, he's 34, so I will definitely have to look at getting in a new number one once he makes a decision to retire. Perhaps my Dutch keeper from Preston could be a choice? The back up to Alisson is 20 year old Englishman Ertem Stevens who has come up through the ranks and is capped for England at Under 20 level but is very much inexperienced in terms of first team football. Other than Stevens, we have a promising 16 year old in the system but nothing else.

DEFENDERS:
2. Jeroen HEERKENS
4. VIRGIL van Dijk - Club Captain
12. Joe GOMEZ
20. Jesús VALLEJO
26. Andrew ROBERTSON
63. Kieran TIERNEY
66. Trent ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

A very experienced First team defence with Van Dijk, the Club Captain, now 35. Robertson, who apparently wants a new challenge having achieved everything he can here, is also in his thirties whilst Heerkens is the only under 25. The others are late twenties but I think this might be one area I need to focus my transfer dealings. Get young and hungry defenders that can be the backbone of a squad for a number of seasons because an aging defence is not going to win trophies every season.

MIDFIELDERS:
5. Frenkie DE JONG
6. Ben WOODBURN
10. Mateo KOVACIC
13. Reiss NELSON
14. Thomas LEMAR
15. Eduardo VENEGAS
17. Karim CAMARA
19. RODRI

Midfield has a good combination of young and experience with players such as Kovacic and Lemar being supplemented by exciting young talents Venegas (23) and Camara (20). Camara definitely looks like he could be a bit of a superstar in the years to come so we will be doing everything we can keep him at the Club. Thomas Lemar might be 31 but he's still a class act whilst Kovacic will always provide goals from midfield as I have already seen first hand at international level when England faced Croatia. We're so stacked with quality in this area of the field that Ben Woodburn, scorer of 38 goals in 88 Welsh internationals, can't get into the first team.

FORWARDS:
9. Roberto FIRMINO
11. Mohamed SALAH
16. ADÁN
18. Fernando ALMEIDA
21. Romelu LUKAKU

Not much in the way of depth here although I could call on the French wonderkid that is Camara, Lemar or Woodburn should I have a striking injury crisis hit me. I think this also will be one of the areas that I will be looking to add one or two extra names to in the summer with Firmino already deciding to hang up his boots up at the age of 35. Salah is 34 so I'm half expecting him to follow suit in the next season or two whilst Lukaku is in his early thirties as well. Come the start of the 2027-28 season, we could have a whole forward line but like all my transfers, I won't pay over the odds for my transfer targets.

OUT ON LOAN:
Youri TIELEMANS (MI) - at Southampton until 30/6/2027
Tümay Işak (GK) - at Maidstone United until 1/1/2027
Michael HILL (DE) - at Motherwell until 31/5/2027
Nicholas HIGGINS (DE) - at Hibernian until 31/5/2027
David BUTTERWORTH (MI) - at Wigan Athletic until 30/6/2027

2026-27 Season Expectations

League first; the board are wanting the team to qualify for the UEFA Europa League which to some is the poor man's Champions League as the prize money isn't as good. I have joined the Reds with the team sitting in 7th place which ironically is the final Europa League spot so if I stay where I am then I'll have achieved what they want. However, me being me, wants to go a bit better than that.

We start my reign just three points behind Tottenham and they are in the final Champions League qualifying spot. I want to gate crash those Champions League spaces because this Club deserves to be in there. They have had a very upside down season so far but finishing in the top four is certainly not beyond us.

The current Champions League campaign sees us in the last 17 where we face Borussia Mönchengladbach of the Bundesliga. So four games and we could achieve this particular objective. The Mönchengladbach tie sees us away in the first leg which suits me down to the ground, it's my first taste of this actual competition by the way, my objective for the game will be to keep it tight at the back and nab the odd away goal or two before ideally finishing the job back at Anfield.

A tougher examination is presented with the FA Cup, nothing less than a place in the showpiece Final at Wembley will be deemed good enough. Our road there starts with a home tie against Leyton Orient of League Two. I've already decided that in games against opponents of L1 or lower then I'll combine the team with some first team and some fringe players. Anything of Championship standard or a fellow Premier League side will see the first team be shipped out. Nobody wants to be the victim of a giant killing, and it certainly wouldn't down well here considering the size of the Club itself. This is Liverpool.

So the Carabao Cup predictably enough is considered the least important of the four competitions we find ourselves in. As I join, the team are just two games away from reaching the Final. We face fellow Premier League side Newcastle United in our last four match up with the first leg at SJP. The other semi final is between London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea. The incentive is that if we win it, then we will have automatically made it into the Europa League so despite the board's view: I'm seeing this tournament as important as any other one. The team have beaten Bristol City, Derby County (on penalties) and trounced Southend United to get to the final four: the last game played a week before my arrival in L4.

