11 Seasons Summarised - Page 3 - FMFormation.net - Football Manager

BirdyFC · 19-03-08, 08:41 AM

Mid-Season 2022/23

We finally got given a decent wage budget, after telling the board I would avoid relegation... 7k!
I made good use of it and signed 18 new players on frees. I'm deadly serious of climbing the league system.

Rayner is good for any L1.... and I now have 9 players that are L2 quality.

I also bring in a fitness coach, goalkeeping coach, two new coaches, a new physio and a new scout. Training is looking a lot better now. So relieved about that as last season, you could tell fitness was poor.

The league starts in possibly the most surprising way.... 7 straight victories!
My midfield is now amazing... Carl Hartley (new) is performing fantastically down the right, and centre midfield duo of McCallum (new) and Morgan have scored 3 each.

We then hit rocky form and only grab 1 win of the next 4.

Rayner makes his debut in the last 2 of the those 4 games after being sidelined with an injury. Hasn't made an impact yet despite being L1 quality.

Our form returns with 3 wins on the trot with McPherson scoring 2 against the stupidly tight Kidderminster defence (conceded 2 in 11 at stage I think). Rayner then comes alive in the next two games and scores two hattricks.

Next up was Wrexham which we lose after Rayner is sent off landing him three match ban.

We win the next five games (including Hitchin in FA Cup 4th Round Quali). I am so lucky to have five strikers that I can rely on to score. They've all scored at least 2 in a game, and mostly when they've come off the bench. Amazing.

Colchester next in FA Cup 1st round in -9 conditions... the cold must have hurt the players as the football was terrible for both sides. A boring game ends 0-1.

4 games remain to the half way stage and we win, lose, lose, win.

I'm very very impressed with how we've done at the half way stage. I was targetting survival and maybe trying to get top half if we were lucky. But my goal has moved... promotion is certainly do-able.

Which takes us up to here... cue screenshots.

**WozzaWolves** · 21-03-08, 01:04 PM

Wow =O

You've done amazingly :D

Hope you can keep up this fantastic work and maybe you could get promoted :O :D

BirdyFC · 21-03-08, 04:36 PM

END OF SEASON 16 - 22/23
We hit poor form going out to Lincoln Utd in the FA Trophy, then losing 2-5
to Fisher in the leaguewith 9 men.
We then crashed out in the Setanta Shield to Cambridge. A poor three match run.

That took us into the new year where we kicked off with a 1-0 win over Grays... but then lost the next two.

Bedford turned it around with 10 matches unbeaten (7 wins) which put us way back in the title hunt and briefly at the top. Mostly the top 5 would be seperated by two points and with one blip, you could go from 1st down to 5th. It was stupidly close.

A blip is what happened as we lost two games on the trot (including to promotion rivals Cambridge).

We regained form with three wins... then a loss against other promotion rival Yeovil. Talk about fixture congestion though... cue screenshot.

That practically gifted the title to Yeovil and we were now fighting for 2nd with Kidderminster.
We pick up 4 points from last three which gets us third in the league. An unexpected result but gutting. Can we win second playoff in two years?

Doncaster 2-3 Bedford
Bedford 2-3 Doncaster

It goes to extra time.... step up Lovegrove... HITS FOUR IN EXTRA TIME!!! Sends us flying to the Britannia Stadium to face the best defence in the league... Kidderminster.

0-2 FT

Gutting to come so close to league football... the board love me though. And I've finally got them out of the red and well into the green. I also sell Atu for 200k somehow to Nuneaton. He didn't play many games for us due to the amazing Roberts being amazing in left midfield lol. Not bad for a freebie.

I've gone a bit crazy in preseason and we've signed more players than we need but we have such a good deep squad now, it's great. I think about nine players are L2 quality (three are strikers), with some more being future L2 quality or L1 in some cases.

**WozzaWolves** · 21-03-08, 04:44 PM

Your doing amazing mate! How many signings do you want to make lmao! Great profit made there with Atu ;)

I didn't know you were allowed to play 2 games in 2 days, your players must be knackered!

I really hope you continue with this game forever, i'll be watching ;)

BirdyFC · 21-03-08, 04:52 PM

Haha thanks Wozza. You can never have enough signings lol. This year I'm planning to make use of the squad and have a bit of rotation for the cup games and I was going to say give the young ones a run out but the average age of the squad is 19 or 20. But rotate it around and give every a chance

Should be a good season and I hope to bring the first league title to Bedford this season.

**WozzaWolves** · 21-03-08, 06:24 PM

lol maybe try bringing a youth player or 2 into the first team and play them occasionally, i did it with Stalybridge and he went from strength to strength and won me the FA Trophy in the last 10 minutes!

