Tumbran Domestic Football Newswire

by **Tumbra** » Thu Jul 14, 2022 10:18 am

SECOND DIVISION
END OF SEASON

Standings After Matchday Thirty-Eight

   Second Division           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Clark City                 38   29   3   6    64   28  +36    90   Champions; Promoted
 2 Kirkby Railwaymen          38   27   5   6    65   32  +33    86   Promoted
 3 Bencoolen City             38   24   8   6    66   23  +43    80   Playoff
 4 AFC Gillman                38   24   5   9    50   20  +30    77
 5 Newton Wanderers           38   19   9  10    57   40  +17    66
 6 Dorival                    38   17  11  10    52   35  +17    62
 7 Readale Wanderers          38   17   9  12    39   33   +6    60
 8 Ricci Ironworkers          38   17   8  13    57   38  +19    59
 9 Trelmont Rangers           38   16  10  12    50   39  +11    58
10 New Timbourne Knights      38   15   7  16    45   45    0    52
11 Washington City            38   13   9  16    42   44   −2    48
12 Cobham United              38   13   9  16    46   53   −7    48
13 Ashton Rovers              38   13   6  19    46   59  −13    45
14 AFC Cayalon                38   12   6  20    37   47  −10    42
15 Mackay Rovers              38    9  12  17    36   53  −17    39
16 Tavistock Athletic         38    9   8  21    28   54  −26    35
-------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Ridgewell United           38    6  12  20    32   56  −24    30   Relegated [D3W]
18 Kelder Phoenixes           38    7   9  22    24   53  −29    30   Relegated [D3E]
19 Gelder Creek               38    6  12  20    21   57  −36    30   Relegated [D3E]**
20 Readale City               38    3  10  25    18   66  −48    19   Relegated [D3W]

**Placed in Division Three East due to geographical constraints

THIRD DIVISION EAST
END OF SEASON

Standings After Matchday Forty-Two

   Third Division East    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Grange United           42   27  11   4    77   20  +57    92   Champions; Promoted
 2 Newark Argyle           42   24  11   7    75   31  +44    83   Promoted
 3 Carrington Town         42   24  10   8    78   34  +44    82
 4 Hendon Cardinals        42   24  10   8    67   34  +33    82
 5 Heath Bay Mariners      42   24   6  12    67   33  +34    78
 6 Straton Typhoons        42   22  10  10    68   39  +29    76
 7 Hesham Wanderers        42   23   7  12    58   39  +19    76
 8 Windsor                 42   20  14   8    59   37  +22    74
 9 Carter United           42   21   9  12    61   42  +19    72
10 Dieren City             42   18  13  11    58   46  +12    67
11 Tavistock Park          42   16   9  17    45   42   +3    57
12 Lambeth                 42   14  11  17    46   51   −5    53
13 Rosyth                  42   15   8  19    42   55  −13    53
14 Caldecott 93            42   15   6  21    46   64  −18    51
15 Brades United           42   10  15  17    50   57   −7    45
16 Pinhal Athletic         42   10  14  18    39   64  −25    44
17 Harren Armada           42   12   7  23    39   80  −41    43
18 Knapford United         42   12   6  24    42   74  −32    42
19 Rosenberg City          42    7  11  24    35   70  −35    32
----------------------------------------------------------------
20 Arlington Athletic      42    6  10  26    38   82  −44    28   Relegated
21 Richmond AFC            42    7   6  29    27   83  −56    27   Relegated
22 Mayfield AFC            42    3  12  27    27   67  −40    21   Relegated

THIRD DIVISION WEST
END OF SEASON

Standings After Matchday Forty-Two

   Third Division West            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Falmouth Athletic               42   26   9   7    68   34  +34    87   Champions; Promoted
 2 North Thornton United           42   26   8   8    76   31  +45    86   Promoted
 3 Pomeroy Mountaineers            42   24   8  10    72   39  +33    80
 4 Harwick Wanderers               42   23   9  10    59   44  +15    78
 5 Teignford Academical            42   21  11  10    60   39  +21    74
 6 Nottingham City                 42   22   8  12    61   31  +30    74
 7 Oakton                          42   21  11  10    67   33  +34    74
 8 Millsburgh Steelers             42   21   9  12    67   40  +27    72
 9 Fontwell Rovers                 42   20   9  13    61   36  +25    69
10 Fort Heatherton                 42   18  12  12    58   44  +14    66
11 Enfield                         42   18  10  14    63   47  +16    64
12 Hoxford United                  42   17  10  15    50   41   +9    61
13 Colney Thorns                   42   18   6  18    45   41   +4    60
14 Caldwell City                   42   14   9  19    44   57  −13    51
15 Shepperton Ravens               42   14   7  21    38   52  −14    49
16 Dunsford                        42   11  10  21    30   55  −25    43
17 Millsburgh Revolutionaries      42   12   5  25    35   65  −30    41
18 Southport Thunder               42    9   9  24    29   55  −26    36
19 Cheltenham                      42    8   9  25    30   86  −56    33
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 FC Montrose                     42    8   9  25    32   76  −44    33   Relegated
21 Clifton                         42    9   4  29    27   75  −48    31   Relegated
22 Orpington                       42    7   8  27    27   78  −51    29   Relegated

FOURTH DIVISION EAST
END OF SEASON

Standings After Matchday Forty-Two

   Fourth Division East    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Staplewood               42   29   8   5    79   36  +43    95   Champions; Promoted
 2 Gisbourne                42   24   8  10    74   39  +35    80   Promoted
 3 Killiney SC              42   22  13   7    63   34  +29    79   Promoted
 4 Collett Park United      42   24   7  11    63   34  +29    79
 5 Hindhede FC              42   23   9  10    54   33  +21    78
 6 Wilmington Town          42   22  10  10    83   45  +38    76
 7 Maxwell Arsenal          42   21  12   9    48   31  +17    75
 8 Wintborough United       42   20  10  12    60   42  +18    70
 9 Algoma Wanderers         42   20   7  15    55   46   +9    67
10 Rookworth AFC            42   16  15  11    59   43  +16    63
11 Sherwood Town            42   17  12  13    51   37  +14    63
12 Melwood United           42   18   8  16    55   52   +3    62
13 Blakehurst               42   17   9  16    46   42   +4    60
14 Farleigh                 42   15  13  14    51   50   +1    58
15 Knapford City            42   11  15  16    45   66  −21    48
16 Coburg                   42   11  11  20    35   56  −21    44
17 Havelock City            42    9  11  22    40   75  −35    38
18 Chesterfield             42    8   9  25    35   76  −41    33
19 Cortlandt United         42    5  14  23    30   58  −28    29
20 Thomson City             42    5  13  24    30   57  −27    28
21 Burlington AFC           42    5   9  28    22   64  −42    24
22 Wolskel                  42    5   7  30    19   81  −62    22

FOURTH DIVISION WEST
END OF SEASON

Standings After Matchday Forty-Two

   Fourth Division West       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Heffron City                42   27   6   9    78   31  +47    87   Champions; Promoted
 2 Harchester United           42   23   9  10    62   43  +19    78   Promoted
 3 Tevandale Athletic          42   21   9  12    55   39  +16    72   Promoted
 4 Dynamo Denhelm              42   19  14   9    49   30  +19    71
 5 Locomotive Harper           42   18  16   8    58   41  +17    70
 6 Langley United              42   19  11  12    51   35  +16    68
 7 Othaven                     42   19   9  14    51   45   +6    66
 8 Ilstead Wanderers           42   18  10  14    51   46   +5    64
 9 Haversham City              42   18   7  17    43   46   −3    61
10 Brensley                    42   15  13  14    40   42   −2    58
11 Johnstone Athletic          42   15  12  15    50   45   +5    57
12 Ruislip and Ipswich FC      42   15  12  15    41   46   −5    57
13 Franport                    42   15  10  17    49   45   +4    55
14 Moresby United              42   14  12  16    37   40   −3    54
15 Dover                       42   11  19  12    39   42   −3    52
16 Prinsip Street              42   14  10  18    37   50  −13    52
17 Greenford City              42   11  14  17    42   55  −13    47
18 Blenheim                    42   13   7  22    31   58  −27    46
19 Denhelm                     42   12   9  21    46   54   −8    45
20 Monroe Quakes               42   11  11  20    43   54  −11    44
21 Kellsthorpe                 42    7  12  23    36   55  −19    33
22 Dunman Bay                  42    8   6  28    34   81  −47    30

