sicks6sicks

Here's my wee story: The romance of grass roots football in the Irish League Second Division.

I installed the new build and got cracking with a completely new "game". When i'd been a LLM pre-patch, i was managing Glebe Rangers who begin the game managerless and with mostly greyed out players. The patch has added players to this team now which is great and again i chose to return to the managerless Glebe Rangers.

My first task was to take a look at my playing squad. To my horror, they are all youthful, a few 15 years olds, a good few 16year olds and a few 17 year olds. It is clear that the new club in the Irish League Second Division needs experience as well as acquiring what quality i can get...if any.

I embark on my first friendly. A match at the Riada Stadium against my supported team from the Premier League, Crusaders FC. I settle for a basic K.I.S.S formation that is already in the game and tweak slightly to accomodate my babies! After only 9 mins bingo, i'm 1-0 up. A twenty yard scorcher is buried in the keepers top right hand corner. Things look promising. But by half time, we are 1-4 down, no thanks in part to my young striker who headbutts Crusaders Centre Half in the 30 minute and is justifiabley sent off. The game finishes 1-4. A good defensive display in the second half ensures we finish the game with a spirited second half display. Possession wise, we didn't have much with 11 V 11. But 10 V 11, didn't help either. We had only 36% possession. My players couldn't hold on to a ball if it was glued to them! My violent player is fined 1 weeks wages, and he accepts he was out of order. Great to see that a player understands that i will not tolerate violence on the football pitch. From this fixture and with my team £500 000 in the read, we earn £607 from gate receipts. Not much really but to a wee club like ours, this is vital.

After the match, i embark on adding to my playing staff and my 1 and only scout points me in the direction of a few players i think would be of benefit to the club. I also pulled in a few loanees to help bolster the squad.

After only 1 match, albeit a defeat, i am enjoying it regardless.

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My scout comes up with a few more potential signings. Unfortunatly due to financial constraints, i cannot fork out cash for players therefore i must rely on free transfers. I manage to pull in a veteran Irish League striker that once played for my beloved Crusaders. He's by no means a great player, a legend of the Irish League, but i'm convinced i can get the best out of him. He's tall, he's strong and knows were the goal is. He can also play in the centre of midfield. I need players with versatily because my team is so small. Two midfielders are added and a central defender. As well as another loanee from Portadown, a right full back.

Second friendly, Glebe Rangers Vs Larne, again at Riada Stadium. A new loanee striker from the much loathed Portadown starts. The quality of our football is appalling and again we can't keep possession. We open the scoring from the penalty spot on 23 mins but i am not convinced we can hold on. My fears come true when Larne equalize in the 29th minute. On 39th min, we get a corner. The ball is crossed in and Larne clear their lines. Its two on two and we end up out numbered two on three and Larne score their second from the resultant counter. Things are looking grim. Half time we're losing 1-2. The second half is only eight minutes old when Larne strike again and leave us 1-3 behind. I'm beginning to suspect that my half time team talk has not registered with the players. Through the match, i do some more tactic tweaking. Nothing major. A few players giving away the ball to much. A few wandering out of position to often. I add a bit of attacking to our game as i feel i've been to cautious. On 81 mins, after putting Larne under a lot of pressure, it pays off and we come back to 3-2. I smell a comeback! I have faith. My faith in my babies pays off when in the 88th minute, we equalize and deservedly so. At half time we had 36% possession. By full time, we manage to have 45%. A few tactical reviews and changes, i feel, have contributed to the comeback. Great result, great comeback and another few hundred pounds in income. On we go with finding more talent to bring to the Riada Stadium......

