Crawley town - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

**kopking2006** · 10-05-07, 02:09 AM

After Crawley Towns 10 point deduction in August 2006,the newly elected chairman and his board decided the club was in need of a fresh start. In stepped Sam Husband, an unknown manager, who only has history in sunday league football. The press were the first to write him off, followed by the fans, but the board were confident they had made the right choice. The fans mainly grumbled about the gaffer and his lack of experience.

first thing on the mind was reputation, as a parent team, Husband factioned a deal with the all conquering Chelsea FC. To start, it came to a shock to most of the fans, it was a huge 'notch on the bed post' for the manager if you like.

After steering Crawley away from relegation in March 2007, they felt assured and was later confirmed they would be in the conference for another season. It was only a matter of time to see if the fans would jump on the Sam Husband band wagon. A month later on the final day of the long season, Crawley's last game determined where they would finish. They had finished an incredible 14th after the media predicted a relegation struggle and finish 21st, without the points deduction, they would have finished 9th. Maybe higher but with the burden on the team higher than normal.

Here, a year on after Sam Husband took the fateful post at Crawley Town we document the next season and what is in store for both the manager and his talented team. Promotion, relegation or even another year in the conference, we shall see.

I'll keep you posted if you are interested.

**Y2Stu** · 10-05-07, 08:26 AM

nice work!

**VeggiSmurf** · 10-05-07, 08:41 AM

Nice Start Kopking KUTGW

**evertonfan** · 10-05-07, 11:25 AM

nice start mate kutgw

**kopking2006** · 10-05-07, 09:58 PM

Confidence was high at the Broadfield Stadium after Husband steered them away from relegation in his first job as manager. The signings of tommy forecast, Kieran Mckenna, Simon Cox, Keith barker, Gary Roundtree and toumani diagouraga meant the gaffer was in business. He announced to the squad they would play friendlies against the likes of Leicester, Stoke and Chelsea reserves, who would be playing at the Broadfield stadium. The fans could expect a star-studded yet skeptical pre-season ahead for their team. Before the stars turn out in Crawley, The team had to travel to Newport County for their first game.

It started well, early goals from Mirnes Ibrahimovic in the 3rd and newboy Keith Barker in the 7th, then Ibrahimovic committed a professional foul, elbowing an opposition player in the 13th minute and subsequently earning himself a red card and a 1 match ban. i decided to stick with a lone striker and paid off when right winger Joel Grant scored in first half stoppage time. 3 up at half time, everything looking rosy going into the second half. Newport made good use of the extra man and slotted home on the 61st. Changes made and two minutes after the the substitutions Newport scored again, flashbacks of the 2005 champions league final rushed through my head. In the 85th, Sub Rob Davies slotted home a header from a corner to clear my head of the thoughts of the final. In the four minutes added on Newport scored two, both ruled out for offside, i was one very relieved manager. 4-2 it finished.

Next game on the list was the first of three home games, Leicester City. With new signing tommy forecast still injured, I opted for 2nd choice keeper Rob Tolfrey. We found ourselves 1-0 down after just eight minutes, we played better after the goal but sloppy play in the 23rd minute gave them a second goal to celebrate. Fifteen minutes later they made it 3-0 and i wondered if we performed like this how many we would concede by half time, luckily we only went in three down. we came out second half much better than the first and had a few shots at the Leicester goal, on the 65th minute Leicester broke and made it 4-0. the fans decided to leave around the 70th minute mark and two minutes later they made it 5-0. I hoped no more goals and the game finished 5-0.

Next on the calender was Stoke City, sure i knew we wasn't going to win but i knew we had to play better and hoped we wouldn't have a drubbing like the last game. The team started well until the 25th minute when we gave the ball away and with Stoke' first shot on target went in. We managed to get to half-time with the score at 1-0. i was happy that we had controlled most of the game and limited the opposition to a few chances. I decided to bring on Ibrahimovic, the clubs top scorer last season with 35 goals. it was to no avail and we just couldn't put anything in the back of the net, on the 65th minute we had an injury and two minutes after the substitution Stoke made us pay for our inconsistency in front of goal by scoring, to make things worse 2 minutes after the restart they came at us and banged home a third. i hand thanked the fans for staying a bit longer than the last game even though it was only an extra ten minutes, this time they began to leave after 80 minutes. we managed to keep possession and keep the score 3-0.