BirdyFC · 21-03-08, 06:47 PM

I may very well do that... only one of my youth squad is decent so I might try it with him.

Just a quick update on pre-season... poor is the word lol. Although I am tweaking the tactic to be spot on this year. Just a basic 4-4-2 but ironing out the creases.

In good news, Bedford made 6-4 favourites for promotion

**WozzaWolves** · 21-03-08, 06:54 PM

Those odds may not be good news lol. The expectation will be huge now! I'm sure you can win the league this time round! ;)

BirdyFC · 21-03-08, 08:05 PM

August

Going to update it a bit more often this season...

Wrexham 2-2 BEDFORD
Bermudan striker Chris Adams marks his debut with two goals to draw with promotion rivals Wrexham.

BEDFORD 2-2 Hednesford
Adams continues his form and scores early on. Chris Taylor saves the game for us late on with the defender netting a header on his home debut.
I'm worried about our defence though. It seems to let things through too easily.

Kings Lynn 0-2 BEDFORD
I've never noticed pitch dimensions visually before today... Kings Lynn's pitch has a tiny tiny width. Rayner and sub McPherson get the goals in what was a good, but not great performance.

BEDFORD 3-1 Nuneaton
Midfielder McCallum, sub McPherson and Rayner see off Nuneaton in a fine performance.

BEDFORD 1-1 Stevenage
Midfielder Holmes bags his first goal for Bedford. Bedford had to cope with 20 men for final 20 minutes as Morgan carted off field with injury, and conceded late on.

9th but unbeaten... we've tightened up and just need that extra bit of luck. Plus there is a long way to go.

**WozzaWolves** · 21-03-08, 09:03 PM

Your doing good really, just need to turn those draws into wins and you'll be cruising.

BirdyFC · 22-03-08, 01:36 PM

SEPTEMBER

Worcester 4-6 BEDFORD
Rayner bags a hat-trick as we continue our ourbeaten run. McPherson (2) and Hartley add the other goals. Not impressed by keeper Taylor in goal. Normally keeperb... but today was off colour.

BEDFORD 3-1 Forest Green (Live on Setanta Sports 1)
The league leaders came to The New Eyrie and went home empty handed as Rayner showed why he's L1 quality bagging two more to his tally. McPherson scored the third.

BEDFORD 2-0 Port Vale
McPherson and Holmes score as Bedford sail past 10 men Port Vale.

Grays 2-1 BEDFORD
Surprise package Grays gave Bedford their first defeat of the season. McPherson with the goal for Bedford.

Halesowen 0-1 BEDFORD
Midfielder Leigh Jones comes off the bench to save Bedford a frustrating result, and to score his first Bedford goal.

BEDFORD 2-1 Woking
Bedford's finishing was dire, but somehow get the job done with Hartley and Beresford (first goal) netting for the home side.

Doncaster 2-2 BEDFORD
Last time these two sides met, it was in the play-offs. Both sides are gunning for promotion this season as well.
Adams returns to form scoring two, cancelling out (the amazing) Chris Stewart's two for Doncaster.

BEDFORD 1-2 Bristol Rovers
Holmes scores a scorcher but Bristol Rovers grab a late goal to send Bedford to their second defeat of the season

INTERESTING FACT... in the 51 league games I have played at The New Eyrie, I have lost only 7, and won 35.

We're 5th at end of September... 7 points off first.

OCTOBER

Weymouth 2-4 BEDFORD
Bedford came from behind to defeat high flyers Weymouth in a goalfest. Adams (2), McCallum and Rayner with the goals.
Hartley ruled out for a month. Young Jamaican Beresford will step in at right mid.

BEDFORD 4-1 Salisbury
Bedford grab another win as a dirty Salisbury side injure Rayner (a month), Roberts (2-3 weeks) and Adams (knock).
Morgan, Jones and McPherson come off the bench to score for Bedford, with Salisbury making a 4th with an own goal.

BEDFORD 3-1 Exeter
Five first team players were missing through injury or suspension, but none of that seemed to matter as Bedford grab another 3 points.
A stupid unforced own goal by Bedford put the pressure on the home side at the interval. McPherson, an own goal by Exeter and a debut goal for striker Mark Booth gave Bedford the 3 points.

Telford 2-3 BEDFORD
McCallum (2) and Adams get the goals in another win for Bedford.

Dorchester 1-2 BEDFORD
Super-subs Booth and Morgan score midway through the second half to come from behind and take three points from Dorchester.

Worcester 0-6 BEDFORD ------ FA Cup 4th Quali Round
Mark Booth gets his first start and certainly showed that he shouldn't be 4th choice striker as he scores FOUR in the first half to send Bedford into the 1st Round. McPherson and Robbie Smith score the other goals.
Taylor also sent off for Bedford.