by **Tumbra** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 12:59 pm

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 7
PART NINE: MATCHDAY 38

Premier Division, Season Seven

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts   Chg  Form5
 1 FC Inter Nantwich      37   28   4   5    74   22  +52    88   ▲1   WWWWW   IFCF CL; CEdC
 2 Couno Rangers          37   27   6   4    78   36  +42    87   ▼1   WWWWD   IFCF CL; CEdC
 3 Serrapince             37   23   8   6    72   38  +34    77   -0   WWLDD   IFCF CC
 4 Lakewood City          37   23   6   8    70   27  +43    75   ▲1   LWWWW   IFCF CC
 5 Lakewood United        37   23   5   9    67   32  +35    74   ▼1   WWDLW   IFCF CC
 6 West Couno United      37   19   8  10    50   33  +17    65   -0   WLWDD
 7 Hesham                 37   19   8  10    58   42  +16    65   ▲1   WWWDD
 8 Kingsbury United       37   19   6  12    57   36  +21    63   ▼1   LLWWL
 9 Columbia City          37   19   5  13    55   46   +9    62   ▲1   LWLWW
10 Straton                37   16   8  13    62   43  +19    56   ▲1   WDWLD
11 Clyde Park             37   16   8  13    50   48   +2    56   ▼2   LDDLL
12 Ridgewell Rovers       37   12  10  15    51   58   −7    46   -0   WLWWL
13 Macarthur City         37   11  11  15    43   54  −11    44   ▲1   LWLLW
14 Fraser Valley          37   11   8  18    34   54  −20    41   ▼1   LDLLD
15 Sturrey Athletic       37   10   5  22    33   59  −26    35   -0   DLLWL
16 Delphi Lionesses       37    5  11  21    31   58  −27    26   -0   WLLLD
17 Colbrook City          37    7   5  25    36   84  −48    26   ▲1   LLLDW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Guillemard Town        37    6   7  24    45   86  −41    25   ▼1   LDLLD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Glenmont AFC           37    3   9  25    22   67  −45    18   -0   DLWWL   R
20 Port Marray            37    3   2  32    23   88  −65    11   -0   LLLLL   R

Here we are, then; at the end of another gargantuan Premier Division Season. Debate over whether the number of teams in the Prem will be shaved down to 16 across the next two seasons rages continues, and returns especially with the news that a decision will be made in the off-season. But before that, there's still ninety minutes of football left.

Not all the matches carry equal amounts of importance; few are paying attention to Serrapince vs Glenmont apart from those following the Golden Boot race, and those with teams with already guaranteed spots somewhere or other are likely to tune in elsewhere as well. Where?

Well, the eyes of the entire nation will likely be trained on Nantwich. The port city has effectively shut itself down for the day; Finnley (with the exception of Clark City supporters) is watching to see whether their hometown heroes will be able to bring home a second consecutive title.

FC Inter Nantwich. Which, in Tumbran, doesn't make much sense; the natural form of the word should be Nantwich Internationals Football Club. But the man who founded the club was an immigrant, and in his vernacular, Internationals came before Nantwich. So the Football Club of the Internationals of Nantwich was born. And it's stuck this way ever since. Twelve-times champions of Tumbra.

And why wouldn't the Bulls of Nantwich deserve it? A ten-match winning streak saw them finally catch up to and overtake Couno. This is a team that have conceded less than a goal a game on average; this is a team whose last loss happened on Matchday 23, in the middle of February. (For reference, it's the third week of May right now). This is a team that has not tasted defeat in three months; this is a team whose substitute benches are full to the brim of talent; and now, they are welcoming their direct challengers into their den, with a point's advantage to boot. They are the favourites in every conceivable way, if not for the fact that their opponents are the Couno Rangers.

Nineteen times champions. A twenty-six year title drought, dating back to the start of the century. When the Internet could still be accessed on dial-up and those giant things people called "CDs" were still being carried around by people in things called "Walkmen" just to listen to music. Now led by a manager from Savigliane, who quietly assembled a title-challenging side in four years. Who'd led the league at the halfway mark and every single matchday after that until, well,

"Judith Houghton rises; her head meets the ball, and it's in —"

Couno needed every possible advantage going into the final matchday. They'd somehow managed to lose almost every single one. Bruce Nolan had scored seventeen goals in nineteen games. He went injured for eight weeks. Couno had a seven point lead at one point of the season, eight weeks before the end of the season; then they had to watch as that lead went from seven points, to four, to one, and then the Houghton header completely changed the mathematics of the game. Instead of the ones sitting pretty and being chased, they were now the ones doing the chasing. At the lion's den.

Thankfully, if there was any team that could probably pull this off, it was Couno.

All matches, as is tradition, started at the same time on the final day.

MATCHDAY 38

Lakewood United 1–0 Port Marray
Fontana 26'

There was little doubt over where this match was ever heading, though the fact that United only won by one was probably quite telling of the torrid second half of the season they'd endured. Fifth may have felt unfair — after all, the club did rocket out of the box with Considine on the left powering the team on — but it did feel a little underwhelming for a team so used to winning. Ted Bayh's first season had its highlights and its lowlights, but something that was probably more appreciated was the return of stability to the season, something that had been missing after referee-pushing incidents and sex-pests coming to light.

Marray's twentieth was expected, more or less; Lutece's claims that his team could beat the drop were ridiculed from day one, and their poor form hardly helped. Already several key members of the team let it be made known that they were searching for alternative employment; Andrew Morrison, Kira Carlisle, Andrew Hutton, Sylvia Donovan, Gerhard Exter and Dean Cresswood had allegedly all made clear their desire to leave; and it did look like Marray were about to stay down for quite a while.

Glenmont AFC 0–3 Serrapince
Sallay 13', 39', Mora 84'

Nineteenth for Glenmont felt like it had been coming for a long time; the thirty-one game winless streak, midseason manager change that didn't actually bring about any improvements in form (though he did win one more match than Lock did in his entire tenure), and a partially demotivated squad. A return to the Second Division felt almost like a relief; there now wasn't a figurative Sword of Damocles over their head. Because the proverbial horsehair had been cut. Brutally. They would be favourites to bounce back up almost immediately, of course, but then they'd be less of a low-tier Premier Division institution and run the risk of becoming a yo-yo club — too good for the Second Division, too shit for the Prem.

Serrapince did end up finishing third, though they were quite some way off the pace of the top two. Hermaeus Mora would come on for a final game in the yellow shirt, and he would, in resplendent form, score accordingly. Mora would be remembered fondly amongst the Serrapince crowd; not only was he the signing that propelled them to their first title, but he was also the signing that put Serrapince and the Premier Division on the map. Without him, would Tumbran football be as watched by as many eyeballs as it was today? It's quite hard to say. There was a poignant moment after the Serrapince-Hesham game, his final one at the Arena, where he sat alone on the pitch; silently contemplating the last four years of his life. This was not where he made his name — there was Chromatik, and then Stein-los after that; but was this where he'd made his biggest impact? The signs pointed to yes.

Delphi Lionesses 2–1 Guillemard Town
Thesselborg 48', Holt 75'//Hailstorm 35'

The jury was out on Aiofe Ruth's first season at Delphi. On one hand, it was her first ever professional job; on the other, having a squad with Katyrina Zuniga and Kimberly Doyle in it doesn't necessarily feel like a squad that should be finishing sixteenth in the league. Woeful performances persisted; and there was going to be a "major recalibration of the club's strategy" in the off-season; but the rumours were that Ruth's job was safe. Chairperson Julie Smith's, however, was considerably less so...