All in all, I think we can still end up with a very good season providing it starts to click almost immediately. That's the issue I face, implementing my style on a squad packed with internationalists in every position.

As soon as the Jaguar turned off Walton Breck Road into the stadium, the flash bulbs were popping like they had never gone before in my football managerial career. Almost nine seasons ago, I walked through a leisure centre in Midlothian to become a football manager: now I was walking into what seemed to be an absolute cauldron.

Mr Delcroix opened the door and stuck out a hand. It was the warmest handshake ever.

I had been to Anfield many a time as a supporter, and also on the Stadium Tour. The buzz I was getting was quite simply phenomenal, proper hairs on the back of your neck type buzz. I had never experienced it anywhere to be honest, not even when I was given the England Head Coach's role in summer. This really was something else.

We walked into the Press Room where I was unveiled to scenes of journalists holding dictaphones and microphones with more and more camera flash guns popping every second. Compared to just one single solitary person when I was appointed at Edinburgh City back in 2018, this felt almost surreal. I had to literally pinch myself that it was really happening to me.

Am I following in the steps of greats such as Shankly, Paisley and Dalglish, I asked myself in my head as I took the barrage of questions.

After thirty minutes, which to be honest felt like thirty bloody hours, the final question was asked and answered before yet more photos in the Main Stand. The massed media departed and I was sat there with Mr Delcroix, smiling. It was then when the giant figure of Virgil Van Dijk appeared up the staircase.

"Mark, you're the new manager right?" Van Dijk said whilst thrusting a right hand out to shake.
"Yeah I am Virgil. Pleased to meet you."
"I'm the Club Captain here, I'll get you to meet the Lads at the AXA Training Centre in the morning. 9:00am start, yeah?"
"Sounds good Virgil, sounds good."

And he was gone. So the adventure now has taken a massive upturn. Just hope I can deliver what they want.

Liverpool can today confirm that the appointment of Mark Duell as the Club's new manager on a three year contract.

The 45 year old joins the Reds from fellow Premier League side Preston North End having built up quite a promising reputation since dipping his toes into football management back in 2018. Duell has had stints in Scotland, Finland and France before gaining his first job in England across the Mersey with Tranmere Rovers in 2023.

Chairman Didier Delcroix explained why he has appointed Duell:

"To manage a club like Liverpool, you need to be a big name and we will feel that we have that in Mark. He's the current Head Coach of the England national side and deals with the top players in the Premier League. You don't get that job without being a quality manager and to have him on board as Liverpool's manager is something special.

He has won trophies wherever he has been and we're hopeful he can deliver for us.

He was always our first choice, and we're delighted to have him on board. We've got the best young manager in the world here at Anfield that's for sure."

The new manager had this to say:

"To be appointed as the manager of Liverpool Football Club is quite simply something special.

This is a name that is synomous with trophies and attractive football which is something that is also close to my heart. So why leave Preston and join the Reds you may ask? Well, this is a club that I have a very close affinity to since I was a youngster. The all red Liverpool kit was the first English kit my father bought me and if I couldn't make it as a player, then I dreamed of managing this team. To follow into the giant footsteps of legends such as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish is one of I am so proud of.

I had no hesitation in accepting when Mr Delcroix called to offer me this role. I am thankful though to all my previous teams, most recently Preston, for helping make me the manager that I am. Now let's get winning some trophies at Anfield."

The new manager's first game is on Boxing Day when Newcastle United visit Anfield before the Reds have an appetising away game at the Emirates Stadium three days later. #WelcomeMark

Chapter 19: The Monkey Is Off The Back

As Basil and Werribee City entered November, they were exactly where the pundits had them to be at the end of the season, 6th. But Basil knew there was more to come from this team, and a win would boost the team's confidence no end. What better way to do that by playing the league's strugglers in the next couple of games. Slip up against them and then perhaps questions would start to be asked. Time to show the real potential of the Bees, and who knows what it could lead to.

Matchday 4: Werribee City 3 - 1 Pascoe Vale

At the fourth time of asking, Werribee City recorded their first win of the new season. The Bees did this with a come from behind victory against a Pascoe Vale side that remain in the relegation spots. Vale took the lead after 17 minutes when a Damien Peters corner had Alex Baird flapping at like a window cleaner and Stephen Haztikostas headed in from close range for his first ever Vale goal. However, rallied by their manager, the Bees stung their visitors thanks to impressive performances by wingers Lisandro Paz and Michael Holden. It was Holden who got the equaliser in the 33rd minute; latching onto a cross-field pass from right-back Tom Lakic with a superb volley into the top corner for his 1st goal of the season.

