fraktionmarback - Comments

Been binge-reading through the thread and damn you've put up some results over the years! Really nice to see you building an amazing legacy with Southend, keep up the good work mate!

Thanks a lot mate! Crazy that we didn't clinch promotion until the 95th minute of the last game, considering we ended up on a 100 points!

It’s been a bit of a rebuilding at the Spartans following the promotion. Can’t say that I’m all satisfied with how the transfer window progressed, but my scouts simply didn’t found the quality players I was looking for. Seven players in, Eight players out. Here are the lads that are gonna represent us in the first National League-season ever:


The media predicts us finishing at 22nd place. The board hopes we can fight bravely against relegation. It’s going to be a tough season alright.


Next up: August 2021

CONTRACT UPDATE:



A nice pay rise of £250 per week thanks to the promotion. Looks like I'm staying up north for now!

Next up: Preseason 2021

We all thought that the game against York would be the one to decide the champions of National League North 2020/21. So, of course, that game ended up in a draw, after a dramatic 87th-minute equalizer by our super signing Mark Helm.
Both us and York went through the month grabbing one victory after another. So on the last day of the season, they were still a point ahead of us.
We were playing Scarborough, they hosted Curzon Ashton. Both of our oppositions had already been relegated.
And a halftime York were 3-0 up. That meant at the moment we had a 100 points on the board, but not the championship in our own hands.

But then, in the second half, something happened. Curzon Ashton striker Tyrone Lewthwaite scored in the 49th minute. And then again in the 52nd minute. All of a sudden there was only one goal between us and a promotion.

In all of second half, I didn’t even remotely check our game, I had to look up what was going on at York Community Stadium. Unfortunately not much was reported from that game...


Until minute 95! Tyrone Lewthwaite gets his hat-trick, and Blyth Spartans are going to play in the National League next season! Football – bloody hell.


Next up: Season Review 2020/21

We’re in a bit of a rough patch form-wise, having a quite tough schedule during March and only getting two wins. Nevertheless, we managed to claim a playoff spot with nine games to go! Playing York at home mid-April is going to be a crucial game that probably decides this year's winners.


Next up: April/May 2021

A bit of a blip losing against Hereford and also getting just a draw at Leamington. York are still in great form, so there will definitely be a race all the way towards the end.


Next up: March 2021

Just six days into the new year mid-table League One team Bradford City invited me for a chat. And this one felt different from the other ones I’ve had previously this season. For example, the chairman basically asked me when I’d like to start. I thought that was a good sign from someone that you think would offer you a job. Oh, so wrong of me.


But hey, we’re top of the league! A massive run of form, having eleven consecutive wins in the league, has made us jump ahead York. Our last cup chance sadly ended against our fierce rivals, but we were never really close.
Looks like I’m staying at Blyth for the promotion celebrations at least!


Next up: February 2021

The first day of December started off with League One Burton contacting me regarding a job opening. And that was far from the only club that reached out to me. I am currently a very wanted man. A total of four clubs did invite me for an interview.
But then again, all of them turned me down in the and. With that being said, I’m happy to stay at Blyth and haven’t actually applied for any job other than the Spartans in my entire career.


On the pitch, we went on great. Sliding through in the FA Trophy and presenting nine out of nine points in the league! Currently sitting one point behind York, but with a game in hand (yes, it’s been raining too much once again up here.)


Next up: January 2021

@Dan @KEZ_7 It's surely a bit of a dilemma. I have no intention to leave Blyth, but at the same time trying to play the game as realistic as possible. Would be a bit ridiculous in my opinion if a Non-League manager didn't find it interesting discussing terms with a Championship team for example

The month was more about interviews and job offers than actual games of football being played. First off was Hartlepool United, currently mid-table in the National League.
They offered me a contract worth £625 per week, which would mean a pay cut by £75. Thanks, but no thanks.


But shortly after that, Championship club Wigan came knocking on the door. A much more attractive option than Hartlepool.

And the next day after, Charlton, also from the Championship, contacted yours truly.


Unfortunately, none of these interviews led to an actual offer, instead we were up against top of the table York in a very important six-pointer.
And what a game! Dan Maguire with the winning goal in the last minute of the game.

On top of that, we had a nice FA Cup run aswell. Beating League Two Shrewsbury thanks to double goals from Fewster, advancing us to the second round proper.
That game was a classic. Sadly, League Two Oldham got the last word with a 88th minute winner.

Next up: December 2020

It’s been a crazy hectic October with nine (!) games played. Our form has been quite extraordinary, with only a small blip in the end. The 7-0 win against Bradford PA stands out of course, and sometimes it feels like there’s a vast difference between the top and bottom teams of the league.
We’re still not top of the table though, since York has been crushing it and hasn’t lost a game since the season opener.


I did sign a player in late October as well. My scouts came to me with a guy named Mark Helm, former Manchester Utd-academy player. Clubs like Bolton and Middlesborough had shown their interest, but the young midfielder decided to move north! According to my assistant, he has the current ability of a National League player, and the potential of becoming a decent League One player. Really fancy this guy!

Next up: November 2020

Still a decent form even though we’re down at fourth place a the moment. We played both Hereford and Telford this month, coming from National League. One point from those two games isn’t ideal but still not the worst.
Got a game in hand as well, as we had a waterlogged pitch against Leamington. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this time at Blyth, it’s that up here it rains. A lot.
York is going excellent though, and we need to push on a bit if we shall avoid the playoff drama this year.

