Here we go folks, fasten your seat belts, it finally begins! After the extremely rewarding career with Notts County you voted and sent me to manage Dorchester Town, the weakest team in Blue Square South, predicted to finish last. My goal is to bring this small club all the way to the Premier League so I guess we could be in for quite a long story. Let’s get it started then!
First a few technical details. Here are the leagues that I loaded, the database was set to «large» with the option to load all players from my homeland, Romania.
And now a few details about the club. Although it’s one of the oldest teams in the South West of England, founded in 1880, they never went past the current level. They never won anything and maybe the most interesting fact about their history is that Harry Redknapp played a few games for them in the early 1970s.
The Avenue Stadium, or Weymouth Avenue Railway Stadium by its full name, is our home and it has a pretty big capacity, 5009 spectators, but only 697 seats.
And now, the most interesting thing about this tiny club. Two brothers own the club. So far, so good. They are aged 18 and 21. What? That’s right, my bosses are two youngsters that received ownership of the club from their father, Tom Mitchell. Here’s what Josh, the younger brother, had to say about this opportunity: «My mates can’t believe we have a football club of our own. We used to play Football Manager on PCs in our shed at home, now we are playing it for real — it is completely bizarre. It is such a great opportunity and we are both determined to give it a full go and make a success of the club.» (you can read the full story here) Well then, I could get sacked by a pair of teenagers, not bad :)
Back to the business then, the board expected me to try to avoid relegation. I told them that I can achieve a mid-table finish but that didn’t add a penny to our transfer budget. It did increase the wage budget a tiny bit but you can’t get too many players for 530 pounds a week.
Then I headed to the backroom to see what the staff had to say. First, I was announced that we have an old squad.
OK I said, they are giving me the bad news first. And now for the good news… Sorry, no good news: we are way below average on every possible aspect except determination, fitness and strength. Well, with those characteristics we could start a successful track and field team but not a football team!
The assistant manager report didn’t look to well either. As a side note, how can you be confident with a goalkeeper named Coward?
The best player in the squad was Kyle Critchell, a versatile right back that can cover most roles in defense and midfield. He came out through the youth ranks at Southampton but his biggest achievement so far is playing 10 games for Chesterfield in League One. Anyway, he was one of the few players that I kept at the club. Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Go to the next page to read the rest of the story.
Sears
8 мая, 2010 at 23:24
Johnny,I don’t mean to be disrespectful are anything,but I couldn’t stop laughing while I read that post.Some of the things you said were really funny!But anyway,back to the story.Are those two brother’s the youngest owner’s in history?
You signed a lot of good player’s,its like Romenia invaded England with all them player’s you have!You should at least finish mid-table,but I wouldn’d be surprised if you won promotion.Good luck in a long journey!
Martin
8 мая, 2010 at 23:54
Your Writing Seems To Be Different Now, More Vivid And Exciting, The Break Has Done You Good!
It’s Like You’ve Created A Romanian Team In England, Dorchestia, LOL
What Happens If You Do Get Relegated, What League Is That?
Johnny Karp
9 мая, 2010 at 00:32
@Sears
You’re not disrespectful, don’t worry. I’m happy that I made you smile. I guess those are the youngest club owners in history, I don’t know. I wouldn’t call the new signings «good players», they are just more fit to wear football boots than the players I had at the club.
@Martin
Thanks for the compliment about the writing, I’m always trying to do my best but I rarely succeed :) I’ll probably get sacked if we get relegated, so I don’t really know which is the lower league, it isn’t featured in the game.
Coolmcool
9 мая, 2010 at 00:39
Looks like you have a good chance of going far this season. I tend to also clear out most of the squad when a smaller team. Ive recently started a similar game with Redditch United
Kevin
9 мая, 2010 at 00:57
Hello Johnny
Nice introduction piece to your Dorcehster career.For the moment all I can say is that you’ve put together a squad with a good age range so hopefully «youth & experience» will serve you well this season which seems to be already the case in your pre-season results and useful too that most of them speak Romanian :)
Laxeyman
9 мая, 2010 at 01:15
Hi Johnny, you took drastic action there, releasing 30 players! Overall 47 players moved in or out and not a penny spent anywhere! The stadium looks quite nice, hopefully all the Romanians can play nice football and lead you to at least mid table. Good luck, whatever happens it will be interesting!