The home side dominated the game from then on, and two goals in the second half secured the three points for Brush's men. Just before the hour, skipper David Parkinson crossed from the left and Jonathan Munoz's weak defensive header landed straight to Paz who made no mistake for his season opener with a low arrowed finish that gave Luke Gavalas no chance at all. Thirteen minutes from time, Werribee clinched the points when Holden danced into the penalty area before picking out Paz who doubled his tally with a precise header into the bottom corner. The monkey was well and truly off the back.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Davies, Parkinson © (Bavcar 84); Pistininzi, Ballan, Gorgovski (Murray 70); Paz, Holden; Goodwin (Weaver 70).  Unused Substitutes: Petrov, Dunn, Zaffina, Davis.
Booked: Paz
Man of the Match: Lisandro Paz
Attendance: 494
Position After Game: 5th

Matchday 5: Goulburn Valley Suns 1 - 2 Werribee City

It's two wins in a row for Basil Brush's Werribee City as they came from behind again to record the points; this time against bottom placed Goulburn Valley Suns in Shepparton. The Suns took a surprise lead in the 27th minute when Lakic had hold of Shaun Kane's shirt a bit too much for the referee's liking. Jamie England stepped up, and comfortably dispatched it into the bottom corner despite Baird diving the right way. The Bees equalised in the 57th minute with a penalty of their own when Cory Sellwood tripped Paz as the winger advanced forward. Matteo Ballan assumed responsibility from twelve yards for the Bees, and sent the keeper the wrong way to restore parity.

Eight minutes later and Werribee scored what proved to be the winner. A free kick by Ballan saw home keeper Algazaly come from a ball that he was never going to reach, Julyan Collett headed it goalwards and Paz poached in his third in two games from six yards out. With bigger tests yet to come, Werribee can now go into them with a great confidence building up in the ranks.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Parkinson ©, Bavcar (Petrov 64); Pistininzi; Gorgovski (Murray 70), Ballan; Paz, Holden (Davis 81); Goodwin. Unused Substitutes: Weaver, Dunn, Davies, Zaffina.
Man of the Match: Matteo Ballan
Attendance: 199
Position After Game: 4th

So two wins in a row for Werribee and rising up the table, hence Basil felt quite content as he relaxed in the hotel room. The only thing that bothered him now? Whether or not they could maintain this or would lead to a collapse more akin to watching the middle order of the England cricket team.

The journey back to Preston was not the best one, by a long chalk. Not because the team had lost once more, but of the sadness that was unfolding around me.

I had a good 17 months at Deepdale, they had certainly driven my career forwards. I mean I don't think I would have landed the England role if I hadn't taken the Preston role and stayed at Tranmere. I would certainly have remained a lower league manager still trying to build his stock up but Ira Gordon (the then Preston Chairman) obviously saw something in me that the Club liked.

I got them back in the Premiership at the first time of asking, running away with the Championship title. Granted the Premier League is a massive step up in class for a Club such as North End, I wasn't really getting hammered week and week out. In fact, beating current Champions Manchester United was some feat. They're still talking about it now! But there comes a time where you simply can refuse an offer that might only come across once in a lifetime, and that was happening to me right now. I called the team into the training ground, senior and youth squads as one, to announce my departure. And it was emotionally charged to say the least.

"Thanks for coming in today lads, especially the senior players on their day off."
"No problems gaffer." Jasper Schendelaar replied. "What's a matter, you look a bit down."
"I'm alright Jasper, really I am."
"You don't look it gaffer." Kasey Palmer injected.
"Honestly I really am. Anyway I have something to announce."

The players looked at each other as if to think what is going on.

"Today's my last day with you." I blurted out, shedding a few tears.
"What the actual?" Jack Harrison asked. "Has that f**king nobody of a chairman sacked you after all you have done here?"
"No Jack, he hasn't."
"Good job, I'd rip his head off if he had."
"I'm leaving Preston for a new job. It's an opportunity I could not say no to, an opportunity of a lifetime."

There was a hushed silence.

"I'm going to a club that I have had an affinity for since I was growing up, and I'm sorry to leave you all in the lurch."
"Don't be daft gaffer, you're probably realising a dream." Jules Koundé, my skipper, sounded.
"I am definitely doing that Jules. Darren and Lloyd are going to look after you until the Club finds a replacement. You can survive this lads, you're better than the teams below you."
"Thanks gaffer. You'll be a good hire for that new Club, and if you want to take any of us with you then we'll not turn you down."

I smiled, and hugged each and everyone of the team: players and backroom staff alike. It certainly made me feel a lot better in myself. Ten minutes later, a black Jaguar rolled up to Springfields.

"Mr Duell? I've come to collect you on behalf of Mr Delcroix."
"Right, I'm ready. Good luck lads!"

A raucous round of applause followed, and I stepped into the back seat of the Jaguar. Where was my next adventure taking me?

Thanks for the comments lads as always guys, all will be revealed at the weekend or a few days after that.

The final whistle sounded at the London Stadium, and the majority were in a good mood having seen their team win but equally concerned that despite having 43 shots: they had only scored just the once.

