Hey everyone, hope all is well wherever you are in the world.
Unfortunately, my period as a writer on this magnificent Football Manager blog has come to a sorrowful conclusion. I emailed Darren earlier on informing him of my resignation. Trust me, it’s for the best. I couldn’t continue writing a story that I simply didn’t want to write. I thought managing Athletic would reignite my passion for Football Manager, but to be honest, I’ve lost my enthusiasm for the game for quite a while now. This decision was always going to be inevitable, as when my summer holiday’s come to a completion, I will be entering arguably two years of school work that could determine the rest of my life. This was a decision I was hoping to avoid as I’ve really enjoyed publishing my story on this blog and Darren’s old blog. However, I will actively remain around the site reading the other phenomenal stories here and in the forum. I will also be hanging around the social network as well so I’m not disappearing on you :-D
I’m extremely proud of everything I have achieved here. It was a tremendous pleasure to write a story on this incredible blog. Your support has been absolutely extraordinary, and boy am I gonna miss you all.
Johnny — Your my internet hero and the Godfather of Football Manager blogs :-D! You inspired me and loads more people to start our own blog about our FM journey. To begin a blog about FM and to develop it so quickly in such a short space of time is admirable and astonishing. You have transformed this blog from absolutely nothing into one of the biggest and best blogs there is on the internet. You deserve immense credit and I genuinely believe this blog will continue to flourish into the most popular football manager blog ever!! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my Football Manager story here.
Kevin — I hope we’ll continue our chats via email :-) I’ve loved your story and I’m always anticipating your newest installment. I’m dismayed by the fact that I will no longer me writing with you, although I have savored every moment. I wish you all the best Kevin, you are a true friend.
Lye — My friend from the other side of the world :-D Everybody, please visit Lye’s blog. It’s my favorite FM blog, and his AFC Telford story is undeniably one of the finest stories you will ever read. It’s extremely well written, and entertaining. Here’s the link:
http://fmstory.com/
Lye, the continuous support you have shown me has been remarkable. I really can’t thank you enough, and I hope your blog goes from strength to strength and I will definitely continue to read your updates.
Last, but not least, Darren! As you said, over the past year or so we’ve formed a great partnership and it doesn’t have to dissolve now, or ever for that matter. (Well hopefully not anyway :-D) Seriously though, thank you soooooooooo much for all the wonderful opportunities you have given me. To follow you through your amazing rise in the blogger world of FM has been one of the best moments of my life and I will treasure it indefinitely. I’ve grown to trust you enormously and I sincerely wish you all the best in the future because it’s the least you deserve. You, Johnny and everyone else associated with this website have all benefited the FM Community hugely. Your stories are marvelous and I throughly enjoy all your posts. I well and truly hope our friendship doesn’t stop here and we can still have our discussions via email every now and again. Your a great guy Darren and you deserve all the plaudits you receive. Thanks for everything you have done for me, and one day I hope to repay you :-)
To everyone else, in particular Laxeyman, Ana, Jake (Excessive) Martin, Sayam, Alex, thanks for commenting on my posts and your support means a lot to me. Hopefully I’ll return one day to write on this blog again (If Johnny and Darren allow me to). I wish you all the best folks, and again, thanks for everything.
Cheers,
Sears
john
23 мая, 2011 at 00:06
I bet u the reason u stopped is becuz u were doing bad with bilbao unluky mate.
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 00:36
Not entirely John, I was in the midst of a battle to finish in a European spot (I was in the top ten but only a point or two from 7th spot even though our form dipped, mainly due to continuous injuries to Muniain and Llorente didn’t score as often as he did at the beginning of the campaign) but I’ve actually been losing my passion for FM for a long time now. Thanks for the comment :-)
CsAtlantis
23 мая, 2011 at 01:39
Is it a farewell post or a tribute article Sears? It was great reading your blogs but school work and real life are more important, take a break, give it some time, maybe FM2012 will reignite your interest again?
Good luck in your future endeavours
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 01:41
Both. I wanted to say goodbye but thank you all at the same time. Yeah hopefully it will, if I’ll even bother purchasing the game. Tbh, I’d rather concentrate on my schoolwork. Thanks CsAtlantis
daniel
23 мая, 2011 at 19:02
Sears im guessing your going in to your gcse studies since you said two years
Joelance
23 мая, 2011 at 02:26
Huh Sears, its best for you to do whats best for you. Still hope to see around the social network. ;(
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:44
Thanks Joe, and don’t worry, I’ll be a frequent visitor to the social network.
Lye
23 мая, 2011 at 02:31
Hi Sears,
I am sad but happy at the same. Sad that you will not be able to write for us in the meantime. Life has its priorities and it’s absolutely important to recognize that when the time comes. That’s why i say i am happy because you are recognizing your priorities. Your school work is the one that determine what you do in future and i wish you well in your school and everything in your life.