Unfortunately, despite playing relatively well and entertaining many a player, Guillemard's loss to Delphi meant they'd finish eighteenth and have to go through the playoffs. It was an impressive debut season from the Engineers and probably an argument as to why the division shouldn't be shrunk; otherwise teams like the otherwise-unfancied Engineers wouldn't have been given a single shot in the Prem. Their playoff match would be up against Bencoolen, who were pinning quite a lot of things on returning to the Premier Division on the first time; but there was always that important thing that needed to exist for wins; that quiet sense of confidence.

Sturrey Athletic 0–0 Colbrook City

Colin Barrendale's first season at Sturrey had gone rather alright; he hadn't driven the team into a ditch or an electric pole of a season, and had kept par with Tom Watson's record in finishing fifteenth. For Sturrey, the perpetually cash-strapped, tiny southwestern post-industrial city, perhaps staying in the Prem and picking up points is good enough; after all, with the ever-yawning gap between the Premier and Second Divisions even with the new agreements, being in the Prem is reward enough.

Colbrook have just been this season. Nothing particularly impressive, nothing else particularly making a point; they picked off a few points from the other relegation candidates, narrowly avoided the playoffs in finishing seventeenth and the Northerners will fight another season in the Prem. If things go south, however, Reeves' head is probably immediately on the chopping block; such is the life of a lower-mid-table Premier Division team.

Fraser Valley 2–1 Clyde Park
Croxteth 30', Kinsella 70'//Markozy 58'

Michael Hardwick promised improvement with investment; Michael Hardwick delivered improvement with investment. Thirteenth was a good showing for the outer Serrapince club, and certainly marked a nice change from season after season of hovering just above the relegation zone. The results had begun to flow; now it was time for the Prince of Darkness to bring his brand of defensive football up the table.

Clyde seemed to be back where they started; eleventh was certainly an unwelcome result following a thought-of return to form. Yes, Gedeo Escat scored seventeen of Clyde's fifty-one goals — a full third of the Lions' tally this season — but the club couldn't rely on him if they were to become a consistent upper-half team. Though fifty-six points would've been enough for a top-half finish in other seasons, it probably stood more as a testament to how competitive this league was that 56 wasn't enough for a top-half finish.

Lakewood City 2–1 Macarthur City
Bernard 48', Laishram 79'//R Morgan 33'

Second best defense in the league, fourth best offense, second best goal differential; it's almost weird seeing City in fourth, their title campaign having been snuffed out relatively early on. A major rebuild on the squad is apparently "on the cards," though rumours are beginning to circulate that John Riedweld is contemplating leaving and allowing someone to make their own imprint on the squad. This season did have its highlights — Moussa Wague and Twilight Mixon in particular — but this season was largely forgettable, with the squad largely outside of the title fight for most of it. There was still a chance for silverware; it would gleefully be taken.

Macarthur would limp over the line in thirteenth; it had been a bad season by their standards. The investment in other talent dropped by Premier Division seemingly paid off; but the club was inconsistent in form this season and they paid dearly for that. Granted, they'd only finished with six less points than last year; but given that you needed nearly sixty points to even crack the top half, it did feel a bit extreme. Macarthur would be back next year, probably on the same strategy; but things could always change very quickly in the Prem...

Columbia City 1–3 Ridgewell Rovers
Fiallo 77'//Canavan 20', Bonucci 36', Riester 70'

Whatever happened to the club of tomorrow? Last season, Columbia were celebrating finishing fifth in the league; this season, they'd have to be satisfied with ninth. Perhaps it was the club's gruelling pre-season schedule; perhaps it was the injury crisis, perhaps it was the inability to ever get themselves into form. Regardless, this was a season lost; though the club's sterling fair play record did see them in with a chance of playing international football, as rumours abounded that the league were to submit teams to the Vilitan Cove International for the first time.

Des Clarke bade farewell to Ridgewell again, but on much better terms this time; after all, he'd dragged this team to twelfth. Ridgewell always had the potential — Finney, Stance, Riester, Borzoi, Canavan, Ghislane, Kristensen — but time and time again they'd underperformed. Their run of form after getting Clarke back in seemed to highlight this; so fingers, naturally, were pointed both at the players for not performing under former manager Mark Pryor; and Pryor himself, for not getting the best out of his own team. Maybe next season, under a new manager, Ridgewell would begin to fly; but for now, they were still nailed to the ground.

Hesham 2–0 Straton
Min 34', Deighton 55'

Seventh for Hesham was a pleasing overachievement, all things considered; William Wight's second season, the slow start Hesham had to their season and the general lack of expectations; but they'd strung together a good chunk of mid-season form to finish on nearly seventy points. Key to this was, as ever, Lucas Russell; his service in setting up opportunities for strikers like Gerard Deighton, Harry Frist and Sheena Glover, or even midfielders like Kurosh Rostami, Min Song-Hwan and Harriet Bevins, was essential to how Hesham performed the way that they did. The Wight era was now well and truly on; now the challenge was to keep it going.

Straton's successes and failures have been spoken at length; so tenth does seem like where they deserved to end up. Growing pains, after all; a new season, a threadbare bench and just getting to grips with their new home meant that there weren't really many expectations. Local boy Harvey Osbourne was the star of the season; while both Straton's strikers, Tino and Helene-Anne Rivard, had done extremely well for themselves too. With the club's financial future secure, the only way was up; and with full confidence in Mark Stevenson, there was a sense of hope that the club would be back in the IFCF spots sooner rather than later.

West Couno United 3–1 Kingsbury United
Allison 5', Sitko 48', Reisinger 72'//Anderson 32'

Give it up for Vasya Reisinger, who in two seasons has gone from Nepharan First Division top scorer to scoring twenty goals for West Couno United. They've been catapulted from the lower midtable to sixth, all thanks to her goals. Without her, WCU's goal difference would be in the negative; that's how impactful she's been on the league. Sixth is massively deserved, but it's not all just Vasya; names like Rajmund Sitko, Slavomir Malik and Eden Wright have been crucial to this team's rapid rise up the table as well. It's Vasya's twentieth goal of the season that seals sixth on goal difference; one less goal and Hesham would've taken the place on head-to-head record.

When compared to clubs like Hesham and WCU, eighth somehow feels like a disappointment for Kingsbury. Yes, the club did admirably and had a great record; but at the same time being leapfrogged by the above two clubs feels like they've stayed moved backwards. More investment has been promised to Samara Kaniatarii despite the club also being on sale; and the prospect of even more investment after the sale seems to have got her to stay for at least one more season.

Premier Division, Season Seven

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts
 1 Couno Rangers          38   28   6   4    79   36  +43    90   Champions; IFCF CL; CEdC
 2 FC Inter Nantwich      38   28   4   6    74   23  +51    88   IFCF CL; CEdC
 3 Serrapince             38   24   8   6    75   38  +37    80   IFCF CC
 4 Lakewood City          38   24   6   8    72   28  +44    78   IFCF CC
 5 Lakewood United        38   24   5   9    68   32  +36    77   IFCF CC
 6 West Couno United      38   20   8  10    53   34  +19    68
 7 Hesham                 38   20   8  10    60   42  +18    68
 8 Kingsbury United       38   19   6  13    58   39  +19    63 
 9 Columbia City          38   19   5  14    56   49   +7    62   VCIAPP Candidates; Fair Play Table
10 Straton                38   16   8  14    62   45  +17    56
11 Clyde Park             38   16   8  14    51   50   +1    56
12 Ridgewell Rovers       38   13  10  15    54   59   −5    49
13 Macarthur City         38   11  11  16    44   56  −12    44
14 Fraser Valley          38   12   8  18    36   55  −19    44
15 Sturrey Athletic       38   10   6  22    33   59  −26    36
16 Delphi Lionesses       38    6  11  21    33   59  −26    29
17 Colbrook City          38    7   6  25    36   84  −48    27
---------------------------------------------------------------
18 Guillemard Town        38    6   7  25    46   88  −42    25   Play-off
---------------------------------------------------------------
19 Glenmont AFC           38    3   9  26    22   70  −48    18   Relegated
20 Port Marray            38    3   2  33    23   89  −66    11   Relegated

And that was that. Well, nearly.