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3rd Pre-season friendly Vs Holywood again at the Riada Stadium and again, guarenteed a few hundred pounds in gate receipts. My new former Crusaders striker is in the starting 11. He's also my assistant manager i hasten to add. His experience should help the youngster become accustomed to football at this level. In the 12th min, Glebe Rangers take the lead. In this particular match, after some tactic tweaking, i have noticed my team is playing more as a unit. Though there is still room for improvement. On the 17th min we go 2-0 ahead with a sweetly struck freekick from 25 yards. My players are not of the highest quality and their freekick taking is diabolical to say the least. Therefore i let my captain for the day decide who takes the freekick and thankfully, this proved a wise decision. On 39 mins, i lose my best DC to a red card for a professional foul. From where i was sitting, there was another defender covering and feel disappointed by the decision but, i'm not one to argue with the officials. I replace a ST with a DC so as not to give to much away at the back. My aim is to hold on to the lead i've got. We go in a 2-0 to the good at the halfway stage. The second half is a quiet affair. A few sporadic chances from both side but nothing worthy of noting. We finish the game with a 2-0 scoreline and some good ratings for my babies. One 7, nine 8's and a 9 which is pleasing to see We never looked in trouble throughout the second half and i'm chuffed with the way the team worked as a unit to defend our lead. Back to the office to see what my scout has for me in terms of new talent. By this stage i'm basically looking for players to cover each position. I cannot afford a huge squad but i'm still under my wage budget by £700+....

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I manage to purchase a 30year old Southern Irish striker. Looking at his stats and he's by far, the best player in my squad and is sure to start my next pre-season friendly Vs Saintfield. Once again at the Riada Stadium and again, this will put coppers in the kitty...coppers being the operative word at this level!

I start this match with my player assistance manager up front along with my new Southern recruit. 5mins on the clock and we're 1-0 to the good. 2 mins later and we go 2-0 up. 28 mins pass and we hit a 3rd goal. But none of these goals were scored by my strikers. Not such a bad thing. As long as we get goals, i don't care where they come from! On the 30th min, my new Southern striker nets his first goal for us and just 6 mins later, my player assistant manager opens his account. Being a tall strong striker, i am utilizing his strengths to the max which benefits the team in a big way. He's good at flick ons and getting the ball to him is essential. On 39mins, my player assistant flicks on another long ball, my new Sourthern recruit is through on a 1 on 1 and finishes with ease to put us 5-1 ahead at the halfway stage. It's looking like a cricket score's on the cards. The second half, i notice Holywood sitting a little deeper obviously in an attempt to prevent the cricket score that i envisage and i adjust my tactics accordingly. On 48 mins however, the Southerner scores his hattrick. Again big ******* is the provider with a flick on and i'm beginning to think that i've got the perfect strike partnership at this level. It could last a few years as the Southerner is 30 and my player assistant is 31 so there's a few years left in them yet. We're now 6-1 to the good at this point. On 57 mins, my assistant makes it 7-1, this time his fellow striker provides the pass for him to add to his tally for this match. The ratings again range from 7's, 8's, 9's and the two strikers getting 10's. My AMR however manages a mere 6 which essentially means i must find out why he only achieved this rating. Was he marked out of the game or is he simply not the player i require for that role. Mind you, i am still looking to bring new faces to the Riada Stadium and the wings are positions that require strengthening.

On the strength of our last three friendly performances, things are looking good for us. The quality of our football has improved and the team are gradually working as a unit despite my assistants claims that he is worried by the lack of cohesion within the squad. Certainly my 1st friendly Vs Crusaders the team work was non existance. But in the second half Vs Larne and the two fixtures after that, we looked a good hard working unit. Now another look at what "talent" my scout has come up with.....

scholesy18

nice story m8, glad to see a story about LLM pretty rare these days imo KUTGW =)

evertonfan

nicE story KUTGW

thanks to James M for the sig, cheers buddy :D

EFC Diddy
FMF Unittttt :P

sicks6sicks

Thank you gents for your words of encouragement

Pre-season, i've managed to bring in seven fresh faces, a mixture of youth and experience. I've also loaned 3 players from one of the Irish Leagues top clubs. I've also taken another 3 players on trial however i'm not that impressed with the trialists and doubt that i will take the opportunity to sign them. Each position now has at least one covering player. But still, i'm chasing a former Northern Ireland international who once played for my beloved Crusaders FC many moons back. A strong centre half who's now in his 37th year. He's surplus to requirements at his current club, the same club i have loaned 3 players from but i still feel that at 37 years old, he can bring some much needed experience to the rearguard and indeed, the team as a whole. On offering him a contract, it is clear he has no interest in joining us. But i proceed with the offer which as expected is knocked back. Come on *****, i used to watch you and worship you in your days at Crusaders. The least you can do is sign for me. I sense he is sniggering at the mere thought of playing at an Irish League basement club. I'll have the last laugh *****, you wait and see! I turn my attentions to another former N.I international. A veteran CB who is on the lookout for a new club. Again it is with a view to bringing more experience to the club. Again i am knocked back. This veteran, ironically accepts a player managers job with Queens University Belfast (QUB), my first competative opponents in the Intermediate Cup Group 4 in roughly 2 weeks time. Amusing considering he sniggered at my contract offer and would have no intention of playing at this level! What are you doing playing and managing QuB then *****? I've now slightly gone over my wage budget by about £50 so i decide to release two youngsters to reduce the bill with a view to perhaps letting go of one or two more before the season begins. It was nothing personal, i just need to keep the wage bill down as we are already almost £500000 in the red. This particular month, we make over £2000 pounds. Coppers really but as the Tesco ad says "every little helps!". Oh and we raise £1 from merchandising. Must have sold 2 badges!