What a month. A 100% win record in October which gives me manager of the month and takes us to the top of the table and into the FA Cup 1st Round against Sutton Utd.

Booth. What a month for him. Gets his breakthrough and scores 6 in the 1 start and 3 sub apps (175 mins played in total).

In other news, this scoreline....

**WozzaWolves** · 23-03-08, 12:02 PM

Wow! your doing fantastic mate!! Some top results =D Booth sounds class!

lmao at that 10-7 result haha!

Keep it up! League 2 here we come =D

BirdyFC · 23-03-08, 12:05 PM

Thanks Wozza. It certainly is looking that way :D

NOVEMBER

BEDFORD 3-1 Fisher
Booth continues his October form with two more goals. Morgan scores the third. Bad news though as Booth is carted off the field with a torn calf muscle. 3-4 months on the sidelines.

Sutton Utd 2-1 BEDFORD ----- FA Cup 1st Round
A weakened Bedford side were shocked by non-league Sutton Utd... the weakened side became much weaker, with midfielder Craig Young sent off in the 10th minute.
Beresford scoring for the BSP leaders.

Kettering 0-2 BEDFORD
After the cup shock, Bedford got back to winning ways with Rayner marking his return with a goal. Adams seals the win with a late strike.

BEDFORD 2-0 Gateshead
McPherson and McCallum gift Bedford another 100% league win record for November. A routine win.

Manager of the month again... 62% win record in my stint at Bedford.

DECEMBER

Cambridge 1-1 BEDFORD
Bedford's winning streak is stopped as McPherson keeps getting tallying them up, bagging another goal. Unbeaten in the league in nine now.

BEDFORD 2-1 Ebbsfleet
Bedford return to winning ways with Rayner and McPherson on the scoresheet

BEDFORD 2-0 Nuneaton ----- FA Trophy 1st Round
After crashing out the FA Cup, I wanted to have a good run in this cup at least so fielded a strong team. Rayner was targeted from the start and was taken off at half time to prevent a major injury happening. Nuneaton turned their attention to Morgan who was stretchered off in the second half.
Goals from Leigh Jones and McPherson gave us the win.

BEDFORD 2-1 Weymouth ----- Setanta Shield 4th Round
Rayner scores twice for Bedford to send them into the 5th Round.

BEDFORD 3-2 Wrexham
McCallum, McPherson and Rayner net the goals in the Boxing Day match to send Bedford 5pts clear.

BEDFORD 0-0 Kings Lynn
The -9 conditions took a toll on the quality of play as the game bored into a 0-0 draw, with Leigh Jones missing from the penalty spot.

JANUARY

Hednesford 2-4 BEDFORD
It seems a few players had a bit too many drinks for the New Years Day clash. The Hednesford defence obviously did too as Bedford ran riot over them.
Rayner, Adams, Beresford and Roberts score the goals.

Nuneaton 0-2 BEDFORD
Beresford has really grown this season and has stolen Hartley's place in the team on the right wing. His 4th goal of the season set Bedford on their way. Holmes grabbed the 2nd goal in a never threatened win.

Farsley 0-7 BEDFORD ----- FA Trophy 2nd Round
Bedford run riot in the cup as McPherson (4), Rayner (2) and sub Ricketts (his first app all season) all score in a demolition of Farsley.
The third round will be the furthest Bedford have ever got in the FA Trophy.

Stevenage 1-1 BEDFORD
Holmes went from hero to zero as he scored, but then saw a second yellow card and was sent off. Stevenage equalised late on to deny Bedford all 3 points.

BEDFORD 3-2 Worcester
McPherson notched his 20th and 21st goals of the campaign as Bedford make it another victory. Rayner seals the win with the third goal.

Bedford end January 11 points clear at the top and unbeaten in 16 league games. I also claim manager of the month... surely this is our year to give Bedford their first title (playoff final doesnt count of course) in their 34 year history.

**WozzaWolves** · 23-03-08, 12:20 PM

Unlucky in the FA Cup, but i'd put a sneaky tenner on you doing the treble :D (League, Sultana Shield and Fa Trophy)

Excellent result against Farsley too =D Your strikers definately know where the goal is =O

BradHally · 23-03-08, 12:54 PM

Firstly, Congratulations and Conmiserations
Congrats on getting promoted to the BSP and having them fine winning streaks
Conmiserations on not getting a double promotion.
Hopefully Bedford Town will be in the football league soon!
KUTVGW and GL

BTW, how many seasons have u played?

BirdyFC · 23-03-08, 02:15 PM

Thanks guys. Wozza, I'd put that tenner away lol. Update coming soon.

Brad- This is season 22/23... so thats *thinks* my 17th I think.