RELEGATION PLAYOFF
Bencoolen City 1–2 Guillemard Town (a.e.t.)
Ingwood 84'//le Gall 42', 118'

A late goal from Bencoolen would see the game go to extra time; but it wouldn't matter in the end, as the talismanic Apoxian striker Halyos le Gall would bail the Engineers out once more. On a rainy afternoon in Bencoolen, Guillemard would confirm their status as a Premier Division club for another season. Quite the achievement for a team that had been heavily unfancied, passed off as "another Timbourne" or "another Cayalon" before the season began. No, they'd come through and shown that they had the gall, the grit to remain as part of the Tumbran Premier Division's twenty clubs.

THE 125TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE FINAL

Couno versus Clyde. The league winners versus the, uh, eleventh-placed finishers. This was about to be a walk for the park for the newly-jubilant Rams. The match was again played in Nantwich; it was decided that while the Eagles' Club was under construction, the match would be played at the previous champions' home stadium. In front of a capacity crowd...

( D1)               Couno Rangers   1-0   Clyde Park                  (D1 )

...Couno delivered. But only just. A late goal by Nolan — who'd missed out on the Golden Boot, agonisingly enough — would mean that Couno would do the double, and take the trophy home to Couno.

And that was that. Another summer was here; another season of football had come and gone.

Next up? The 91st World Cup. And the 83rd Cup of Harmony, which Tumbra would be hosting, but, y'know, Tumbra are in the actual bleedin' World Cup. So there would be football in the off-season; but it wouldn't be long before the Premier Division welcomed back Clark City, Nantwich's longtime rivals; and the Kirkby Railwaymen.

by **Tumbra** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 1:39 pm

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 7
POST-SEASON AWARDS

With the dust settling on the Premier Division season and the priorities of the clubs — IFCF football, another season in midtable, straggling for survival, or gearing up for an entry into the Premier Division — it was only fair to look back upon the season that had just passed, and hand due recognition to those who had just gone that little bit more than the rest of the pack.

Player of the Year

This award is open to every player from every club who have made at least one appearance, though it's fairly evident that the player must have contributed to the team and done some individual business to separate themselves from the rest of the pack to be worthy of this award.

Bronze Ball: CB Joel Tyler (TMB, Couno Rangers)
Silver Ball: ST Vázsony Sallay (PAS, Serrapince)
Golden Ball: ST Bruce Nolan (TMB, Couno Rangers)

Young Player of the Year

This award is open to players below 23 years of age who haven't already won an award for Player of the Year. Traditionally, breakout seasons are recognised a bit more than playing brilliantly at a consistent level from a young age, to recognise the effort needed to even break through into the first teams of these clubs in the first place.

Bronze Award: LW Jake Spekman (TLI/CMT, FC Inter Nantwich)
Silver Award: LW Kingsley-Roger Hertel (QUE/JER, Couno Rangers)
Golden Award: LW Harvey Osbourne (TMB, Straton)

Golden Glove

The Golden Glove is measured by the number of clean sheets kept, with the overall number of goals conceded as a tiebreaker. This award serves to recognise goalkeepers, who traditionally have been under-represented in awards ceremonies.

Bronze Glove: Richard Russell (TMB, Lakewood United)
- 18 clean sheets, 32 conceded
Silver Glove: John Lennon (TMB, Lakewood City)
- 18 clean sheets, 28 conceded
Nick Barker (TMB, FC Inter Nantwich)
- 20 clean sheets, 23 conceded

Golden Boot

The Golden Boot is measured by the number of goals scored, with tiebreakers being decided by minutes played. The player with the lesser amount of minutes played takes precedence, but this season there hasn't been any need for that. With 1035 goals being scored over 380 matches (an average of 2.72 per match), it's been a good season for offensive players — with this being the second highest-scoring season after Season 2.

Goals per season
S	Goals
1	974   (2.56/game)
2	1045  (2.75/game)
3	847   (2.29/game)
4	1015  (2.67/game)
5	962   (2.53/game)
6       948   (2.49/game)
7       1035  (2.72/game)

Bronze Boot: Robin Vaughn (TMB, Lakewood City)
- 20 goals (tiebreaker: less games played, next in line: Vasya Reisinger, NPH, West Couno United, 20 goals)
Silver Boot: Bruce Nolan (TMB, Couno Rangers)
- 24 goals
Golden Boot: Vázsony Sallay (PAS, Serrapince)
- 25 goals

Name                    Club            Gls
Vázsony Sallay          Serrapince      25
Bruce Nolan             Couno Rangers   24
Robin Vaughn            Lakewood City   20
Vasya Reisinger         West Couno      20
Basilica Coxeter        Inter Nantwich  19
Gedeo Escat             Clyde Park      17
James Anderson          Kingsbury       15
Kendra Considine        Lakewood United 14
Corinne Fontana         Lakewood United 14
Tino                    Straton         13
Ophelie Bernard         Lakewood City   13
Frank Wilson            Columbia City   13
Gerard Deighton         Hesham          12
Harvey Osbourne         Straton         12
Halyos le Gall          Guillemard Town 12
Christian Borzoi        Ridgewell       11
Neil Fraser             Lakewood City   11
Victoria Thesselborg    Delphi          10
Joe Mercer              Sturrey         10
Frederick Prost         Couno Rangers   10
Xilix-Oxolt Mal         Fraser Valley   10

Manager of the Year

Of course, the brains behind the entire footballing operation must be recognised, too. Three managers were the obvious choices for this award; the only question was what was the order in which the three would finish. Unusually, this award takes into account performances in both the Republic Cup and the League proper; unlike the awards for players, who are judged based solely on performances in the league.

Third - William Wight (TMB, Hesham)
- Outperformed expectations, finished seventh with a team most earmarked for midtable
Second - Bill Thompson (TMB, West Couno United)
- Brought a historically underperforming team from fourteenth to sixth in one season
First - Marco Giuliani (SVG, Couno Rangers)
- Broke Couno's near three-decade title-less streak, won double

Teams of the Season

Two teams of the season were named; with one being the first XI and the second XI. The TFF cited the general standard of play as the reason why two sets of elevens were needed. Both elevens were in a 4-3-3 shape.

First XI

Position    Player
Goalkeeper  Nick Barker (TMB, FC Inter Nantwich)
Defender    Seren Thomson (TLI, Couno Rangers)
Defender    Walter Thomas (TKT, FC Inter Nantwich)
Defender    Ian Ashburn (TMB, Lakewood City)
Defender    Luca Cambiaso (SVG, Couno Rangers)
Midfielder  Jean-Phillipe Vaillancourt (QUE, Couno Rangers)
Midfielder  Mark Finnemore (TMB, Couno Rangers)
Midfielder  Andrew Fisher (TMB, FC Inter Nantwich)
Attacker    Robin Vaughn (TMB, Lakewood City)
Attacker    Bruce Nolan (TMB, Couno Rangers)
Attacker    Vázsony Sallay (PAS, Serrapince)

Second XI

Position    Player
Goalkeeper  John Lennon (TMB, Lakewood City)
Defender    Twilight Mixon (CMT, Lakewood City)
Defender    Joel Tyler (TMB, Couno Rangers)
Defender    Arwen van As (TLI, Couno Rangers)
Defender    Luca Cambiaso (SVG, Couno Rangers)
Midfielder  Laura Ness (SCT/TMB, Serrapince)
Midfielder  Aventurine Kolar (NPH, FC Inter Nantwich)
Midfielder  Min Song-Hwan (CMT, Hesham)
Attacker    Vasya Reisinger (NPH, West Couno United)
Attacker    Basilica Coxeter (NPH, FC Inter Nantwich)
Attacker    Kendra Considine (NPH/SCT, Lakewood United)

by **Tumbra** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:04 am

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
TRANSFER WINDOW ROUND-UP

The transfer window for incoming transfers to Tumbra closed at the stroke of midnight; here is a summary of the transfers that took place within Tumbra.