For me, I walked back into the away dressing room and addressed the players.

"Lads, it wasn't to be...again! Once more I'm sounding like a broken record but I'm proud of each and everyone of you. You gave it a good go despite the statistics being in their favour. Now let's get showered, changed and back on that coach home."

With that, I left them be.

Twenty minutes later, the team started to filter onto the bus one by one. The doors of the luggage compartment closed, and I made my way up the steps to the seat which I usually occupied at the front of the bus: headphones in. I could hear the sounds of those players who enjoyed a game of cards towards the rear and did a quick head count.

All present and correct.

"Time to go Albert, we're all on board." I said.
"Right oh Mark." Albert replied.

It was then when I saw the Chairman sat in the front seat, something I hadn't had on the way down as the Chairman had been in a meeting for his stationery business in the City earlier that day.

"Mr Chairman, wasn't expecting to have you on board."
"Mark, we need to talk." Chris said. "Please take a seat."
"OK." I sat down, my eyes transfixed at what the Chairman was going say next. Was he about to sack me on the bus? That would be rather crass if he was.
"Mark, I want to wish you good luck in the future. It pains me to see you go but I'm convinced you'll be good for them."
"Uh?"
"The team that had you on their radar. Well, we've agreed on £1.2 million compensation figure. It was all sorted during half time."
"Right."
"You might as well call the lads in for a little meeting tomorrow morning and tell them."
"Sure. Albert, stop the bus."

Albert stopped the bus, we had travelled all of five miles.

"Jules." I called out, and skipper Jules Koundé made his way down the aisle.
"Yes boss? Anything I can do?"
"Yep, get the lads to Springfields for 11:00am in the morning. I got an announcement to make. Right Albert, we can go again."

And the bus headed north, tears starting to dribble down my face.

Chapter 18: Finally, some good news

It was bothering Basil no end, the protracted discussions with Alec Goodwin. The 23 year old striker was one of the biggest earners at Werribee and was wanting a pay increase to stay a Werribee player. Basil spoke to the player again after the home game against Pascoe Vale, the first in November, but was once again left disappointed.

"Alec, I really want you to stay but I just think we're at an impasse."
"I know boss, but you know how football is these days. I have to look out for myself."
"But you do love this Club right?"
"Yeah, and I respect you as a manager too, but let's talk again in the morning."

Basil drove back to the hotel, convinced that he was fighting a losing battle with his first choice centre forward. Not even the sounds of Fozzy's Do You Wanna Start A War album could cheer him up. Thirty minutes later, Basil pulled into the parking lot at the hotel and exited the vehicle. He was still downbeat as he got into the lift, head slunk low as if his world was about to end. He got his room, ordered a couple of bottles of VB from room service, and just sat there in complete silence; only moving when he needed the toilet and it was time to go to bed.

The following morning Basil's mood hadn't improved, so after finishing his breakfast, he picked up his mobile to call Goodwin. Much to Basil's surprise, the striker answered:

"Morning boss."
"Morning Alec, calling you as we discussed yesterday."
"Yeah. I guess we're going to talk contracts again."
"That's what I was hoping for. Remind me what kind of deal you want? Wasn't it a two year deal at 500 AUD a week?"
"Um..."
"Alec? Alec?"
"Sorry boss. I've been thinking...I've changed my demands,"

Basil sighed, fearing that the striker had moved the goalposts even further away and inched closer to the exit door.

"Right, and they are?"
"I'm looking for a three year deal boss, paying 250 AUD a week."
"Oh..."
"I think I'm being reasonable boss, really I am."
"I see. Well let me do some number crunching. I'll be back in a few minutes Alec."

Basil texted John with the player's demands, and John was straight back in touch. His reply read:


He released the call with Goodwin from hold, and spoke again.

"Alec, sorry about that. Just had to crunch some numbers to see if we can agree to it. Budgets pretty tight as it is."
"Understand boss. So can you?"
"Yeah I think we have a deal in place here Alec."
"Great, can't see any problems from my side either." Send me the contract via email and I'll get back to you. Laters boss."
"Bye for now Alec."

The breakthrough had happened after weeks and weeks of talking. Basil drafted up the new contract for Goodwin, emailed it to the striker and sat there waiting for a reply. Yet the striker didn't respond straight away, in fact days and days passed. It was two days before the next league game when something happened. Basil woke to find an email sitting in his inbox.


A huge smile broke across Basil's face, the saga was over and done with. Alec Goodwin was to remain a Werribee player for the next three years, mission accomplished off pitch. Now to get those wins on pitch and rise up that table.