Ana Garcia
9 мая, 2010 at 01:28
Wow! your bosses are 18 and 21!
Anyone else feel really old reading that?! :D
Best of luck, I feel you may need it! But I always love reading/playing with teams as small as this!
Johnny Karp
9 мая, 2010 at 01:45
@Colmcool
Thanks. The situation was quite bad so I had to resort to drastic measures. Such a clear out can have nasty side effects but I guess it can produce the results on the long run.
@Kevin
Thanks, I guess the common language could be an advantage. As I said, I don’t know how far we can go this season, I have to see if the other teams are as weak as we are :)
@Laxeyman
Thanks mate, it surely will be interesting.
@Ana
Thanks for the good luck wish, we surely need some luck! Now that you brought it up, I guess I do feel rather old :) I wish my father would have given me a football club when I was 18! I would have taken it to the Champions League by now :)
warren
9 мая, 2010 at 01:57
This is one of the toughest challenges that you are ever likely to get in trying to build a team that are expected to finish bottom of the worst league. I cannot wait to see how you progress this Dorchester team.
good luck for the season
warren
Sears
9 мая, 2010 at 02:17
Johnny,Thats good to know.Like Martin said,the break did you good!I like Dorchaster’s chrest,a tree branch and two birds!Very artistic!
Oh ya,do the two brother’s play for the club??I would if I was an owner at such an young age!
Lye
9 мая, 2010 at 05:02
Hi mate, i never know that the bosses of Dorchester are two youngster even though i took charge of them in FM09 before my Vauxhall game. Although your target is a mid-table finish but i think you will surprise us yet in your new career as you always do. One request, please do not hammer Thurrock when you face them :)
I remember in my first season there is a player named Romano Sion, he is quite old but has good mental and technical attributes. He scored 41 goals in 2009/10 season. I don’t know whether you can find him in your game? Probably you can take a look at him.
dami
9 мая, 2010 at 10:08
good pre-season you had…hope your boys can transfer the form into the regular season…
did you also release the owners of the club…one of them plays in midfield for the club in reality…don’t know if he’s in the game…
Mícheál
9 мая, 2010 at 11:06
i like the new game. I think you will do really well with them
Johnny Karp
9 мая, 2010 at 11:07
@Warren
Thanks mate, I’m quite curious to see what we can do in the league too.
@Sears
I don’t see their names on the list.
@Lye
I think that they received the club last summer, so they were not the owners in 2008. Thanks a lot for the recommendation, I’ll look for that Sion guy. And I’ll keep that in mind about Thurrock, I’ll go easy on them :)
@Dami
Thanks, I was impressed with how we played in pre season. I don’t think that he’s in the game, I don’t see his name on the list. It would have been fun to release him on a free, maybe I would have gotten sacked before the beginning of the season :)
Johnny Karp
9 мая, 2010 at 11:07
@Micheal
Thanks for the confidence.
Calum
9 мая, 2010 at 11:26
Very good post Johnny, made me laugh! :D It looks as if you have built up a decent squad that hopefully could get you promoted, good luck!
ravenie
9 мая, 2010 at 11:33
Are you serious? 18 and 21 lol. You may be faves for relegation but I am sure you will upset the odds Johnny.
Johnny Karp
9 мая, 2010 at 12:04
@Calum
Thanks mate. Most Romanians know how to have fun when things are looking desperate :)
@Ravenie
Thanks Ravenie, we are the prime candidates for relegation but I honestly believe that we will not get relegated.
Sears
9 мая, 2010 at 13:44
Johnny,Ok.I wish you luck anyway.Knowing your great skill’s with lower league teams,you’ll keep them up for sure,maybe even get promoted.
Johnny Karp
9 мая, 2010 at 14:26
Thanks Sears.
Majk
9 мая, 2010 at 15:02
This will surely be an interesting story to follow. Drastic changes to start with, but I believe that you did the right thing even though halfway through it felt like a big gamble. I mean you had to resort to your plan C really when going for Romainian players.
I wish you good luck in your first season and i hope that you can qualify to the Premier Blue Square and hang on there for a year instead of having to wait in the Blue square south.