Before the next game i shared a joke with the player's and the management, telling them Chelsea were relishing the opportunity to play at the Broadfield Stadium, even if if was just the reserves. After we had let our fantastic fans down in the last two games, both with attendances over 1500, i didn't wonder why only 213 people turned up for the game. I was finally able to play my new signing tommy forecast and i hoped they would go easy on us but they scored after just four minutes. Once again we had plenty of chances but just couldn't out any away and they punished us on the 21st but adding a second. We got into half time happy with the performance and went out for the second half hopeful. Starting the half with some good passing and a few shots we still couldn't break the Chelsea defense. They slotted home a third goal shortly after the 65th minute and to everybody's delight new boy toumani diagouraga drove in a 70th minute goal to finally give the fans something to cheer about. After the goal we played much better, creating chances and limiting the opposition. The game ended 3-1, i was relieved to have scored more than anything else and i was sorry for the fans who had not seen us score in the two previos games.

We start our season with a home tie against Forest Green on Saturday 11th August at 1500 hours. To get your tickets call:01293 410000 5pound for adults, 2 pound for children and OAP's

Boyce · 10-05-07, 10:13 PM

Very nice story i enjoyed that please keep it up mate i want to read more :P also it makes me want to play as them lol and your lucky to get Chelsea as your feeder club :O

**kopking2006** · 10-05-07, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boyce

Very nice story i enjoyed that please keep it up mate i want to read more :P also it makes me want to play as them lol and your lucky to get Chelsea as your feeder club :O

boyce, i wish i had chelsea as a feeder club, they are my parent club but hey doesnt matter =P

**Y2Stu** · 10-05-07, 11:43 PM

I'm extremely pleased with this one, good writing skills, somehow it draws you into the game, thinking your actually managing them from a third person view!

KUTGW

hotshot_V · 11-05-07, 07:44 AM

Kutgw

Ffff-fff-fff-fmf Unit!!

Good It Going Playaaaa!!

**VeggiSmurf** · 11-05-07, 01:11 PM

Nice start keep it up and maby u get a change of promotion

scouter · 11-05-07, 02:10 PM

woot interesting story !!

is keith barker of blackburn previously ?

**kopking2006** · 11-05-07, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scouter

woot interesting story !!

is keith barker of blackburn previously ?

yes he is ;)

tommy forecast and kieran mckenna - spurs
simon cox - reading
toumi diagouraga - watford

**Bozza** · 11-05-07, 03:35 PM

Lovely story mate, fun to read! Good luck with the 2nd season and beat those opponents !!!

**Fedorico Roma Fan** · 11-05-07, 03:38 PM

Looks good, KUTGW!

**kopking2006** · 11-05-07, 03:44 PM

thanks for the comments guy's
next chapter up soon =D

**evertonfan** · 11-05-07, 04:27 PM

Lovin the story Huggy B KUTGW mate :)

**kopking2006** · 11-05-07, 04:34 PM

August started off well, good training sessions with the lads, media was there taking pictures. later that day i recieved a fax, we had been given the odds of 40-1 for promotion, much better than our 5000-1 last season. they expected us to finish mid-table. it was a good feeling. now it was back to business, i had a couple of offers for key players including star striker mirnes ibrahimovic and pacy winger Joe anyinsah, both offers i flattly rejected. i held a press conference the next day stating it would be in the teams best interests to aim for promotion to the football league rather than taking a mid-table position, i thought i had the players to do it.

First game of the season was a few days away. my 51st competetive game at the start of my second season as a manager and most important of all for crawley, the town i have adopted as my own. i had mixed emotions, i was nervous, excited and very optomistic. i wondered if the team could improve on last seasons accomplishments of a mid-table position after the press decided we would be relegated. it was a galliant effort and hoped for the same this season. also on my mind was whether we would get promoted, before i could have happy thoughts(you know what i mean ;))reality sunk in, 46 games away, 46 challenging, hard competetive league games. adding extra pressure if we had a cup run, which i have prayed for all pre-season.

Saturday arrived, 12.00 hours and sat in the bar having a meal with the lads. i looked up and noticed i wasnt the only person that was nervous, it was the whole club. players, staff, board members, the chairman and even the fans. the same fans that carried us through a tough season last year. as i read out the starting eleven, the door creaked open, in walked a dark man in a suit, it was the chairman Mr Azwar Majeed. he wished all the players good luck with the season, nerves were steadied a little, i was happy and the players were happy. we walked out to the terrace ready for the first game of the season, 'this was it' i said to my assistant. "this is the season Broadfield Stadium and Crawley town welcome the football league, this time next year i wantto be in league two". the players walked out to a standing ovation from the crowd. here it was the first game of a long old season and we were ready!!!