Chapter 17: Birthday Blues

It was another day in Melbourne, but not an ordinary day as Basil awoke. In fact, it was Basil's 38th birthday and he was on the other side of the world to his family. That didn't stop them from calling him despite the time difference though. Mam, predictably was first, with her usual singing of "Happy birthday" down the line: a tradition that Basil had gotten used to over the years since he first left home in 1997 to become an apprentice at Celtic. Next up was his sister with a FaceTime call and that pleased Basil no end too. Even "The Gaffer" called him to check in and wish him a pleasant day.

Life was still good.

Basil opened the laptop to a couple of emails from John. John's first email was to advise him that the planned loan transfer for Oskar Dillion had fallen through. Dillon was a 20 year old central defender who was on the books of A-League side Western United, and the professional side were looking to loan him out to help with his development. The defender had actually played against Werribee in the pre-season, and Brush had been sufficiently impressed enough to attempt this audacious loan transfer. Dillon had opted to decline the move to Werribee though, and instead go on loan for the season to Oakleigh Cannons who play in the division above the Bees.

John's second email detailed the next round of fixtures which would start in a couple of days time.



Basil digested the fixtures and took a quick glance at the league table. First two games against the 11th and 12th placed teams in the current standings, both winnable. Then the rest would be against sides above Werribee. What surprised Basil though was that FC Bulleen Lions were top of the table, this was a team that the Bees had thrashed 4-0 in pre-season which just goes to show that you should never ever read anything to pre-season friendlies. They mean absolutely nada.

Perhaps he should try again to get Alec Goodwin to sign that new contract? "I'll leave it until after Saturday's game." Basil said to himself. "If he (Goodwin) has a great game then he might realise that the new contract is worth signing there and then." That was the hope, but equally he was prepared for another rejection from the striker. If ever Basil needed some strokes of good fortunes from the footballing gods, now would be ideal.

2026-27: December Summary (continued)

MATCHDAY 18 - Monday 21 December 2026
LIVE ON


We headed to the London Stadium to face the Hammers on a cold Monday night in the smoke. A win could move the team up two places to 15th, leapfrogging AFC Bournemouth and Fulham in the process. We named an unchanged side again from the side that lost narrowly at Tottenham Hotspur in our last game. Predictably enough, the Hammers controlled proceedings from start to finish (43 shots in 90 minutes) but it took them until the 44th minute to open the scoring. The goal came when Piotr Zielinski threaded the ball into Simon Matthews, and the Scot turned away from his marker Connor Roberts to sweep a low left foot shot under Jasper Schendelaar and into the net.

It proved to be the only goal of the game, but we were unlucky not to go back to the North West without a point as we had a 83rd minute goal chalked off for an questionable offside. The goal was headed in by left-back Cristiàn Cuevas from a wonderfully flighted free-kick by Jack Harrison, and to be honest it did appear harsh. And so we slipped to yet another defeat.

It was to prove to be my last game in charge of Preston...

This evening, at the headquarters of UEFA in Nyon, the draw for the qualifying groups for the 2028 European Championships were made. 54 nations were grouped into ten groups with the winners joining hosts Sweden for the Finals in June 2028. As current holders of the title, Mark Duell and his England squad were attuned to see whom they would face as part of their defence.

England were placed into Group G, which is one of the six five team groups. In that group, they will encounter old foes Scotland, Austria, Georgia and Malta. The renewal of clashes with the "Auld Enemy" is sure to get the juices flowing when the first set of qualifiers kick in March next year. The two nations last met in a World Cup qualifier in 2025 at Wembley Stadium when the Scots surprised the Three Lions with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Aberdeen's Kevin Wilson and Motherwell's Chris Cadden whilst Manchester United's Eddie Nketiah (then of Arsenal) scoring England's sole goal.

Austria will provide an equally stern test for the Three Lions, having lost by the odd goal in five each time that they played England. Marcus Rashford scored a hat-trick on England's last trip to the Ernst Happel Stadion, and supporters of the Three Lions will be hoping the experienced Manchester United man will be on the scoresheet again when they go there again. England will be expected to breeze past both Georgia and Malta, although Georgia away is always a potential banana skin.

The campaign begins at Wembley on Friday 19 March 2027 with that mouth watering game against Scotland; and Wembley is sure to be a sell out for it.

2026-27: Mid-December Summary

With December being a busy month of fixtures, here's the summary of the first half of it.



MATCHDAY 16 - Saturday 5 December 2026


Before the home game against Everton, I decided to call another team meeting to try improve the dressing room morale. I made two changes from the side that lost 3-1 to City, Julio Pleguezeulo and Charly Musonda coming in for Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, but other than that we were unchanged. Ten minutes in and we were behind, Munir's shot from outside the area taking a wicked deflection off the returning Pleguezeulo and wrong footing Jasper Schendelaar before nestling into the bottom corner. An unlucky return for the Spaniard. Nine minutes later and we found ourselves 2-0 down, Kasper Dolberg heading in a near post cross from Doinkou. We needed an immediate response to avoid embarrassment and got it, Corrado Pantanelli curled a low ball into the area and whilst Everton dozed: Vincent Morel poached in his fifth of the season.