Retirements/Transfers down to the lower leagues

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club                    Fee
Roger Stevens       30      CDM     TMB     Colbrook City           Cobham United               2.5m
Paul Collins        30      RW      TMB     Straton                 Bencoolen City              2.3m
Aaron Mortensen     31      CM      TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        AFC Cayalon                 2.0m
Charles Allams      33      CB      TMB     Kingsbury United        Bencoolen City              1.8m
Michael Campbell    33      LB      TMB     Straton                 Tavistock Athletic          1.8m
Richard Whittingdon 33      CB      TMB     Colbrook City           Gelder Creek                1.8m
Russell White       34      RB      TMB     Straton                 Trelmont Rangers            1.7m
Stephen Read        31      LW      TMB     Macarthur City          AFC Gillman                 1.6m
Adam Langley        31      RW      TMB     Sturrey Athletic        Gelder Creek                1.2m
Lewis Robinson      28      RW      TMB     Guillemard Town         Glenmont AFC                1.1m
Gary Lewis          31      CB      TMB     Serrapince FC           AFC Gillman                 1.0m
Sam Cooper          34      CM      TMB     Clyde Park              AFC Cayalon                 1.0m
Sean Delap          31      LM      TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        Ashton Rovers               1.0m
Tom Maguire         33      LW      TMB     Sturrey Athletic        Gelder Creek                1.0m
Dave Mason          33      ST      TMB     Sturrey Athletic        Dorival                     1.0m
Tim Rowland         33      ST      TMB     Columbia City           AFC Gillman                 0.8m
Mekhi Overton       33      CM      TMB     Kingsbury United        New Timbourne Knights       0.6m
John Lennon         36      GK      TMB     Lakewood City           Retired
Anna Napier         35      CM      SCT     Couno Rangers           Retired
David Walliams      34      RB      TMB     Kingsbury United        Retired
Isla Kincorick      35      CB      SCT     Hesham                  Retired
Andrew Wordsworth   35      GK      TMB     Macarthur City          Retired
Keith Giblin        34      CB      TMB     West Couno United       Retired
Stuart Langford     35      GK      TMB     Fraser Valley           Retired
John Cameron        34      CM      TMB     Fraser Valley           Retired
Alan Curran         35      CM      TMB     Colbrook City           Retired
Emil Klempner       35      ST      SCT     Colbrook City           Retired
Tom McGuinness      34      LB      TMB     Guillemard Town         Retired
Dean Cresswood      34      RW      TMB     Port Marray             Retired
Bobby Boyle         35      CM      TMB     Falmouth Athletic       Retired
Carl Garner         35      LW      TMB     Carter United           Retired
Jesse Jones         34      CM      TMB     Carter United           Retired
George Kramer       35      CM      TMB     Washington City         Retired
Geoff Smith         35      ST      TMB     Trelmont Rangers        Retired
David Gunter        35      LW      TMB     Tavistock Athletic      Retired
Jim Goodman         35      GK      TMB     Ridgewell United        Retired
Paul Alberici       35      CM      TMB     Ridgewell United        Retired
Geoff Sharp         35      CDM     TMB     Ricci Ironworkers       Retired
Alan Mildenhall     34      RB      TMB     Ricci Ironworkers       Retired
Mal Grace           35      CM      TMB     Readale Wanderers       Retired
Bob Deakin          35      ST      TMB     Readale Wanderers       Retired
John Byrne          35      LWB     TMB     New Timbourne Knights   Retired
Michael Sullivan    35      CB      TMB     New Timbourne Knights   Retired
Timothy Franklin    35      GK      TMB     New Timbourne Knights   Retired
Peter Sinclair      35      CM      TMB     New Timbourne Knights   Retired
Adam Miles          35      CM      TMB     Mackay Robins           Retired
Russell Philips     35      LW      TMB     Mackay Robins           Retired
Shoaib Saeed        35      RW      TMB     Glenmont AFC            Retired
Robert Goldstein    35      LM      TMB     Gelder Creek            Retired
Shaun Healey        35      CB      TMB     Dorival                 Retired
Dan Robinson        35      CB      TMB     Dorival                 Retired
Anthony Bolton      35      CAM     TMB     Dorival                 Retired
Ivor Harris         34      CB      TMB     Cobham United           Retired
Jim Buchanan        35      CB      TMB     Bencoolen City          Retired
Scott Mason         35      RM      TMB     Bencoolen City          Retired
Jim Morris          35      ST      TMB     Bencoolen City          Retired
David Thorburn      35      LW      TMB     AFC Gillman             Retired
Frank Carter        34      CB      TMB     Ashton Rovers           Retired
William Herron      35      LB      TMB     AFC Cayalon             Retired
Neil Robinson       35      CM      TMB     AFC Cayalon             Retired
William Hammond     34      LB      TMB     AFC Cayalon             Retired
Ed Stafford         34      CB      TMB     AFC Cayalon             Retired
David Low           35      CM      TMB     AFC Cayalon             Retired

Departures

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club                    Fee
Adrian Hewitt       25      CDM     TMB     Lakewood United         Concord Heights City [CDG]  4.4m
Frank Wilson        27      ST      TMB     Columbia City           Jutland FC [COR]            3.0m
P-L Laishram        31      CAM     KSK     Lakewood City           Coquitlam United [KSK]      3.0m
Kandice Sayer       32      LB      CMT     Serrapince              Tihon [CMT]                 2.0m
Bertille Gavrill    27      RB      CMT     Clyde Park              Urrhed FC [CMT]             2.0m
Atlas Baxter        32      RW      TKT     FC Inter Nantwich       FK Krasnograd [PYA]         2.0m
Thomas Burrows      30      ST      FVA     Columbia City           Binclestad Wood FC [FVA]    2.0m
Alasdair Dunlap     34      LB      TKT     Fraser Valley           Komras Livropol [PYA]       0.0m
Hermaeus Mora       35      CAM     CMT     Serrapince              Myana [CMT]                 0.0m
Choi Kyung-soo      29      CAM     HIN     FC Inter Nantwich       Released
Leanne Miller       28      RB      BRE     Serrapince              Released
Rodrik Penn         28      CM      BRE     Clyde Park              Released
Harvard Popov       34      RW      SRS     Hesham                  Released
Bullova Reyson      33      RB      NPH     Glenmont AFC            Released
Kira Carlisle       33      CB      BRE     Port Marray             Released

Internal Transfers

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club                    Fee
Chris Finney        24      LB      TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        Serrapince                  5.8m
Chris Carter        28      RB      TMB     Lakewood City           Straton                     5.5m
Natalie Coleman     22      CAM     TMB     Clyde Park              Couno Rangers               5.0m
Lucas McCormick     23      CDM     TMB     Clyde Park              Colbrook City               4.7m
Charlie Baker       24      RW      TMB     Lakewood City           Straton                     4.6m
Juul de Bruin       23      RB      TLI     Delphi Lionesses        Clyde Park                  4.3m
Ian McDermott       23      LW      TMB     Lakewood United         Macarthur City              4.0m
Tom Kinzinger       23      RW      TMB     Kingsbury United        Macarthur City              3.7m
Vic Thesselborg     23      ST      TKT     Delphi Lionesses        Columbia City               3.6m
Martin Hawthorn     22      LB      TMB     West Couno United       FC Inter Nantwich           3.5m
Julie Phehlukwayo   26      RB      QUE     Fraser Valley           Delphi Lionesses            3.5m
Serena Philips      22      CDM     TMB     Hesham                  Lakewood United             3.5m
Louis Paterson      31      CB      TMB     Lakewood City           Kingsbury United            3.4m
Gethin Stewart      26      LB      TKT     Kingsbury United        Straton                     3.2m
Emmanuel Appleby    22      RW      TMB     West Couno United       Lakewood City               3.0m
Mickey Lynch        28      CAM     TMB     Lakewood City           Clyde Park                  2.8m
Carl Norton         25      LB      TMB     Hesham                  Ridgewell Rovers            2.5m
Bill Bowen          30      CAM     TMB     Couno Rangers           Kirkby Railwaymen           2.5m
Gianluca Cardini    29      ST      TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        Fraser Valley               2.4m
Don Blather         26      RB      TMB     FC Inter Nantwich       Fraser Valley               2.3m
Max Mycroft         26      LM      TMB     Fraser Valley           Lakewood United             2.2m
Harry Frist         27      ST      TMB     Hesham                  Kirkby Railwaymen           2.0m
Tony Baldwin        31      LB      TMB     FC Inter Nantwich       Guillemard Town             1.7m
Shaun Healey        29      RW      TMB     Macarthur City          Guillemard Town             1.5m
Amanda Browne       21      LW      TMB     Port Marray             Ridgewell Rovers            1.2m
Gareth Roberts      30      ST      TMB     Fraser Valley           Sturrey Athletic            1.0m
Christopher Morgan  22      LB      TMB     Glenmont AFC            West Couno United           1.0m
Andrew Hutton       21      CDM     TMB     Port Marray             Hesham                      1.0m
Faith Williams      23      ST      TMB     Glenmont AFC            Delphi Lionesses            1.0m
Duncan Hall         21      ST      TMB     Port Marray             Ridgewell Rovers            1.0m
Mark Coulson        23      CAM     TMB     Bencoolen City          Serrapince                  1.0m
Greg Bailey         18      RB      TMB     Serrapince FC           AFC Gillman                 Loan