On looking at my team information, the average age is just 18! Gulp.

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And so to our final friendly in what i deem a successful pre-season both on and off the pitch. We're up against the mighty Cookstown Olympic. Yet again the venue is the Riada Stadium. All home games this pre-season but with the extra few hundred quid from gate receipts, we need what little cash we can get. The match is barely under way when we launch our first attack. A cross from from the right comes in. My new Irish striker puts pressure on the opposing Centre Half who heads into his own net to put us 1 goal up. Just 8 mins later and the super Irishman puts us 2-0 ahead and things look good. The remainder of the first half was tedious to say the least. The quality of football is poor. Both teams unable to string two passes between them. No one could hold on to possession. It was yo yo football at it's best. It was more like watching tennis than football. The previous three friendlies, we'd played some good football and things were looking up. Now we're unable to pass or hold on to possession. Mind you, neither could Cookstown. I watch the remainder of the match go by, thinking about my next opponents, my first competative match. Better opposition would surely exploit our inability to pass and hold possession. The match finishes 2-0 in our favour. But i'm far from confident that my team can compete with the teams in our own division.

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First competative match for my inexperienced side.

Intermediate League Cup Group 4

Queens University Belfast Vs Glebe Rangers @ Newforge Lane, Belfast.

QUB are favorites for this clash although the press indicate they believe we have a chance of causing an upset. I've been looking forward to this match, cautiously but while retaining a little optimism. I speak with QUB manager Gerry Taggart briefly before the match. We both have a mutual respect for each other and indeed, both us management virgins wish each other all the very best for this fixture. I pass a smug remark regarding his decision not to join us because he didn't want to play at that level, but then he goes to QUB. All i get is a one fingered salute! Both teams come onto the pitch. I reckon there are about 150+ diehards out to see this clash (it was 188 i hear). Mainly students just turning up for a good slagging match. I'm looking at my subs bench, cursing that dreaded three subs only rule in our wee league. I bring three outfield players. If my keeper gets injured, we're screwed. Thankfully i've recruited a few versatile outfield players who can slot into different positions when required. There are four 16 year olds in my squad, three of which are in the starting 11.

Pre match team talk, i told the lads, or babies that i had faith in them. One or two looks delighted. A few seemed to have their minds on something else. The match i hope. I have faith but with this lot, you never know what's going to happen given that this is their first competative match. Mind you, this is only the Intermediate Cup. League survival comes first. If we do well in the cup then great. If we don't do well in the cup but manage to survive in the league, then i have achieved what i have set out to achieve. We are relegation candidates according to the media and i'm out to defy them!

Frankie Hillis blows on his whistle, as (he loves to do IRL) and off we go. We launch into our first sortie but an over hit pass breaks our first attack up. There's nothing much between the two sides in the opening 5 mins. But on 6 mins, a wayward backpass from QUB's McWilliams eludeds McConville in the QUB goal. My wee Irish striker anticipates the pass, latches on to the lose ball and places into the empty net to put us 1-0 up. Chuffed i am and at this point we're beginning to dominate. I ask my two fullbacks to come deep as i notice the QUB wingers are getting alot of the ball and making runs down the flanks. For the rest of the first half, QUB huff and puff but don't put my defence under too much pressure. My team are working well as a unit especially in defence but i am still concerned with the amount of times we lose the ball to poor poor passing. And the game is heading for another bout of yo yo football. Half time arrives and we're leading 1-0. In the changing room at half time, i tell my babies that i still have faith. They must stay focused in the second half and maintain our good team work. In terms of our passing, and holding the ball we are poor but off the ball and defending, we are strong and the players hold their positioning well to thwart what attacks QUB can conjure. I am hopeful we'll hang on.