First up was Forest green, I had a full team available apart from mirnes ibrahimovic, who was sent off in the friendly against Newport and faced a three match ban. Kick-off and within a minute of the start i had an injury, i thought to myself 'here we go again'. Ryan gyaki was the man injured and i brought on Steve Evans in his place. Twenty minutes on the clock and we found ourselves 1-0 down due to a deflected shot off our own player. I wasn't to impressed and ten minutes later, the leg-end that is Marcus Richardson popped up with an equalizer, the fans went wild. It remained all square at the break and when the second half started it was announced a club record 1531 attendance for the match. fifteen minutes had passed without any progress when new boy Keith Barker set-up strike partner Richardson for his second of the game. two minutes after richardson grabbed his hat-trick and the match ball after intercepting a pass and sloting it past the keeper. We held on for the three points and richardson deservedly took the MOTM award with his three goals.

The next game was our first away game of the campain, we travelled to morcombe confident from our last game and wanted the win. both teams had started well, having shots within twenty minutes. from the half hour mark we were under the kosh but managed to hold on and go in 0-0 at the break. the second half began just like the first, both teams equalling each other out. it was a dull game to say the least until injury time when crawley were a warded a free kick in a dangerous position, a bit of pinball in the area and it finally broke to richardson who calmly slotted home but was ruled out for offside. we were all dissapointed but we deserved at least a point and thats what we got.

The whistle blew for the start of our second home game and within two minutes we had scored, Joel Grant with the goal. Boston restarted and we immidiatly put them under pressure and gifted us a throw in. one ball and we were in again, this time Keith Barker was there to net his first for the club. we were 2-0 up after just four minutes and the fans were delighted, once again we pressured them from the restart with good affect, richardson was on hand to slot home a goal, seven minutes played and 3 up, this was dreamland no-one could believe it. we started to relax a little and continued to dominate the first half and richardson scored again in the 42nd minute as some good work paid off. four up at half time i didnt know what to say. they managed to pull a goal back in the 59th minute but we managed to hold them off and collect three points and another win. simon cox ran the midfield and picked up the MOTM award.

I had a break until my next game so i decided to take the lads down the golf course and then i had time to see how my gran was getting on. the weekend arrived and business as usual. we had to play woking away from home, they were third after winning three on the bounce. you could cut the atmosphere with a knife, tommy forecast was doing a very good job in keeping us in the game and i knew it was nt long before we would concede. that moment came in the 29th minute. i was thankful, and i bet the rest of the team were, for tommy's saves or we would have gone more than one down into half-time. toumi diagouraga scored a free-kick in the dying moments of the first half, we went in one a piece. tommy forecast was called into more action to keep it 1-1 until travis binnion slice in his cross to make it 2-1 on 63 minutes. Joel Grant slotted home on the 79th to make it a glorious day for crawley town. marcus richardson earned himself and early shower and a probable three match ban when he intentionally elbowed an opposing player, his team-mates had to drag him away. no doubt who the hero of the day was when tommy forecast was awarded the MOTM.

I only made two changes going into this game and we gave away a silly penalty in the 23rd minute. crappy play and sloppy passing let them in as they punished us and went 2-0 up in the 37th. HT and my team was distraught, i needed a lifeline,i made a few subs and had to wait til the 77th when we were awarded a penalty which ibrahimovic calmly placed into the corner of the goal. we didn't go down easy but it finished 2-1 to gravesend.

The first competitive month of the year ahead was over and the chairman, players, fans and myself were happy wth the results. we had played five games, won three,drew one and lost one. Proudly sitting fourth in the league but knew we could do better and believed we could do it and we had 41 games to do it in.

**Y2Stu** · 11-05-07, 04:40 PM

well done! so how long was the ban on Marcus Richardson?

**evertonfan** · 11-05-07, 04:40 PM

another great post Kop ;) well done i hope this carrys on for ages :)

**kopking2006** · 11-05-07, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y2Stu

well done! so how long was the ban on Marcus Richardson?

disciplinary hearing 1st september so you will hear about it as soon as i do.