Transfers into the league

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club                    Fee
Samuel McTavish     24      CM      QUE     St. John's Arse. [QUE]  Lakewood City              10.0m
Luo Nanwei          25      RW      YZH     Leichhardt [NPH]        FC Inter Nantwich           8.0m
Victoria Jones      24      GK      TMB     Gallant Cross [BRE]     Lakewood City               4.0m
Liang Wei           26      ST      YZH     Stahlburg Rovers [NPH]  Columbia City               4.0m
Mathias Schärer     21      CM      TJL     Asurblau Afoln [TJL]    Lakewood City               4.0m
Leah Robbins        21      RB      TKT     Anacrea FC [TKT]        Lakewood City               4.0m
Tobi Krzanowski     22      CAM     TJL     1. FC Norrehavn [TJL]   Couno Rangers               3.0m
Hugo Mornington     26      LB      SYL     Z'ai'ai [CMT]           Hesham                      3.0m
Cole Pearlman       24      CM      TKT     Vilharady Owls [TKT]    Fraser Valley               3.0m
Txomin Huon         22      CB      MRT     Neorudo Ferrymen [MRT]  Lakewood City               2.0m
Lydia Gomboult      22      CM      MRT     Signal Dannin [MRT]     Clyde Park                  2.0m
Leigh Eyre          21      LM      MRT     Inner Circle Ist [MRT]  Fraser Valley               2.0m
Findlay Tran        28      CM      TKT     Veriasod Wolves [TKT]   Clark City                  1.5m
Baptiste Ndosi      29      RB      TEQ     Miruan City [TKT]       Serrapince                  1.5m
Martin Barker       24      CB      TMB     Z'ai'ai [CMT]           Serrapince                  1.0m
Joey Sterling       22      RB      TLI/CMT Felswyr St. Univ. [CMT] FC Inter Nantwich           0.0m
Bede Cheschon       22      CM      BRE     Felswyr St. Univ. [CMT] Kingsbury United            0.0m
Cyrus Vette         23      RW      CMT     Felswyr St. Univ. [CMT] West Couno United           0.0m
Christian Ermine    26      CM      NPH     Belgrave [NPH]          Kirkby Railwaymen           0.0m
Rilan-Paliv Abe     23      CB      QUS     Sanar Univ. [CMT]       Kirkby Railwaymen           0.0m
Robert Vatnarsson   18      RW      GRF     Frederiksfahrn [GRF]    Sturrey Athletic            0.0m
Kim Chae-Yeong      18      RM/RW   QUE     Miposojeon Acad. [QUE]  Kingsbury United            Undisc.

Transfer Records and Stats

Highest fee paid by a Tumbran club: 10m for 4 transfers
- Hermaeus Mora [CMT], Lhor [CMT] to Serrapince FC, TW32
- Anna Korniloff-Kouyaté [QUE], Perce Town [QUE] to Lakewood United, TW34
- Kendra Considine Ramsey [NPH], AFC Treason [NPH] to Lakewood United, TW36
- Samuel McTavish [QUE], St. John's Arsenal [QUE] to Lakewood City, TW37

Highest domestic fee paid: 7.5m for 1 transfer
- Vázsony Sallay [PAS] from Straton FC to Serrapince FC, TW35

Highest outgoing fee: 20.0m for Nick Riordan, Serrapince FC to Sabrefell Moths [NPH], TW35

Total Amount Spent by Tumbran Clubs (External transfers into Tumbra only)
TW31: 21.9m
TW32: 54.754m
TW33: 32.354m
TW34: 43m
TW35: 25m
TW36: 46.6m
TW37: 53m

by **Tumbra** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 8:54 am

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PREVIEW, PART ONE

Players in Bold indicate new signings.

Couno Rangers

Quick Facts

City and State: Couno, Napier
Last season: 1st, 90 points
Stadium: Couno Port Stadium, 54,500
Nickname: the Rams; the Reds
Manager: Marco Giuliani, 53, Savigliane
Style of Play: Short, quick-passing play
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: ST Bruce Nolan
Captain: CB Joel Tyler

Roster

No Pos Name                 Age     Natl.
1   GK  Andrew Taylor       30  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Seren Thomson       27  F   The Licentian Isles
14  CB  Arwen van As        25  F   The Licentian Isles
4   CB  Joel Tyler          30  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Luca Cambiaso       26  M   Savigliane
5   CM  J-P Vaillancourt    25  M   Quebec
18  CDM Mark Finnemore      24  M   Tumbra
8   CAM Tobi Krzanowski     22  M   Tjorl
9   LW  K-R Hertel          22  M   Quebec
12  RW  Dimitra Conder      26  F   Nephara
11  ST  Bruce Nolan         26  M   Tumbra

13  GK  Mike Hahn           23  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Cyril Anderton      19  M   Tumbra
16  LB  Bryan Parker        28  M   Tumbra
17  CB  Welar-Ovolk Gep     24  M   Qusmo
6   CB  Lomar Wellingsley   25  M   Tikariot
20  RB  Maksimilian Trukhin 30  M   Pyazhnaya
21  CM  Pertz-Evela Vet     24  M   Qusmo
13  CM  Marvella Hargrove   26  F   Chromatika
19  CM  Colin Kearney       24  M   Tumbra
15  CAM Natalie Coleman     22  F   Tumbra
7   LW  Francis Evers       30  M   Tumbra
22  RW  Lilith Kendall      19  F   Tumbra*
10  ST  Frederick Prost     27  M   Mertagne
24  ST  Sylvaine Fortier    20  F   Tumbra**

*Second Nepharan nationality
**Second Chromatik nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Natalie Coleman from Clyde Park, 5.0m
Tobi Krzanowski from 1.FC Norrehavn, 3.0m
Outgoing: 
Bill Bowen to Kirkby Railwaymen, 2.5m
Anna Napier, retired

Everyone’s back and raring to go — with two new options in midfield.

Last season: Couno were on the verge of spilling yet another title, and with it, further elongating their supporters’ three-decade long suffering as they continued searching for their nineteenth league title. A Jean-Philippe Vaillancourt goal deferred that possibility, though; that eightieth-minute goal leading to absolute pandemonium both in the away supporters’ stands and in Couno, where it seemed like business in the entire city had stopped to watch the game finish. The win gave Rangers the title; and with it, the end of a thirty-year heartbreak. Now the task is to repeat it.

New Arrivals: They may have missed out on Madita Brewer, whom they were courting all season; but Couno signed two exciting attacking midfielders for their squads. Natalie Coleman, unconvinced by Joep Martens’ project at Clyde Park and the lack of a direct place for her in the squad, joins; her competition will be Tjorlish attacking midfielder Tobi Krzanowski. Krzanowski joins as a highly-rated, versatile attacker who can and will play wherever required; and the signings boost the average age of the squad by quite a bit. This, if they play their cards right, is a squad that can and will dominate. Though the same was said about Nantwich, too…

Key Players: At this point, you cannot look past Bruce Nolan up top; the mercurial striker whose only fault has been to be born in the same year as Nick Riordan. Nolan scored 23 goals last term, and only an injury in the second half of the season prevented him from scoring more; but he’s still hunting for his first ever Golden Boot. Dimitra Conder and Kingsley-Roger Hertel form the remaining two of Couno’s attacking trio; while deep in midfield Mark Finnemore has the stamina to run for 90 minutes…and then some. At the back, Joel Tyler somehow hits the age of 30; his defensive partners, Arwen van As, Seren Thomson and Luca Cambiaso all form the spine of one of Tumbra’s most imposing defences.