Second half. QUB come out with all guns blazing. Attack after attack is thwarted by our solid defending. After some sustained pressure from QUB's attacks, a few shots from QUB has our keeper at full stretch and i'm beginning to think it's only a matter of time before QUB find the net. But on 66 mins, against the run of play at this point, we add a second goal. A deep cross from the right lands at our AML feet. He dispatches a shot goalwards from the narrowist of angles, under pressure from his marker and the ball finds its resting place in the far corner of the net. Think Van Basten Vs Russia in 88 Euro Championships, only from the otherside! I rally the troops and tell them to keep their feet on the ground and remain focused. I'm starting to believe that this will be our day! 76 mins are on the clock when my wee Irish striker recieves a through ball one on one with Keeper McConvillle. McConville sticks out a leg and the wee man goes down. Penalty. McConville is sent off for a professional foul but luckily for QUB, they brought a sub keeper with them. I let my captain, the wee Irishman decide who was to take the penalty. He showed he's not a selfish man by giving the ball to my Centre Half. I'm thinking "what are you doing, give the ball to a srtiker" because i don't have any real penalty takers in the side and at least the strikers job is to finish these sort of chances. My Centre Back despatches the penalty to the keepers right to put us 0-3 up. And from then on QUB operate more defensively with only one striker. They pose no further threat, but then neither do we. With 10 men they seem harder to break down. The rest of the match is forgettable as there's nothing of real significance happened. We played slow, let QUB chase the ball but without creating anything of note. Whistle blows.

QUB 0-3 Glebe Rangers.

Taggart and i share a bit of banter in the tunnel. I over hear my left winger who scored the "Van Basten" goal praising me in the press for giving him the opportunity to play at this level. I'm appreciative of such comments and this further motivates me to do well with this team. My left winger also recieves the Man of the Match award. We hit the Pavillion Bar afterwards for an after match sesh. We are entitled to celebrate. After all, this is our first match at this level and we've gone away from home, scored 3 goals and kept a clean sheet. And next week, the hard work must begin again. Our second match in the Intermediate Cup....

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Monday morning i'm straight on the phone to clubs in the Premier League with a view to securing some unwanted talent rotting in the reserves. The transfer window closes soon so there's not much time left to bring in fresh faces. I feel a few Premier League players will make my team a force in Division 2 this season. I am given permission to speak to 7 players and put contract offers in front of them. Again i am knocked back by the "i don't want to play for a lower level" and two "i don't want to move from my current area" (A BUG?). The latter is rather amusing given that this is Irish League football. Part-time. A few full-time players in the Premier League. I mean Paul Muir of Lisburn Distillery lives just facing me (IN REAL LIFE) and he travels to Lisburn for home matches which is about 35-40 miles away! Anyway, life goes on.....

Our second competative match is upon us:

Intermediate League Cup Group 4

Coagh Utd Vs Glebe Rangers

I make one change from the line-up that beat QUB. The lads seem confident and after last weeks success, i'm feeling confide myself. 2.00pm and we're out inspecting the pitch. My god. What a mess. This is common place in Irish League football but not at this time of the year, it's August. Mind you, there was a downpour this morning and last night the rain didn't let up and the pitch was used by the reserves in a friendly this morning which did no favours either.

3.50pm comes, i let out a silent fart. Amusingly, the players all accuse each other of creating sure a foul stench. Guinness induced i hasten to add, but it's great to see my players having a bit of crack, albeit over a "silent but violent"! On the way out of the changing room, i tell all my players that i have faith. Indeed after last week, they played their hearts out which helped instill my confidence.