Majk
Johnny Karp
10 мая, 2010 at 09:03
@Majk
Thanks for the good wishes. That was my plan C indeed and I’m happy that it worked, I had no plan D! :)
Jolicobbler
10 мая, 2010 at 12:59
Hi Jonny
I’ve not posted before but always read your stories. I’m especially happy your taking on a lower league club this time as I thought taking on Notts County with all their millions was a bit of an easier road!
I’ve recently begun a career with Eastleigh and won the league.
Three players I recommend for lower leagues are:
Bryan Gilfillan (free)
Efe Echanomi (free)
Eddie Odihambo (free from Stevenage)
The pace of the latter two made them great for the Bl Sq South. Bryan Gilfillan has a bit of league experience and a few under 21 caps for Northern Ireland and is a quality player overall.
Good luck. I’m looking forward to seeing how you do!
Johnny Karp
10 мая, 2010 at 13:49
@Jolicobbler
Thanks a lot for reading the stories and for your comment. Last but not least I’m grateful for your recommendations, I’ll try to find those players and see if they’ll agree to join Dorchester (we have a rather low reputation so most decent players don’t want to come). Congrats on winning the league with Eastleigh, well done! And good luck for the new season!
Deano
11 мая, 2010 at 01:20
Hey Johnny, been reading your stories for a while now, loved the notts county one, even snuck onto them to read them at work on a few occasions! :D
Can’t wait to see how you do with Dorchester, I’m from fairly near there, in Winchester which is right next to Southampton. I’m a Southampton fan through and through though!
I would’ve enjoyed you playing as your Romanian team though, but I guess that’s for another time.
One last thing though, I’m very interested in doing my own Story on here, to take a look at my previous work I’ve down click here…
http://www.fm-king.blogspot.com
Let me know what you think!
:)
Johnny Karp
11 мая, 2010 at 08:25
@Deano
Thanks for the comment. I guess I’ll start with Craiova in FM 2011 since we’ll probably be in the second division by then… I like your blog, not bad at all. If you can drop me an email with a few more details about you then we can discuss the matter. The address is johnny[at]footballmanagerstory[dot]com
Mariano Vagator
11 июня, 2010 at 09:34
Hi Johnny,
Very nice begining of the story,i agree that your litearture skills have improved and the way you write makes this story much more interesting and entertaining to read, funny thing the owners of the club, please invite to the celebrations when wining new trophys:)!
Mariano Vagator
11 июня, 2010 at 10:51
Good luck with this new season!
you always seem to have a good eye to choose new signings!
Could anyone tell me if there are any special filters to download for scouting players,coaches,assistant managers, physios…….but mainly players.
or recommend me any post related to scouting players?
many thanks
Luke
18 июля, 2010 at 11:48
Hey Johnny!
I know this is an old post but I’m having trouble in my game finding players like you do :-S. Ive started playing as Lewes in the blue square north but I can never find free players from other countries (like you did in the Romanian teams) how do y ou search for them or do you just browse through random clubs for ages?
Thanks,
Luke
Johnny Karp
18 июля, 2010 at 19:31
Luke, I had the advantage of having the Romanian nationality, that way my knowledge of Romanian football was good in the game too and that’s why all those players appeared when searching. You should try to add staff (coaches or scouts) that have knowledge of other countries, that helps a lot.
oli
10 августа, 2010 at 15:19
what was your past as a manager?
oli
10 августа, 2010 at 15:20
I mean a player sorry :S
oli
10 августа, 2010 at 15:21
like professional,semi pro, sunday league etc..
Johnny Karp
10 августа, 2010 at 17:50
Sunday League.
hils
23 августа, 2010 at 17:59
well done Johnny,those pre season results look good. In my arsenal game we are having a form loss in pre-season after beating port vale 5-0. We then lost 2-1 to plymouth because of Manuel Almunia last minute mistake on a rush out. Im trying to swap him for vincent eneyama. On the other hand, me and my friend started a new game on a laptop,it had 2 managers on it with my friend using Bristol Rovers and i was using Notts county.
Johnny Karp
23 августа, 2010 at 18:03
Thanks Hils. Friendly results are not too important but I always prefer playing quite a few friendlies to help with the squad gelling. That game with your friend sounds like fun, I wish you the best of luck with Notts County!