28 minutes gone though, Everton reinstated their two goal lead when Geiger's corner was headed in by Dolberg for the Dane's second of the game, We didn't concede further that half but you could tell how deflated the team were at the interval, their heads sunk low as if to say we're going get hammered here. I thought about giving them hell but that would have only made things worse so plenty of encouraging words were said instead. Eight minutes after that restart we had a way back into the game when Kasey Palmer saw his shot rebound into the path of Musonda who rifled a shot into the roof of the net and beat Jordan Pickford at his near post.

Could we salvage a draw? Well those words seemed to have had some positives as we scored a third on the hour. A pass from Connor Roberts carved open the Toffees defence like a knife through hot butter to the feet of Morel who took a couple of touches before blasting in a low shot under Pickford for his sixth of the season. Deepdale was bouncing! Neither side could find a winner, not that they didn't try, and the teams shook hands on a six goal thriller at the end.

MATCHDAY 17 - Sunday 13 December 2026


The last time we played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was in the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round last season when Spurs defeated us 3-0 with all the goals in the first half. There was no Christian Eriksen around to torment us this time, the Dane no longer an automatic choice but good enough to be on the bench. We made one change from the Everton draw, Palmer replaced in central midfield by Ongjen Stijepovic. Predictably enough, Spurs controlled the game from start to finish but were wasteful in front of goal which probably has annoyed Frank de Boer no end.

One goal decided the game on the half hour, Ryan Kelly's cross from the right wing being headed in by Chilean Matias Venegas. And that was that in a dour game to be honest. We did keep a certain Harry Edward Kane quiet again, who was deployed as right winger for some reason.

Chapter 16: Consistent Beginnings

It was a baking warm day in Melbourne as Basil jumped into his hire car from Avis. The temperature outside was showing 18 degrees Celsius, but the heat inside the vehicle was topping 25, a stark comparison of what he would expect back home. Mid-October temperatures in South Yorkshire would top 14 degrees Celsius if you were lucky but it was a considerably warmer climate in his new surroundings. It certainly felt a wee bit different for sure. Basil turned on the car stereo, and having paired it with his mobile, drove the 20 mile journey to Galvin Park Reserve with the sounds of Helloween's classic power metal album "Keeper of the Seven Keys; Part 1" pumping out.

He arrived at the stadium at exactly 12 noon, at the same time as his assistant John Waddell. The two men walked through the open gate, took one look at the pitch, before heading down the tunnel towards the home dressing room whereupon they awaited the arrival of the players. The team hadn't been announced in advance at the last training session on Thursday afternoon, Basil's philosophy was that unless a player was injured (as in really injured) then the side would be named on the day itself with all available for selection. This was the first of a 22 game league season where each side would play each other home and away over the next seven months. The top two would be promoted to NPL Victoria - 1 with the bottom relegated to NPL - Victoria 3. Werribee had last featured in the higher division in 2015 when they were relegated by virtue of a 13th placed finish. Basil was determined to make sure that relegation was not on the menu in his maiden managerial campaign.

Matchday 1: Werribee City 0 - 0 Manningham United Blues

Despite having the better of the chances, the Bees had to settle for a share of the spoils on the opening game of the season. Blues had to thank goalkeeper Luke Gallo to thank for their point as he denied Bees' striker Alec Goodwin on a number of occasions whilst former Newcastle United trainee Alex Baird kept the Bees in it with saves of his own. 

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett ©, Petrov, Bavcar; Murray; Ballan, Zaffina (Gorgovski 72), Paz, Davis (Holden 66); Goodwin. Unused Substitutes: Dunn, Weaver, Parkinson, Davies, Kessie.
Booked: Bavcar
Man of the Match: Matteo Ballan
Attendance: 529
Position After Game: 9th

After seeing his side draw a blank on the opening day, Basil decided he needed to freshen up matters early doors. This involved making his sixth permanent signing of the season, Mark Pistininzi arriving as a free agent after seemingly doing enough when on trial. With no funds available for transfers, Basil knew that he was having to wheel and deal in this début managerial season. Players would come in either on trial, on loan or as a free agent whilst wages being prudently negotiated to ensure the Club itself didn't suffer financially. Seven days after that opening game, the team headed to the north of Melbourne to play their first away match.