The match kicks off. The first 10 minutes Coagh are getting plenty of the ball and sending aerial raids down the centre of the pitch. The long balls are ineffective against my central defenders however my midfield are just not picking up the loose balls from clearances and my two forwards are instructed to stay forward. When we do manage to get the ball, we are muscled off it and again Coagh hit us with more sorties down the middle. My defence though are on top and dealing with the direct balls with relative ease. By the 15th minute i've shouted a few instructions to my players and particular told them to be more direct with their passing as playing in this mudbath is not ideal for playing a passing game. The instructions pay dividends five minutes later when a throw into the Coagh box from the right is headed clear but only to the edge of the box. It's played back into my striker/assistant manager. He lets fly with the right foot but the ball richocets of the underside of the bar with the keeper beaten. It falls nicely at the feet of the wee southerner who tucks away the rebound unchallenged. I hope my team can keep their concentration and stay focused. Just 4 mins later and Coagh are on level terms. Dean Smyth connects with a long freekick deep into our box to head home the equalizer. I'm rather disappointed as these are the type of balls our defence normally deal with with ease. From the restart we're on top constantly putting Coagh under pressure without ever really threatening to score. We're getting plenty possession without taking advantage of it. Coagh at his stage must been getting desperate as they are constantly commiting fouls. My targetman being their target for some roughing up. Against the run of play Coagh go 2-1 up. A corner from the right is cleared by my defence. The ball falls to Gary Dallas who skips past my out rushing midfielder and unleashed a left foot 25 yarder into the top corner. Is the Glebe bubble about to burst. No way. Just 3 mins later we break. A long ball down the left sees my Southern striker peel away from his marker. He continues his run down the left, crossing from the byline. Under pressure from our player assistant manager, McGuckan miscontrols and the ball rolls over the line to even things up at 2-2 on the stroke of half time.

Team talk and i tell my players i still have faith in them. From the beginning of the second half, Coagh push forward. We're on the back foot and they score their 3rd on 49 mins. A 25 yard shot rebounds off the bar and falls to Dean Smyth who slots the rebound into an empty net unchallenged. For the next 30 mins the match is a constant battle to see who can punt the ball the furtherest with the midfield rarely seeing any of the ball. In the last 10 mins we go for broke and i change our formation to increase our options in attack. In the 87th minute the changes pay off when a backpass to the Coagh keeper sees the keeper miskick on the muddy surface. The ball strikes our player assistant manager on the chest. He manages to control the ball regardless and slots into an unguarded net. On the balance of play it's what we deserve but unfortunate for Coagh and their keeper. I refraining from settling for a more defensive approach for the remaining remaining 3 minutes we launch attack after attack but without any real threat. Final whistle blows. I'm chuffed to have come away with a point that leaves us on top of Group 4 on goal difference and congratulate my assistant on his man of the man award.

Final Score - Coagh Utd 3-3 Glebe Rangers att- 180

(I intend scaling down the match reports, but if you folk want me to keep them as they are then i will do so. I just don't want to bore you all)

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A week passes where there's very little activity within the club. Our next match is quickly upon us. We face Wakehurst away which is thankfully just 4 miles from my home. No long trips for me!

Antrim Trophy 2nd Round

Wakehurst Vs Glebe Rangers @ Warden Street

739 die hards brave the shitty weather. Another bog of a pitch sees both sides adapt the hit an hope method. Jackie Charlton would be proud. It turns out to be a closely fought contest with little between the sides. I'm disappointed at Wakehurst persistant fouling which is destroying any flow the games could potentially have. Their hard physical approach leaves Brian Russell (player assistant) in a heap (i'm naming my players now as this is MY story and i'm neither recommending him or not recommending him.). Thankfully it's not to serious. In a closely fought battle we progress to the next round with a final result of:

Wakehurst 1
McIlroy 76

Glebe Rangers 2
Ryan 3
Ligget 83

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Manage to bring another Irish player, this time AMC, Jonny Prizeman on a free transfer. I lose my most important CD Bellingham to injury for up to 2 months and therefore have to bring in ANOTHER Irish player Devlin as replacement as we're short on CB's. I secure the signing of Holohan, an Irish Gk and an Irish Mid, Mulcahy. To balance the books i release 5 of our youngsters.

Intermediate League Cup Group 4

Glebe Rangers Vs Oxford Utd Stars @ Riada Stadium

Yet another tight an close contest that conjures up a solitary goal in our favour. This is our first home game since my appointment that sees a bumper crowd of 179 attend a match played on a warm Friday afternoon. The 1st half sees us on top and sneak an early goal on 12 mins. The 2nd have sees us on the defensive but again our defence holds firm and we keep a clean sheet and puts a nice wee 10er in our keepers pocket. I hate this bonus scheme as we're broke! Final score:

Glebe Rangers 1
Ryan

Oxford Utd Stars 0

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Last week of the transfer window sees us quiet. No new faces and given that i feel that i've a squad capable of avoiding relegation (which is my aim), i feel no new faces are necessary. The odds for the league sees us as having a chance of promotion! In my view every point is a step closer from relegation. Our biggest match to date sees us paired with Crusaders Reserves in the 3rd Round of the Antrim Trophy.

