This is how it all begun - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

**VeggiSmurf** · 10-05-08, 08:55 AM

It all started when I was 5 years my love for the game. Now I’m 30 and still love the game to bad I can’t play it myself anymore. I played until I have 18. Never played on professional level though. Between the age of 18 and 30 I thought of the things I could do.

I coach an amateur team for several seasons before I decide to get my coaching license. I was 25 when I got it there was only one problem. There was no team who wanted me as their coach, so I decided to write some clubs in the hope I got an internship.

And a few months after I send a few letters I got a replay from F.C Volendam that they had a place for me. I was 26 when I started my internship with Volendam and it went great. After 2 years they let me take control over their reserves. It was a great season we ended at place 5. I was now 29 and my internship expired.

At this time I had no club to go to so I went to our local amateur club to see if they needed a coach and they did. We where predicted to finish 5th in the league and at the end of the season we where number 1. Time flew by I was about to turn 30. And that’s when it all begun.
It was 2 days before my birthday when the phone rang.

Quote:

Hello?

Hello John it´s me Stanley Menzo do you remember me?

Yes I do we worked together when I was at Volendam.

Good the reason I called is that we would like to talk to you?

Ok why would you like to talk to me?

You will hear that when you meet. Can you come tomorrow at 1 o’clock?

Sure I can make it so I’ll see you tomorrow

Good until tomorrow bye bye

Bye Stanley

Why would they want to talk to me a well I will find out tomorrow.

Story banners are mabe by Liveru

aarontheblue · 10-05-08, 12:35 PM

Looking Forward to It Veg :) Good start

apthered · 10-05-08, 04:04 PM

started out pretty good, i like the quotes and the colours in it too

kiu, this has all the makings of a great story

**Hartynips** · 10-05-08, 07:38 PM

Very good to see ya back in the saddle Veg mate.

Good start lets keep it going this time!!!!

busheyladd · 11-05-08, 12:16 AM

good start,

where do you plan too meet ? :S

**VeggiSmurf** · 11-05-08, 07:58 AM

The following morning I woke up at 7 o’clock. I got up and made me some coffee and took the paper out of the mailbox. At 8 o’clock I was all done and ready to go to Volendam butt I needed to be there at 13:00 so it was a bit early to go. I walked to my pc and started a game of fm with AZ my favorite club.

Before I knew it, it was 12 o’clock and time to go. 45 minutes later I arrived in Volendam I parked my car and saw that Stanley was walking in my direction. I got out of my car and Stanley asked how I was. I was a bit nervous to be honest. Why do they want to speak to me? Well said Stanley just wait and see what they want from you
.
We walked towards the office of the Chairman Henk Kras. Once we got their the door was open and we walked in. The chairman told us to sit down.

Quote:

Hello John How are you

I’m great Henk thanks for asking. How are you

Yeah doing well. do you know why you’re here?

Not really butt I’m thinking that you will tell me that very soon.

The reason that you are here is that we are looking for someone to coach our Reserve squad. It was Stanley who told me that you might be the one for the job.

I don’t know what to say

Well I do say yes

Sure I’ll do it but I still can’t believe it

Great welcome to the club John. There are some things that need to be talked over but can we do that tomorrow so I can make sure all the paper work is here.

Ok I’ll be here tomorrow. Bye

As I walked out of the office I was thinking o my god I can’t believe it I’m going to be a coach. On my way home I decided to visit my mom and dad the tell them the good news. When I arrived at my mom’s she was not home but that was ok. I’ll give her a ring tonight. When I got to my dad’s and told him the news he was happy for me this could be my break trough.
After a few hours I decided to go home. Once I got home I made some coffee and ordered some Chinese. It’s was about 23.00 hours when I went to bed watched some tv.

The following morning I woke up at 8. Still unable to believe what happened yesterday. At 10 I was in my car heading towards Volendam to sign a contract and work out the other stuff. When I knocked on the door a voice told me to come in. When I walked in I saw Henk and Stanley sitting there waiting for me.

I sat down and got some coffee. After the coffee I got to read my contract. All the way at the bottom of my contract I noticed something. “if Stanley quits or gets fired you will be the first man for the job unless your efforts with our B team aren’t good enough” I looked at Henk and asked him if this was correct. He said yes. Within the next 5 minutes I signed my contract.

Henk told me that a lot of things needed to be arranged. We talked about the clubs finances and transfers. They haven’t got much money to spend so we need to get players without contracts or we can hire some players. The club was also looking for a parent club. When they got a list Stanley and me must decide which club it will be. If I wanted a player I also have to talk to Stanley because the players from our B squad will become a player of our A squad so they needed to be good. I told Henk that would be fine for me.
John you will start this Monday I want you to be here at 9 o’clock sharp so you can meet the players you will be working with.

Story banner made by Liveru

**liveru** · 11-05-08, 08:06 AM

Wow! This is a brilliant story Veg. I love it.

Oh and I'll knock those things together this afternoon after work for you.

**Hartynips** · 11-05-08, 08:38 AM

Nice stuff mate promising read

Hopefully you will be in charge of first team affairs sooner rather than later!

