Crookes AFC - A club built from youth - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

Wednesdayboy · 24-04-08, 07:50 PM

Crookes Athletic Football Club

The team was promoted in its first year to the Blue Square North and are based in Sheffield, England. The team was made up of in the first year of 16 year old school kids who were able to gain promotion.. just. But now they've all gone to univercity and the only one left is Joshua Darling, who is the owner, Manager and player, plus a range of under 15's who he has recruted from his former school. It is Josh's dream of the big time that is keeping the club afloat and he knows that this season will be his last if he doesn't keep them up. But with no money for transfers and a very limited Wage budget its going to be hard, but the worst is yet to come.

Well where do I begin, the media think we will finish 11th for some reason and with a limeted fund we will be more likely to go down but the worst is that the under 15's are not only poor, but rules state that only 15+ can play in the league, which makes only 13 of the whole team eligible to play on the first day of the season, so Crookes AFC will be holding its first ever, official OPEN DAY TRIAL to find the next Rooney

I will post results, Transfers, Finances and Career as a whole to show that an unknown manager can make it to the Premiership with the team he started with.

**Hartynips** · 25-04-08, 07:11 AM

Very interesting concept there mate will be watching with interest to see how this pans out!

tartantroosers · 25-04-08, 09:46 AM

Wow, big challenge there !
Good luck with it - look forward to your updates

Wednesdayboy · 26-04-08, 12:06 PM

Coming to the beginning of season and look at the odds Sky bet have given Crookes AFC, fancy a bet on us post below, if any mods are watching, but this in betting page lol.

5000-1 odds for the newboys from Sheffield, will post results from pre-season soon.

**Hartynips** · 26-04-08, 12:30 PM

Worth a flutter for a couple of vBucks I suppose, you seem to know what your doing!

keep up the good work mate

Wednesdayboy · 26-04-08, 12:32 PM

Hope I do, or were in serious trouble lol

**Bozza** · 26-04-08, 04:02 PM

I will put 10 bucks on Crookes AFC! Make me rich mate!

Funny idea mate, can't wait to read more about it. Hope you'll do well.

**Fedorico Roma Fan** · 26-04-08, 07:35 PM

great idea mate i love this so far! KUTGW!

Wednesdayboy · 27-04-08, 12:57 AM

Crookes looking to Steal First Victory. 7/8/07

Footballing newboy Crookes AFC are looking forward to there first and what people are tipping, last Blue Square North season. The bookies have odds of 3-9 that they will go down and a unbelievable 5000-1 that they will get promoted. We caught up with Sheffield lad Joshua Darling, who is a Player/Manager and Chairman of the club.

"Well what can I say its great to be here, when me and a few mates decided to turn this abandoned field into a football club they laughed and said 'Where are you going to get the money to build the club' and they were right at first, we did struggle, but then we came up with a great idea, organise fun family days and make it a family club, and it seems to have worked as we are now getting over 250 fans coming week in week out and last year we started a youth program from under 8's to under 16's and the players in our youth are doing well so the future is looking good for Crookes AFC, we just about have enough money to survive at the monent so the youth is going to be important."

When we asked him if he could guide his team to safety he simply replied, "What do you mean saftey, were going for the title" this was followed by a laugh before he added, "we have to stay in the league or we go bust, unless a millionaire takes us over, and he will have to pay alot because I'm not going to give up this club easily.

So with the season just around the corner, The club that was built from a desire to play football, will write a new chapter.

Alan McBeats - Non-League reporter

ant · 27-04-08, 01:09 AM

nice work mate. I am off to William Hill to place my bet lol. Let the bumper cheque come rollong on in!

Wednesdayboy · 27-04-08, 03:47 AM

Little McAllister makes short trip across town for season long loan.

Sheffield Wednesday's 19 year old hot prospect Sean McAllister has moved to Crookes on a season long loan. Crookes AFC will pay nothing towards his wages and he may be recalled at any time. Sean has fails to become a first team footballer for Wednesday and comes to Crookes AFC after a 3 month loan at Mansfield at the end of last season. He is one of many players who have joined Crookes AFC from football league sides on season long loans, most noticable are Luke Boden, Liam King and
Tobias Mikaelsson from Aston Villa.

For more infomation on transfers Click here

Youth Produces next England NO1.

In an exclusive interview with Joshua Darling, He says he has found a future English star in his youth, 16 year old Jason Healy, after moving from Essex a few months ago to join Sheffield Univercity. It was there he met Joshua Darling who is currently studying to become a Physio. After coming to the open trials, Darling tells CrookesAFC.co.uk that "Jason is a great goal keeper and will definatly be our number one and with how muh he is improving, maybe one day he could be England NO1 but for now, he will have to keep us up".

To View Healy's Profile Click here

Friendly Result

Crookes AFC Vs Sheffield Wed

More news to follow...

woodsy · 27-04-08, 09:49 AM

Unlucky result but their a couple leagues ahead of you and only beat you 2-1
;o. KUTGW

rimza · 27-04-08, 10:27 AM

nice work mate..i really enjoy read about it...

Alan_R · 27-04-08, 04:02 PM

I done something similiar, created my own fantasy club and started from scratch. created my own badge too and added it, just makes it seem all the more realistic. I enjoy it but it just means you are inclined to stick by your club and not move on. Saying that I stuck by fisher and got them from bluesq sth to championship. Have fun with it mate.

BTW, Where did you get pics from? the small stadium gives a realistic feel to your thread and team.