Crusaders Res Vs Glebe Rangers @ Seaview.

A trip to my beloved Seaview where i've sent my youth and adulthood watching the team i love, Crusaders FC. This is supposed to be the Crusaders reserves but a look at the team sheet, there are at least 7 1st team players! Daunting to say the least. I keep to my usual formation and tactics for this game. We're prepared to give it a go and to my surprise, we come away with what i and the media percieve as a shock result. We held them at 2-2 in the first half with two Crues 1st teamers scoring their goals. But go on to net a winner 14 mins from time. The gulf in quality showed in this match with Crues Res playing some cracking football. We pull of a shock final result in front of 99 supporters:

Crues Res 2
Crawford 17
Stirling 27

Glebe Rangers 3
Ryan 2, 18
McCullough 76

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BREAKING NEWS:

After our victory against Crusaders Reserves, man of the match John Ryan is being touted as the first to be sold as speculation grows as to the clubs financial state. We're now over £500 000 in the red(i reckon this is a bug or financial data is wrong) and losing approximately £4000 a month. Fans have been fund raising and the wage bill is well below the maximum but unless we find an Abramovich, things are looking bleak. Still, this is a board issue that they can deal with and i'm as committed to the cause as ever. I've tried lowering wages and bonuses but none of the players are prepared to do this. My Glebe Rangers career may be shortlived :(

Boyce

Very nice story...keep this work up mate!

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And so life at Riada Stadium goes on....After the shock (or not) of the news that the clubs finances were unhealthy i have to focus my team on the forthcoming fixture against Carrick Rangers. Far superior opposition and the bookies clearly have us down as lambs to the slaughter. This is what makes Glebe Rangers tick. Underdogs. We love it.

Intermediate League Cup Group 4

Glebe Rangers Vs Carrick Rangers @ Riada Stadium

With our finances looking unhealthy, a bumper crowd of 745 show their commitment to our cause. We are underdogs for this fixture but come out on top thanks in part to superior finishing, the bigger part being my side dominating this match and throwing themselves at everything. My strikers have gained a great understanding and continue to bang in the goals for fun. We dominate from start to finish with a final result of:

Glebe Rangers 3
Russell 6, 56
Ryan 73

Carrick Rangers 1
Corr 85

This is a great result for our wee club and to the UTV reporters, i cannot hide my delight. We now go into the remaining match of Group 4 with every possibility of winning the group. Bangor are 2Pts clear at the top with our final group game being against Bangor @ Clandyboye. We have already qualified from the group, quarenteeing 2nd place. However we are not a team that like to settle for second best. We go into every match with a winning mentality. Our remaining group match against Bangor is no different.

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It's been a busy week off the field for the club. Supporters have been fund raising in an attempt to keep the club affloat. To my surprise, i recieve a telephone call from the Chairman informing me that the board have injected £27100 of their own cash into the club. At the beginning of my career at Glebe, they injected £25000. This has made me even more determined to bring success to this club. The directors showing commitment inspires me.

Intermediate League Cup Group 4

Bangor Vs Glebe Rangers @ Clandyboye

The eagerly anticipated final match of the group. I told my players to play with the same passion as in previous matches. I like to reiterate this before each match but i know my players now and i know they play their hearts out for this club. The hype of this match pulls in a crowd of 230. Again we are a bookies lambs to the slaughter but yet again, we defy the odds. We have a two goal lead by the 39th min A poor defensive clearance and a goal as a result of the poor clearance in the 44th min reduces the scoreline at half time to 1-2 in Glebe's favour. Unfortunately the second half sees us under the cosh for the most part and Bangor steal a late equalizer. The match finishes:

Bangor 2
Munn 44
Allen 78

Glebe Rangers 2
Russell 14, 39

Unfortunatley we just lose out on top spot in Group 4. But i'm delighted with the teams performance thoughout the group stages. We've come through it unbeaten. To lose a 2-0 lead in this match was disappointing but i have to take the positives. It comes to my attention that we are unbeaten since our very first pre season friendly. I have recieved alot of the plaudits for the teams form but it's the players that deserve the praise as well. We are all a team, from the Chairman right through to the tea lady. We are a very family orientated club.