Matchday 2: Moreland City 1 - 1 Werribee City

Basil made three changes to the side that drew 0-0 on opening day. Club Captain David Parkinson replaced Daniel Petrov in central defence, new signing Mark Pistininzi was handed an instant début in place of Bradley Murray whilst Michael Holden came in on the left wing to take over from Lachlan Davis. The team took the lead in the 25th minute when Holden flicked the ball on for an anticipating Goodwin to beat the hesitant Moreland keeper with a volley into the bottom corner. However, the lead lasted just three minutes when James Michaelis headed in from eight yards out. Moreland should have won the game with a golden chance two minutes from the end, central defender William Abbott being left unmarked but putting his effort straight at Baird.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Parkinson ©, Bavcar; Pistininzi  (Murray 80); Zaffina (Gorgovski 68), Ballan; Paz (Davis 68), Holden, Goodwin. Unused Substitutes: Petrov, Dunn, Davies, Weaver.
Booked: Bavcar, Goodwin
Man of the Match: Alec Goodwin 
Attendance: 75
Position After Game: 7th



Matchday 3: Werribee City 1 - 1 Langwarrin Soccer Club

The final game of the opening month saw Werribee face a Langwarrin side that many had tipped for promotion before the big kick off. However, it was the Bees who dominated the game: creating chance after the chance with Langwarrin firmly on the defensive. This was illustrated by the fact Langwarrin picked up five yellow cards in the game.

Werribee made two changes to the side that drew seven days ago, central defender Cameron Davies replacing Nicholas Bavcar with Parkinson switching to left back, and Jamie Gorgovski in for Brandon Zaffina. In one of their few chances, Langwarrin took the lead in the 57th minute thanks to a wonderful half volley by Jordan Templin which gave Baird no chance whatsoever. The Bees levelled immediately afterwards, a teasing cross from Holden being converted by Goodwin from close range for the striker's second of the season. But neither could find a winner and Werribee settled for a third successive draw.

Team: Baird; Lakic, Collett, Davies, Parkinson ©; Pistininzi (Petrov 83); Gorgovski (Murray 73), Ballan; Paz (Davis 65), Holden; Goodwin. Unused Substitutes: Weaver, Dunn, Bavcar, Zaffina.
Man of the Match: Alec Goodwin
Attendance: 476



Current standings:

As Basil drove back to the hotel, he contemplated. "Three games played, three draws. At least I'm being consistent." Basil said to himself, "Just need to get that first win and a monkey off my back." as the heavy guitar riffs of Smoke On The Water filled the Melbourne air.

Chapter 15: The Final Countdown

As he reflected on the last 3 months, Basil knew reality had certainly kicked in. Those last 3 months had seen him go from retired semi-professional footballer to a full time football manager. "Where has time gone?" he questioned himself whilst quaffing another mouthful of Coke Zero.

The next seven days saw Basil draw up plans, throw away plans, draw up more plans on repeat. It certainly beat number crunching in the Job Centre offices back home in England. Those summers back home where Basil would go away for a few weeks to attend a coaching course were now being to be into practice. The real thing was dawning.

In fact, prior to taking the Werribee job, Basil had no real interest in becoming a manager in his own right. He only did the coaching badges to keep his "hand in" and keep his love for the beautiful game going. It helped him with his local amateur Sunday morning side back in England for a number of seasons, not that they won anything, but something to do. Now Basil had moved up to the top table, the sudden realisation he was a manager of a proper football team was engulfing him and his thoughts every minute of every day.

He opened up John's latest email which detailed the first month's games:



Yeah Basil had made a contract offer to Mark Pistininzi the day before, which the experienced 30 year old was now mulling over. However new contract negotiations were stalling with Alec Goodwin, the striker now on a month to month deal. What made it worse for Basil as regards Goodwin, newly formed Macarthur FC were showing signs of a bit of an interest. The Bulls had only been formed a year ago and were looking to soon become the latest members of the A-League which was reputedly looking to expand by one side to take it to an even 12 clubs.

He picked up the mobile, and called the striker. However Basil was left disappointed as the call went straight to voicemail, so he chucked the now empty can into the waste bin in sheer frustration. Basil stomped over to the fridge in the room, took out another can and fired up the tactics planner program on the laptop. "I have to start with a win." Basil said to himself as the tactics chalkboard kicked in. In 48 hours time, he would be on the sideline at Galvin Park Reserve overseeing his first ever league game and waiting to have his plans destroyed or come to fruition. This would be the start of a journey which would take over his life now. No looking back, only forwards.

Moore appointed to Under 23's role

Preston North End can today confirm the appointment of Darren Moore as their new Under 23's manager.

Moore, 52, headed the list and is North End's choice to succeed Dean Keates who left Deepdale on 22 November 2026 to become the new first team manager at Charlton Athletic. The new incumbent enjoyed a 20 year playing career which involved spells at Doncaster Rovers and West Bromwich Albion before returning to the Hawthorns as Under 18's coach in the summer of 2012; his first coaching role.

Since then he has held the manager's role there plus stints in charge of Huddersfield Town and most latterly; Bolton Wanderers where he was sacked in February 2025 after less than 14 months in charge at the University of Bolton Stadium.