Prediction: They are the favourites. They are Couno. Things are going well; things are positive with Marco Giulaini in the dug-out. The biggest odds are on them to win a second title in a row. There’s no other way to describe it; this team seems to have finally caught the “X” factor, after so many years of struggling to even compete.

FC Inter Nantwich

Quick Facts

City and State: Nantwich, Finnley
Last season: 2nd, 88 points
Stadium: Nantwich Stadium, 64,000
Nickname: the Black-and-Blues; the Bulls
Manager: Rachel Schroeder, 56, Nephara
Style of Play: Balanced; Counterattacking
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: ST Basilica Coexter
Captain: CDM Aventurine Kolar

Roster

No Pos Name                 Age     Natl.
1   GK  Nick Barker         30  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Aimée Laurent       28  F   Savigliane
23  CB  Vilovalu Wakajama   26  M   Ko-oren
13  CB  Walter Thomas       25  M   Tikariot
22  RB  Klara Verlan        21  F   Quebec
6   CDM Aventurine Kolar    29  F   Nephara
8   CM  Andrew Fisher       28  M   Tumbra
16  CM  Julie Dufour        26  F   Kelssek
9   LW  Jake Spekman        23  M   The Licentian Isles*
7   RW  Luo Nanwei          25  M   Yuezhou
11  ST  Basilica Coxeter    27  F   Nephara

12  GK  Jan Murray          23  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Ferdinand Halliwell 19  M   Tumbra
14  LB  Martin Hawthorn     22  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Devon Daniels       33  M   Cassadaigua
5   CB  Joaquin Santo       24  M   Juvencus
3   RB  Joey Sterling       22  M   The Licentian Isles*
20  CM  Ian Robertson       24  M   Tumbra
19  CM  Zheng Haidong       26  M   Yuezhou
10  CM  Esekíel Sváfnisson  17  M   Tumbra**
21  CDM Robert Anselm       23  M   Tumbra
15  LW  Rebecca Haines      21  F   Tumbra
18  RW  Richard Baker       26  M   Tumbra
17  ST  Michelle Broadhurst 23  F   Tumbra
24  ST  Heather Gell        26  F   Mertagne

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Luo Nanwei from Leichhardt, 8.0m
Martin Hawthorn from West Couno United, 3.5m
Joey Sterling from Felswyr State Univ, 0.0m
Outgoing: 
Don Blather to Fraser Valley, 2.3m
Atlas Baxter to FK Krasnograd, 2.0m
Tony Baldwin to Guillemard Town, 1.7m
Choi Kyung-soo, released

Nantwich’s revolution reaches its zenith as more and more puzzle pieces are added to the fray.

Last season: Nantwich were on the verge of winning two titles in a row. In the eightieth minute of their final-day match against their direct title rivals, however, Jean-Philippe Vaillancourt scored. They spent the last ten minutes of the game desperately finding a way back into the game, but Couno held strong — and they were consigned to second. Apart from that final-day blip, the reigning champions had a very strong season — the Nepharan machine working with one of Tumbra’s best goalkeepers of all time to produce result after result after result. And who knew — had Vaillancourt not scored that goal, Nantwich would be looking for their third title in a row.

New Arrivals: The big signing is Luo Nanwei — the Yue international surprisingly turned down a move to Crossroads in Chromatika in order to make a return to Esportiva. Eight million is very, very high — and would be unthinkable eight years ago — but the owners of the team have made it very clear that the only way to success is to spend, and Luo is the biggest individual signing Nantwich have made in this era. They’ve also returned to the Chromatik university system to pick up more players, with Joey Sterling joining from Felswyr State as a highly-rated right-back; while Martin Hawthorn arrives from West Couno, ostensibly to serve as backup to Aimee Laurent but not too far away from a starting berth himself.

Key Players: Who in this starting eleven isn’t a key player by this point? Nick Barker, on current form, is the league’s and the nation’s best goalkeeper; Walter Thomas has settled in dramatically and now forms a key part of the defence; Aventurine Kolar, Andrew Fisher and Julie Dufour form a midfield trio that play their roles to perfection. With the addition of Luo to the other front two of Basilica Coxeter and Jake Spekman, which has always been a threat to any defence in the league…

Prediction:...it’s hard to overstate how good this team is. Is this Tumbra’s most complete team? It’s hard to say it’s not — perhaps only Couno fans can say otherwise. They’ll be right up there, fighting for the title again; and most pundits have the good money on them to win the entire thing. With Luo’s added attacking skill on the right, it’s difficult to see where they won’t.

Serrapince FC

Quick Facts

City and State: Serrapince, Bechor
Last season: 3rd, 80 points
Stadium: Serrapince Park, 74,000
Nickname: the Bees; the Black-And-Golds
Manager: Danny Haverhead, 54, Tikariot
Style of Play: Attack, attack and attack again
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: ST Vazsony Sallay
Captain: CDM Laura Ness

Roster

No Pos Name                 Age    Natl.
1   GK  Mick Key            29  M   Eura
2   LB  Chris Finney        24  M   Tumbra
20  CB  Flo Eschborn        31  F   Nephara
4   CB  Raymond Perry       30  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Andrija Hrvatin     29  F   Pasarga
23  CDM Vince Cahill        24  M   Tumbra
6   CDM Laura Ness          30  F   Schottia*
7   LW  George Hilton       29  M   Tumbra
18  CAM Dagur Lawrence      23  M   Poafmersia
22  RW  Charlotte Ritchie   24  F   The Licentian Isles
9   ST  Vázsony Sallay      28  M   Pasarga

12  GK  Tom Harper          23  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Branko Cvitkovic    19  M   Tumbra**
13  LB  Fiona Jones         20  F   Tumbra
14  CB  Bob Trimble         27  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Martin Barker       24  M   Tumbra
24  CB  Faas Bosman         19  M   Tumbra***
19  RB  Baptiste Ndosi      29  M   Tequilo*
15  CM  Tom Stansfield      33  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Craig McGrath       31  M   Tumbra
21  CDM Brendan Rowling     21  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Mark Coulson        23  M   Tumbra
17  LW  Paul Tucker         20  M   Tumbra
11  RW  Bayu Anggara        19  M   Pemecutan
16  ST  Maxim Knežević      30  M   Savigliane

*Second Tumbran nationality
**Second Mytanar nationality
***Second Licentian nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Chris Finney from Ridgewell Rovers, 5.8m
Baptiste Ndosi from Miruan City, 1.5m
Martin Barker from Z’ai’ai, 1.0m
Mark Coulson from Bencoolen City, 1.0m
Outgoing: 
Kandice Sayer to Tihon, 2.0m
Gary Lewis to AFC Gillman, 1.5m
Hermaeus Mora to Myana, end of contract
Leanne Miller, released

The rebuild is on — but are they losing ground?

Last season: Serrapince marched home in third last season, aided by the efforts of the cannoneer Vazsony Sallay taking home the Golden Boot. They were also technically in the title race up until three matchdays before the end; though most realistically knew that they were out of the title race before them. It was still good football being played, though; and hitting the 80 point mark for the second consecutive season did at least count for something. In the off-season, though, the club finally bade goodbye to Hermaeus Mora; the thirty-five year old stalwart having become a club legend. And, in most respects, a legend to the league as well; a statement of intent, and the signing that properly put the league on the world stage. Several other players departed, too; chief amongst them Kandice Sayer, whose height and presence will be sorely missed.