BirdyFC · 23-03-08, 03:26 PM

FEBRUARY

Wrexham 4-3 BEDFORD ----- FA Trophy 3rd Round
Wrexham dominated the first half and lead 2-0 at the break. Rayner pulled one back, but Paul Hartley's 3rd of the game seemed to kill off the game, but McCallum pulled another back... before Wrexham scored a 4th. Rayner bagged his 2nd, but it was too little too late.
A poor 4 performance by Morgan summed up the day.

Sadly though, I have to serve a touchline ban for blasting the referee. It was touch and go for offside but I protested anyway after we'd crashed out.
Luckily, it was only for the Setanta Shield 5th Round against hopeless Fisher. This is the furthest we've ever got so hopefully my assistant can guide us even further.

BEDFORD 5-1 Fisher ----- Setanta Shield 5th Round
He did the job in style... even if it was over hopeless Fisher. McPherson, Roberts, McCallum (2) and Rayner with the goals.

BEDFORD 3-1 Grays
The top two meet in the league. McPherson, Taylor and Rayner make it look like a walk in the park.
Taylor also managed to put it in his own net.

BEDFORD 2-1 Halesowen
McPherson is Mr Consistent. Another goal for him. The winner coming from defender Taylor.

Port Vale 0-1 BEDFORD
Hartley comes off the bench to score a late winner for Bedford despte a below par team performance. Hartley getting a lot less minutes now Beresford has hit consistently great form.

BEDFORD 3-2 Bristol Rovers ----- Setanta Shield Qtr Final (Live on Setanta 1)
The TV cameras arrive at The New Eyrie again, and the few people that watch it on TV get a treat. End to end stuff and a hat trick from McPherson including one especially fantastic goal. Booth then makes his comeback in the second half after months on the sideline and plays well.

Woking 0-0 BEDFORD
Bedford couldnt overcome 10 man Woking in a poor game, where McCallum missed a penalty for the away side.

Forest Green 2-4 BEDFORD
McCallum makes up his penaty miss in the last game and scores two as Bedford cruise past Forest Green. Rayner and Beresford bag the other goals. McCallum is now on 11 goals despite being a centre midfielder.

We've gone 18 points clear, but that will probably reduce to 16. I think it's in the bag. Will be good to play Middlesbrough, Swansea etc next season.

Another manager of the month award.

MARCH

BEDFORD 4-4 Doncaster
Fans were treated to a fantastic game at The New Eyrie with Bedford just hanging on to their unbeaten record which now stretches to 22 games. Bedford led 2-0 at HT with goals from McPherson and Rayner. Doncaster then hit three and took the lead McPherson pegged them back, before Doncaster took the lead again. Booth came off the bench to score his first goal since his return to level the game at 4-4.

Bristol Rovers 3-5 BEDFORD
Once he starts, he can't stop. Booth scores another two, while Jones also scores two, and Holmes makes it five late on. Bedford so nearly threw this away after being 3-0 up.

Kings Lynn 1-0 BEDFORD ----- Setanta Shield Semi Final (Live on Setanta 1)
A cup shock as Kings Lynn knock out league leaders Bedford. I'm truly shocked but we just didn't play well.

Salisbury 4-4 BEDFORD
Defender Groves, Booth, McPherson and Rayner score the goals as Bedford's defence is falling apart at the seems. A lucky result for Bedford to continue their unbeaten run.

BEDFORD 5-1 Weymouth
McCallum, Booth, Hartley, Holmes and McPherson are all on target to bag another big win for Bedford.

BEDFORD 5-2 Dorchester
An own goal and goals from Rayner, McPherson (2) and Booth handed Bedford yet another win, where a win in the next game and a draw for Grays will gift Bedford the title.

Exeter 1-2 BEDFORD
A McGeown penalty and a late injury time winner by McPherson gets the win... but will it win the league?

Weymouth 2-1 Grays

IT DOES!!! BEDFORD WIN THE BSP WITH 6 GAMES TO GO!!!!

**WozzaWolves** · 23-03-08, 03:37 PM

Yayy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEDFORD - BLUE SQUARE PREMIER CHAMPIONS 2022/2023 :D :D :D

Are Middlesborough in League 2 :O

How are Wolves doing?

BirdyFC · 23-03-08, 03:41 PM

Yup Middlesbrough in L2... bottom half normally then come good at the end and finish about 12th.

Wolves are 4th in L1... two games to go and 3pts seperate top 5. Rochdale one of them. C'mon Dale (and Wolves =P)

Bolton in relegation fight in L1. I fancy a trip there next season lol.

And biggest shock... three games to go in Prem
Man Utd 18th and 4 points adrift of Ipswich in 17th.

**WozzaWolves** · 23-03-08, 03:44 PM

haha Come on Wolves and come on Ipdwich, don't let United past you! ;)