The Club welcomes Darren to Deepdale as part of Mark Duell's back room team.

Chapter 14: Pre-Season Completed

Werribee had five more pre-season games to complete their preparations for the new season ahead of themselves. Basil was getting to know the players, and they seemed a very loyal bunch as well. If an offer came in for them, the player was coming back to Basil and telling him he wanted to stay at Werribee. Perhaps Basil had stumbled upon a squad that wanted to prove themselves to their new manager and not seek a new challenge elsewhere? But with the players on part time contracts and some of them expiring early in the season, Basil knew he would have a job on his hands to keep this squad focused and ready to mount an unexpected promotion challenge.

But anything is possible right?

September began with the prestigious home friendly against Melbourne's third A-League side, Western United. Almost 3000 attended the game, with almost 2400 of them bedecked in the green and white of the visiting team. As Basil arrived at the stadium a good four hours ahead of the 3:00pm kick off, he was greeted by home supporters and given a warm welcome:

"Great video interview boss, can't fault some of your choices."

"Brilliant gaffer, we're proud of you and the team."

That brought a smile to Basil's face as he went through the doors of the Galvin Park Reserve stadium for his first real game in charge of the Bees. They had obviously played the bounce game there in early July but since then they had been on the road, and they would be for four more games after this one. Predictably enough the professional side came out on top, recording a 3-0 win thanks to a brace from experienced Kosovo internationalist Besart Berisha who in the mid 2000s had an ill fated spell at Burnley; and an injury time clincher from midfielder Steven Lustica. Basil was far from despondent though, the team had created chances but just couldn't make them count. It had been a good workout for his Bees side.

A week later, the Bees hit the road again. This time they were to face another divisional rival, this time in the shape of Moreland City at their Campbell Reserve stadium. John Waddell's fixture planning was certainly interesting but there was nothing Basil could do to change that with the start of the season just four weeks away on the horizons. Moreland took the lead just after the half hour when winger Osman Kose scored but the Bees equalised just three minutes before half time when Lisandro Paz nutmegged Selemidis on the right wing before crossing for Michael Holden to score with an angled half volley into the bottom corner. Neither side could break through after that and the teams shook hands on a 1-1 draw. The game saw a first appearance for yet another trialist, this time full back Milan Popovich.

The next test would come at La Trobe University where Murray United hosted the Bees. The Bees controlled the game from start to finish, limiting their hosts to just a couple off target efforts in the entire ninety minutes, whilst creating 15 of their own. Both the goals came in the second half, and both goals came from defenders which pleased Basil no end as he wanted to see goals from every part of the team and not be reliant on just his striking options. The first came in the 63rd minute when Matteo Ballan's free kick caused many a problem for the home defence and central defender Cameron Davies reacted quickest to poke home from six yards out. The win was secured eight minutes from time, a free kick swung in from the right by Paz and Club vice-captain Julyan Collett headed in at the far post.

Two friendlies left, and the penultimate one would see the Bees venture across town to face Hoppers Crossing who are two divisions below in the state league structure. The Bees predictably had the best of the player but to be fair it was a turgid goalless draw which frustrated the heck out of Basil. This was a chance to increase the morale in the camp with the big kick-off closing in. Was there a plus point from this draw? Yes, it came from the right back spot as Popovich took the Man of the Match award. The full back being the best performer in a dour game where 44 players featured all at some point.

There was some cheer before the final friendly, winger Paz agreed terms on a new two year deal which takes him until May 2021. Basil was rather happy to get that deal over the line as the winger had contributed 2 goals and 5 assists in the 12 friendlies he had featured in, and hopefully the team will continue to flourish with him in the side. The final friendly then, at the Laura Douglas Reserve: home of Hume United who play further down the league pyramid. After failing to deliver in the previous game, the Bees definitely stung their hosts by scoring all their three goals in the first 26 minutes. The opener came in just the second minute when Paz skipped his way down the right wing, and then planted a perfect cross onto the head of Alec Goodwin who thumped his header into the net. The perfect start. The big striker scored his and the Bees second in the 18th minute, a low finish into the bottom corner after Jamie Gorgovski had picked him out in space. The third came eight minutes later; Parsons tripped Holden in the penalty area and Ballan drilled in the resultant spot kick low and straight down the centre of the goal. After that it was easy street for the Bees and as they came away with a routine win.

The big kick off awaits Brush and his team, can they set it alight? Brush hoped so as he relaxed in his hotel, however he had other things on his mind: getting Goodwin to reduce his demands and join Paz in signing a new contract. Alec was his first choice striker, he didn't want to lose him to anyone.

Blessed with a very good Chinese (actually there's 2 but one is better than the other), Italian and Indian takeaways in the village where I now live.

Must say I'm quite partial to a good curried beef and fried rice from the Chinese. In fact, I had one tonight 😉