On the other hand, FM passion is within you. As long as you love football, i know one day you will be back writing another fantastic story for us again. We will still be seeing you around in the comment box and i know Johnny and Darren will surely welcome you with both hands when you decide to write again.
Thanks a lot for the mention Sears. You have been a magnificent support ever since i launched the site. Have a wonderful life, enjoy what you are doing and all the best to you.
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:47
Thanks a lot Lye.
vaibhavc
23 мая, 2011 at 04:53
Hey Sears
I think it is a good decision that you made and I hope you do well. Hopefully you come back and write another story later. Good luck!
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:44
Thanks :-)
Calin
23 мая, 2011 at 06:45
Hey Sears,
Sad to see you go, mate, but I can understand what you’re going through. And I really think that a break is what you need, actually: I am sure that after a few months of not playing FM you will start reading a new story here and feel ready for your next challenge and play it with the same passion you did until today.
I guess that we’ve all had that time when we simply didn’t want to play FM anymore but since we’re all here, it has passed. So good luck with your school and projects and I’m sure we’ll see you posting again soon!
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:46
Thanks Calin!
Johnny Karp
23 мая, 2011 at 08:01
That’s a wise decision Sears and I fully support it, you have to focus on school as that is the most important thing for you at the moment. Thanks a lot for your kind words and rest assured that you will always find a great bunch of friends here.
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:45
Cheers Johnny.
Excessive
23 мая, 2011 at 08:10
Just reiterating what the others have said. Although at the time (me included) most of us have put FM before some others things that may have been more important in hindsight. Courageous decision mate, and I fully understand what your getting at. Hope the exams go alright, I know I’ll be here if you need any support through that.
Will miss your stories, they have been fantastic! The support you have and will probably give to everyone I’m sure is greatly appreciated too and although its fairwell to your stories for now, I’m sure FM will get hold of you again ;).
Good luck mate!
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:47
Cheers Jake :-)
Sibo
23 мая, 2011 at 08:11
Que sera…sera
Sorry to hear this Sears, even though I didn’t comment on every post you made I always looked out for your name when I checked the site, to see if you had put up an update.
I think this is the right decision, however, and I am sure that this will help you focus on the more important things in life. Hopefully one day you can come back with the same passion you had before, but for now, you have done the right thing.
Thanks for the blog Sears, and good luck for everything you are about to embark on.
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:48
Thanks Sibo, means a lot.
Kevin
23 мая, 2011 at 09:35
Hi Sears
Thank you so much for the acknowledgement and kind words. Focusing on school is the number one priority and doing the best you can in the next two years is indeed a wise decision and I wish you well with your studies. I’ve been very blessed in my life but regret leaving school at 16 with virtually no academic qualifications. Technology and languages, that’s where it’s all at these days. Good luck mate!
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:49
Thanks for all your support Kevin.
Stromson
23 мая, 2011 at 14:52
I’m sorry to see you go Sears, but you’re making a very wise decision. School is extremely important, and you’re making the right call in focusing your efforts and attention there. Best of luck, and hopefully we’ll see around down the road. :)
Sears
23 мая, 2011 at 14:55
Thanks Stromson :-D
Laxeyman
23 мая, 2011 at 16:04
Sorry to see that you can’t post anymore Sears, but you’ve made the right decision, I should know as I’ve had to do a similar thing myself. Your story will be missed, but hopefully one day you can write another one :)
George Dobson
23 мая, 2011 at 16:18
sorry to see you cant post no more ive loved your stories
JonC
23 мая, 2011 at 17:14
Sears Sears Sears, It’s a shame to watch you leave but all the same it was a fantastic journey,
I can understand where you are coming from with going into Sixth Form but once you have settled down like I have you will find a hell of a lot time to be able to play FM, obviously that decision is for you but I’d settle into Sixth form and come back as the come back you get will be fantastic
But for now i suppose it is goodbye!
Sayam Khan
23 мая, 2011 at 17:15
Hi Sears, I didn’t expect this as you are very active regarding the game. However, I don’t blame you for the decision that you have taken, you have some very important priorities! Thanks for the mention Sears, although I haven’t commented on your story’s much, I thank you for supporting me all through my Bury story and my ‘mini’ Arsenal story last year. Much Appreciated! And good luck in the future!
Darren Smith
23 мая, 2011 at 19:06
I can’t say much more than I did in the email Sears. You are a great guy and will be missed. Having said that, school work is the priority and if you don’t want to play the game you can’t force yourself. As many others have said I’m sure you’ll find your FM passion again, but I think you’ve made the right choice. I won’t say bye because we’ll be chatting from time to time anyway. So instead, good luck with school and its been a pleasure! ;)
Ana Garcia
23 мая, 2011 at 22:20
Shame to see you stop writing, but you have made the right choice.
School is more important, so its good that you have got your priorities set to focus on your future.
I wish you the best of luck, and hopefully we will still see you around. :)
Ana. xx
Sears
24 мая, 2011 at 16:43
Thanks everyone!