And yes, we crushed Stourport in the FA Cup. Crushed.


Next up: October 2020

Well, that was a season opener like no one else! The media was talking a lot about me never been able to beat Spennymoor, that changed drastically! Looking good so far being unbeaten, although the Ashton Utd game should’ve been three points as we were up 3-0 until the last half hour.
With a season-opening like this, I think it’s fair to say that winning the league isn’t unrealistic for sure.


Next up: September 2020

It’s been a relatively calm summer for us, transfer-wise. Eight fringe players going out, five new prospects coming in. Actually, when I’m looking at the squad, there’s perhaps only one of the new signings that’ll be able to get a place in the starting XI. With that being said, last season we were the best team that didn’t get promoted, so I don’t think we need to change all that much. Here are the players that are gonna get Spartans to the National League:

We’ve raised the bar a little bit this season, expecting a playoff rather than settling for a top half finish. I really think that we got what it takes this year. The media predicts us at fifth place in the league, but I secretly dream about silverware!


Next up: August 2020

Thanks a lot! Wanted to do something a bit different for the special occasion. Next year is ours!

Next up: Preseason 2020

So, we did, in fact, got mugged of the promotion...

Kidderminster Harriers secures promotion when Fewster sees red.
It had everything we could hope that a playoff final includes. The two top-seeded teams in a clash for promotion up to the National League. And it was intense. Unfortunately for the Spartans, a bit too intense sometimes. After just fifteen minutes striker Bradley Fewster got booked after a hard challenge. Eighteen minutes later Fewster once again found himself in trouble and the ref had no choice but to send him off. The game naturally changed quite a bit after that. The Harriers were constantly attacking with Blyth often caught in a panic. Nevertheless, 0-0 was the score at halftime.
And the fact is that the Spartans were doing pretty good at the beginning of the second half. So good they actually managed to find the back of the net. However, whilst furious Spartans supporters shouting colourfull words, the assistant referee falsely flagged the goalscorer Dan Maguire for offside.
Instead of a 0-1 goal, Kidderminster took more control over the game in the late stages, and fairly also eventually found the back of the net. Man of the match Gus Mafuta took a shot from range that bounced of a defender all the way into 1-0 for the Harriers. The Spartans were never close to an equalizer, and on the verge of stoppage time, Kidderminster doubled their lead.
The Harriers follows Stockport up to the National League!

Blyth pushes on to the final with two quick goals from Maguire.
We barely had the time to sit down at Croft Park before Blyth's iconic striker Dan Maguire had score not once, but twice! A quick counter where Bradley Fewster lumped the ball forward made Maguire go one-on-one with the FC keeper and 1-0 was in the books. Just two minutes later, another ball over the top of the Red Rebels defense found Maguire, who once again did find the back of the net.
After that the Spartans were nothing but defending their lead, covering lots of ground in their own half and simply denying the Mancunians any real opportunities to score. When winger Ben Jackson connected with the head of former mentioned Fewster, the game was pretty much over. 3-0 from a beautiful corner, and Blyth Spartans on to the Playoff final. With just a couple of minutes to go FC did manage to reduce the lead, but it was all too late.
The partnership between the two Blyth strikers Maguire and Fewster will surely be a key in the upcoming final against Kidderminster. We've seen 41 goals so far this season in between them, a simply great achievement. Will it be good enough to put Spartans up to the National League though?

Yeah, the top two just ran away with it. Feeling confident to reach the final though!

We managed to reach the goal we’d set up, and that with quite the margin! Some terrific form going into the playoffs, where the first stage will be at home against either York City or FC United. Come on you Spartans!

Next up: Playoff Semi Final 2020

The form is still a bit iffy. Should’ve been a win against York at home, in a game where we’re up 2-0 in the 90th minute. Luckily we still find ourselves in that important third place, with only six games until playoff-time!

Next up: April/May 2020

We got a new Chairman boys and girls! Old fella’ Tony Platten decided to step aside, and I was hoping to get a new filthy rich lad to splash some cash on me. We got... well, a little bit of an injection. But none whatsoever in either the transfer or wage budget. Well well...

February has overall been a terrible month for us. Only six out of fifteen points are simply not good enough.

Next up: March 2020

A little bit behind at the moment, but hopefully we can chase them down!

We really do enjoy playing Southport! Over the two games against them this season, we got a goal difference of 16-2! Cheers lads.
Almost a perfect month for us, but a bit annoying that we weren’t able to take three points hosting FC United and make a gap for that third place in the league.


On the last day of January, we got a sad announcement. After sixteen years in the green and white shirt, Spartans legend Robbie Dale has decided to hang up the boots.


Next up: February 2020

BREXIT UPDATE:

Don't se myself signing any foreigners within anytime soon then!

Think the team might have celebrated Christmas a bit too hard since they weren't able to play decent football during that period. A horrible run of losses that hopefully got to an end once for all with the home victory against Leamington. Still in a secure playoff spot, with the board looking very happy with me behind the steering wheel.


Next up: January 2020

Yes the FA Cup surely does wonders with the economy in the lower leagues. Still living off my cup run from last season!