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By the end of the month, we have recorded a profit thanks to board members. The good runs in the cups have brought in some much needed coppers and although the cups were never my priority, i soon realize the importance in terms of keeping Glebe Rangers in business. I have spend the past week focusing on our first ever Irish Second Division match away to Dergview. The run of matches that has seen us unbeaten competatively has filled me with confidence and belief. I feel we have the quality to win. But then, the Irish League has always been known for being unpredictable. I may yet have my confidence shoved firmly back in my face come the opening league match. By now, all the teams in our division are 2-3 games ahead of us due to our cup runs.

Irish League Second Division

Dergview Vs Glebe Rangers @ Dergview Park

191 die hards are in attendance. I can see a handful of Glebe scarves in the crowd which is nice to see. We are once again a bookies lambs to the slaughter. Little do they know, i use this to inspire my team. Indeed my team prove they are more than capable of competing in this division by dominating this match from start to finish. We complete the remaining 6 mins of the match with 10 men as Morrow is sent off for two bookable offences. It's all the more pleasing that we are away from home and we return to Ballymoney with a comfortable scoreline of:

Dergview 1
Campbell 52

Glebe Rangers 4
McCullough (Pen) 9
Russell 45
Liggett 81
Ryan 88
Morrow S/O 84 mins

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As a result of our success in the cups, matches are coming think and fast. Harkin is now complaining of feeling tired and jaded. I understand given he has a full-time job, trains 2 evenings a week. Our games have been in the lines of Sat-Tues-Sat-Wed-Sat-Wed-Sat - i'm sure you get the idea. I allow Harkin a week off. A fixture schedule such as the above has had English Premier League stars complaining. Imagine how it feels for the part time player who also carries a 9-5 job and who travels miles to play for a club of part time status. No other player has complained. But i feel obliged to allow Harkin a little time off as he's been a regular in the team and a consistant performer at the back. But....and there's always a but....i want him to see us through the upcoming Antrim Trophy 4th Round tie against Bangor @ Clandyboye.

Antrim Trophy 4th Round
Bangor Vs Glebe Rangers @ Clandyboye

I'm thinking "it's about time the bookies wised up". We're for a slaughtering yet again...apparently. On exiting the changing room, i admire what i percieve as a huge crowd by Irish League's lower tier standards. 1405 spectators turn out to see a classic advertisement for Irish League football. Both teams attack from the first whistle. Only poor finishing on Bangor's part see us leading at half time by 2 goals to nil. Bangor's cause has not been helped by the fact McKenna has been sent off 6 mins before the interval. We were leading 1-0 up until this point. We took advantage of the extra man by scoring after McKenna's dismissal for two bookable offences. The 2nd half saw us sit deeper and allow Bangor to run at us. An attempt to tire them out. We managed to break and literally steal a goal against the run of play. Bangor pulled 2 goals back before the final whistle with 10 men but we hang on. Final score:

Bangor 2
McDowell 58
Allen 90
McKenna S/O 39mins

Glebe Rangers 3
Harkin 22
Ryan 44
Mulcahy 47

I have nothing but praise for Bangor. Their second half comeback was remarkable and they played the second half as if it was a win or die situation. They dictated the second half and could have easily took this to extra time but for some last ditch tackles and poor finishing. Manager George Dunlop, a former Linfield goalkeeper is someone i admired in my youth and continue to do so to this day. On leaving Clandyboye, i thank Harkin for his contribution to todays win. In his last match before he leaves for a week, he scores and plays out of his skin. I couldn't have asked for anymore. But i did noticed fatigue kicking in by the hour and feel the break will allow him to come back refreshed. He's only a kid after all, he's only 16. A bit of FM2007 over a few bottles of Buckfast will have him back on his feet in no time!

Boyce

Once again looking fantastic......keep going mate!

Maybe i will have a word with Bozza(admin) to see if one of us (staff) can arrange some kind of awards thread like storie of 2006 etc...