KUTGW!!!!

**abeatty2209** · 12-05-08, 09:16 AM

wow! mate thats a great story! one of the best i have read anyway.
KUTGW

**Fedorico Roma Fan** · 13-05-08, 07:37 AM

good start veg! looking forward to next update!

empatmate23 · 13-05-08, 07:50 AM

Man U da true champ! Next Cup...CL!

**VeggiSmurf** · 13-05-08, 10:34 AM

In my weekend played fm to see what kind of squad I have. The first thing I noticed is that Volendam haves a young squad and not a lot of players in their 1st and 2nd squad. With the squad I had on fm I made a 4-4-2 tactic butt what tactic I might use in real I don’t know yet, it all depends on the players I can add to the squad. If all goes well we will hear if they found a Parent club for us on Monday. When I looked at the squad and made my 1st tactic I decided I will check out the rest on Monday when I arrive in Volendam. The rest of the weekend I couldn’t stop wishing it was Monday.

I woke up and thought finally this is it. Today I’ll start my new job. It was early when I arrived at the club. When I walked in I saw Stanley waiting with a few players from the 1st squad. After he introduced me we talked for a while and went to our chairman. He told me that he arranged a trip to Finland to play 3 games, And that he arranged a little competition with our Main squad, under 19’s and with Westerloo in it. So this means I have 5 matches in my pre-season. He told us about the transfers and that he received a list from Stanley with some names on it including new players for my squad. I told him that It was ok and I trust in Stanley’s judgment. I asked our chairman about a parent club and he told us that he hasn’t found one yet and they are still looking. After we had the talk I went to the training ground to see the rest of the players from both squads. After an introduction round Stanley and me started you first training. This was the beginning of a great start. After 2 hours the training was over and we headed to the cafeteria for some lunch.
After a few days at the club we where 1 day away from our first pre season match against Volendam -19. We had to play 3 games in 3 days. First up was Volendam -19 we won that match with 1-3. The next day we were up against Volendam we lost that match with 1-4 and the last day Westerloo was our opponent we lost with 1-6 and became 3th in the competition.

In the mean while I saw several new faces at Volendam. Stanley told me he had some new players and if they can proof themselves they can stay with him and if not he would make sure I can use them. The same deal we made with injured players. When players from our 1st team were injured Stanley would send them to my squad until they are match fit. After a few more days of training we were on a flight to Finland to play yet again 3 matches in 3 days. Our opponents were HJK, PK-35 II and MPS.

Our first match HJK was to strong and we lost with 4-1, the match against Pk went a little bit better butt still we lost with 2-0. The last match against MPS went good we won with 2-3 not a lot of difference in both teams. I still haven’t found the right tactics. We stayed one more day in Finland to bond the team. The day we went back I forgot my stuff in the hotel butt I thought of it when we were in the air.

Also i would like to show you the transfers Stanley has made until now

At this time Anderson and Zeefuik are in mine squad.

**Fedorico Roma Fan** · 13-05-08, 12:47 PM

not bad results so far and nice signings mate, hopefully you will be a success!

**VeggiSmurf** · 14-05-08, 03:55 AM

With 3 days to go before we had our first competition match we started with the training. The day before the match I told the guys they had the day off. This month we had 2 games against Quick Boys and Zwolle B.

The match against Quick Boys wasn’t suppose to end this way. After 20 minutes Zeefuik scored his first. But after 58 minutes of play Quick Boys scored the equalizer and dominated the 2nd half.
But it was our first match so nothing to worry about. Our 2nd match was 1 week away I decided to change tactics and we practiced on this tactic during the following week.

The match against Zwolle B went a lot better than I thought. After 35 min we were up by 4. The 2nd half was more of a battle Zwolle B had more time on the bal. 5 minutes in the 2nd half we scored again so we were 0-5 up. And only 8 minutes latter Zwolle B scored. After 90 minutes of play we won with 1-5.
So we ended august with 1 draw and 1 win.

The next day Henk Kras asked if I can meet him and Stanley in his office he had something to ask us. At the time I got to the office Stanley was already there. Henk told us the search for a Parent club was done end they found 2 clubs we can choose of. Ajax en Fc Utrecht. I knew that Stanley had an Ajax past he was their Gk for a long time. And I also knew that the youth of Ajax was good. Within 5 min we decided we should go for Ajax. The next day Stanley came to me to tell me that Ajax wants to send some youngsters over. Chakib Tayed, Murat Yildrim were coming to Volendam. After one week I told Murat that he can go back to Amsterdam because I didn’t need him.
The transfer market was closed until January 08 now. In September we have 2 games to play against Haarlem B and De Graafschap B

The match against Haarlem B went well we won that match with 3-0. De Graafschap B was a bit tougher than I thought and we lost that one with 1-0

In 2 months we had won twice and lost once same as draw

**Hartynips** · 14-05-08, 07:37 AM

Great update there Veg, and a super result against Zwolle Res.

Good luck against De Graafschap and Haarlem mate!

KUTGW!