Also hope I don't sound like a teacher and don't mean to be picky but its 'university' just I noticed the c a few times.

Wednesdayboy · 27-04-08, 06:39 PM

Jamie Yates Suffers in Crookes Victory

18 year old Jamie Yates suffered a torn calf in Crookes 4-0 win over Hucknall. 11 minutes into the game he collided with Hucknall's Reuben Wiggins-Thomas and was replaced by Joe Anyinsah. Early indications say that he will be out for at least 5 months. Fans don't feel that Anyinsah is a sutable replacement and that the injury is going to be a major blow for Crookes AFC, but Manager Darling is staying optimistic. "Anyinsah is a quality replacement, if I thought he wasn't good enough then I wouldn't of loaned him. Jamie will be missed, he has done well so far this season and everyone at the club hopes he gets well soon. Jamie joined Crookes AFC on loan from Rotherham on 13th July 2007.

Latest League Table

Results of the Past Month

FR - Crookes AFC vs Sheff Wed - 1-2 (Darling)

BSN - Crookes AFC vs Burscough - 6-3 (Boden, Taylor, Darling x4)

BSN - Blyth vs Crookes AFC - 5-1 (Donnelly, Taylor , Darling x3)

BSN - Crookes AFC vs Stalybridge - 0-0

BSN - Tamworth vs Crookes AFC - 3-1 (Darling x3)

BSN - Crookes AFC vs Hucknall - 4-0 (Darling x2, Z.Thomas x2)

S10 Online Bet

1/09/07 BSN - (4-1) Hyde Vs Crookes AFC (4-7 fav)

Crookes to win and Darling to score first - 11-1

1-1 Draw - 21-2

Year of Record Breakers

This year has been one of records for Crookes AFC, even though its their second season as an official club, they have broken many records in there first month. They broke the Highest attendance, Youngest player and have become there highest league position in there history. We will show all of the records broken at the end of the season.

Wednesdayboy · 27-04-08, 08:13 PM

Thanks Alan, Spelling isn't my strong point but will use s and not c in later posts, hope you all are enjoying this, will post more updates soon.

Wednesdayboy · 28-04-08, 07:48 AM

Darling Angry at Hyde and wants Payment

Manager Joshua Darling has expressed his anger at Hyde and wants them to pay for their actions. Last Saturday Crookes beat Hyde 3-0 but Darling says that Hyde were deliberately diving into challenges and trying to injure them. Darling said “We went 1-0 up after 6 minutes and they didn’t like it, they tried to take us out of the game and even though we won, we’ve lost two valuable players for a while which we really need. It was pathetic, I personally think that 3 red cards isn’t enough, the FA should stop this sort of petty behaviour by deducting points or fining the club involved. I admit that I was in the wrong by taking matters into my own hands and elbowing there player but as captain I had to stick up for my men and I thought that they might stop but 3 minutes later they took Binnion out. Let’s hope the FA come to the right decision.

More additions to Injury List

Following Crookes 3-0 win over Hyde, two more names have been added to the ever growing list of injured players. Central Midfielder Shaun Vipond and Left Back Travis Binnion. Vipond suffered worst and is out for up to 2 months while Binnion is out for up to 3 weeks. In an interview, Darling told us “we really are just unlucky with injuries but with how Hyde played, it was inevitable that someone would get hurt and in the end two players did.”

more news to follow...

Alan_R · 28-04-08, 06:32 PM

coming along well. So are you playing an FM game and writing around events that actually happen in the game? or is it purely fantasy/you creating your own scenarios?

like i said before I love the pics. really helps bring the story to life. I gather the pics aren't actually the players in your story though?

well done so far anyway.

Wednesdayboy · 28-04-08, 06:43 PM

thanks Alan and your right, they aren't real pictures of the players in the squad, thank god for google lol. Its the story based on the FM game so the game influences the story, ofcourse some of the story will be made up as you will find out soon. Keep reading to find out more.

Wednesdayboy · 28-04-08, 08:55 PM

Darling faces 3 match ban

Following an FA hearing to discuss Joshua Darling's one match ban and his outburst over Hyde's dirty play, the FA have decided that his ban be extended to 3 matches plus have banned him from the touchline for one week. In a Statment by the FA they said "As it is Darling's first red card offence and outburst of comments, we have decided that this is the correct decision." When we caught up with Darling all he said jokingly on the matter was "I'm not saying anything, if I say what I think about the decision then i'll end up never kicking a football again. I'm disappointed but these things happen."

Youth Trip to Beckham academy

The under 18's had a visit to the Beckham Academy, they were invited by David Beckham to promote the youth system of low league clubs. They had a tour followed by a game against the David Beckham academy XII which ended in a honourable 2-1 defeat. Not bad to say that many of those players will become good world footballers some day. To view the gallery of pictures from that day click on the link below.

CrookesAFCYouthatBeckham.flv - Video - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Crookes and the Community

Recently, Crookes AFC have founded Crookes and the Community which offers cheap football training, nights out and general entertainment. This short report is just to inform you of the good Crookes AFC have offered to the community they live in. Player/Manager Joshua Darling told us "its great to do something for the kids, they don't even have to like football to join in, theres a fun house and rides, it really drums up support for the club. If the children do like football though there is a chance they could become the next top Crookes AFC player, if not the next devoted fan. Tickets are given to the children who attend plus a goodie bag, it just makes us feel good that we can give back to the community after we have taken so much."

more to follow