New Arrivals: So who’s his replacement? Well, that question was answered last season, with the signing of the Poafmersian Dagur Lawrence; but his backup ended up being Mark Coulson, a left-field signing from Bencoolen for the paltry sum of a million Tumbran dollars. Baptiste Ndosi and Martin Barker come in to fill up the bench with a bit of experience and a bit of youth, though the former signing attracted criticism for increasing the age of the club’s backup right-back, rather than decreasing it; and Barker’s signing was seen as a lack of ambition for a club attempting to return to the Champion’s League. Sure, he’d played in the fourth-best league in the world; but he was largely a peripheral player for Z’ai’ai, and was hardly the second coming of Stephen Kerr. The big signing ended up being Chris Finney, who arrived from Ridgewell for nearly six million; a price most analysts deemed a bit too high for the Tumbran left-back. But Finney, who’d declared his intention to leave Ridgewell after Chris Haines was hired, had three years left on his contract; and Ridgewell played hard-ball with the Bees right up till the end. In a sense, it’s a miracle he’s here at all.

Key Players: The key players, as always, form the spine of a team that has largely been undisturbed since its inception. Mick Key, Raymond Perry, Laura Ness, Craig McGrath (though he’s admitted himself he’ll be taking a back-seat role this season to help ease Vince Cahill into being a full-fledged starter), George Hilton and the inimitable Sallay. Each of them are local heroes in the city; the six of them have full-size banners down the front of the front of the stadium, resplendent in yellow and black. All of them are in their footballing prime; all of them have won the title multiple times, breaking the record for highest number of points while doing so in the modern era, and all of them are keen to do it again.

Prediction: But in an era where spending is king, will the signings of someone who used to play for a lower-side Chromatik team’s bench and a second tier side’s main attacking midfielder be enough? This season will likely be make or break for Haverhead; his contract is ending soon, and while the dearth of Tumbran talent in upper-tier management means his job is safe for now, Haverhead’s seventh season will be scrutinised ever closer as he attempts to navigate a veritable minefield of football, all while trying to keep within his means.

Lakewood City

Quick Facts

City and State: Lakewood, Severn
Last season: 4th, 78 points
Stadium: Lakewood City Stadium, 58,000
Nickname: the Skyblues; the Skylarks
Manager: John Riedweld, 54, Tumbra
Style of Play: Possessive, attacking
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: RW Robin Vaughn
Captain: RW Robin Vaughn

Roster

No Pos Name                 Age     Natl.
1   GK  Victoria Jones      24  F   Tumbra
12  LB  Twilight Mixon      23  F   Chromatika
4   CB  Ian Ashburn         28  M   Tumbra
14  CB  Maja Olsman         28  M   Ko-oren
3   RB  Leah Robbins        21  F   Tikariot
8   CDM Eli Apt             29  M   Chromatika
23  CM  Mathias Schärer     21  M   Tjorl
10  CM  Samuel McTavish     24  M   Quebec
7   LW  Neil Fraser         29  M   Tumbra
9   RW  Robin Vaughn        32  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Ophelie Bernard     27  F   Savigliane

13  GK  David Ager          24  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Graham Henderson    19  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Ryan Hughes         33  M   Tumbra
17  CB  Tom Lawrence        27  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Txomin Huon         22  M   Mertagne
19  RB  Komang T. Kurniawan 19  M   Pemecutan
6   CM  Erika Steinlein     30  F   Nephara
15  CM  Hazel Hills         20  F   Tumbra
16  CM  Valerie Morris      23  F   Tumbra
20  CDM Lewis McCabe        24  M   Tumbra
18  LW  Jack Reed           25  M   Tumbra
21  RW  Emmanuel Appleby    22  M   Tumbra
22  ST  Charlotte Henshaw   22  F   Tumbra
24  ST  Moussa Wague        23  M   Brookstation

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Samuel McTavish from St. John’s Arsenal, 10.0m
Victoria Jones from Gallant Cross, 4.0m
Mathias Schärer from Asurblau Afoln, 4.0m
Leah Robbins from Anacrea FC, 4.0m
Emmanuel Appleby from West Couno United, 3.0m
Txomin Huon from Neruodo Ferrymen, 2.0m
Outgoing: 
Chris Carter to Straton, 5.5m
Charlie Baker to Straton, 4.6m
Louis Paterson to Kingsbury United, 3.4m
Pierre-Louis Laishram to Coquitlam United, 3.0m
Mickey Lynch to Clyde Park, 2.8m
John Lennon, retired

City have spent big. It’s do or die for John Riedweld.

Last season: City were pretty much nowhere last season; they were miles off the title race, and barely figured into it in the grand scheme of things. They weren’t bad by any sense — Lakewood City has been built by John Ashburn and John Riedweld into something of a perpetual motion machine that moves with minimal prompting — but it has been four years since the Skyblues last were in the Champions’ League, and the same amount of time has passed since they won the title.

New Arrivals: City spent the entire transfer window trying to attract two top Nepharan targets into the fold; Madita Brewer (during which they engaged in a wholly imaginary transfer tug-of-war with Couno, both substantially setting their final bids at an eye-watering eighteen million dollars), and left-winger Arachne Loeher. Both snubbed City; the former went to Northern Union, and the latter went to Wirr Tsi.

But City, embarking on their biggest clear-out of players, still had to scrabble for alternatives (though not in such a desperate grab for a left winger). So City went for Mathias Schärer, beating off clubs from Ceni and Nephara to score the highly-rated Tjorlish midfielder’s signature; Leah Robbins, serving as a foil for the highly-rated Pemecutanese youngster Komang Kurniawan and a replacement for the departed Chris Carter; Txomin Huon came in to reinforce the defence, Victoria Jones to replace John Lennon — who himself surprisingly announced his retirement 72 hours before her signing, amidst rumours that he only stayed on because City couldn’t find anyone to replace him — and Emmanuel Appleby as the next understudy to Robin Vaughn, as Charlie Baker had grown tired of waiting and gone to Straton. The biggest signing of the summer, though, would end up being Quebecois midfielder Samuel McTavish; meaning that City’s midfield, with the presence of Apt, McTavish, Scharer, Hills and Morris, is one of the deepest in the entire league.

Key Players: Robin Vaughn is, and will probably remain so long as he continues to ply his trade for the Skyblues, the key player for Lakewood City. Silent on the pitch, but a reportedly beloved leader off it, the taciturn right winger prefers to let his football do the talking — and boy does it speak. Ian Ashburn out back, John’s son — though having long since escaped that brush-tarring, proving himself to be an extremely capable defender in his own right — continues his stead as head of the defence; while Twilight Mixon inherits Chris Carter’s legacy of making attacking runs; just on a different side of the pitch this time. Big things are expected from McTavish and Jones, the latter of whom nearly had her career derailed by several relegations in Brenecia. Riedweld still sees big things in her, though; and hopefully her being given a starting berth behind one of Tumbra’s strongest defences will re-build her confidence and allow her to stake her claim as Nick Barker’s long-term successor.

Prediction: It’s a do-or-die season for City. Riedweld’s job is on the line despite his working relationship with Ashburn; and the heavy levels of investment (27 million in one window) doesn’t quite help his case. A failure to make the Champions’ League or challenge for the title will likely result in a high-profile departure; or, at the very least, a sacking so Riedweld can still get his severance pay. Still, though, the squad’s refresh has improved its quality dramatically; so they’ll be up there.

Lakewood United

Quick Facts

City and State: Lakewood, Severn
Last season: 5th, 77 points
Stadium: Trenton Park, 74,500
Nickname: the Reds, the Red Storm
Manager: Ted Bayh, 49
Style of Play: Fast-paced pressing, attacking play
Prediction: IFCF contenders
Key Player: LW Kendra Considine
Captain: RB Nigel Harris

Roster

No Pos Name                 Age     Natl.
1   GK  Richard Russell     24  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Ophelia Haywood     30  F   Brenecia
16  CB  Douglas Moore       31  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Spencer Jepson      28  M   Tikariot
3   RB  Nigel Harris        31  M   Tumbra
14  LM  Kendra Considine R. 29  F   Nephara*
23  CDM Michael Browne      25  M   Tumbra
13  CM  Nicky Atkinson      28  M   Tumbra
7   RM  Josip Horvat        28  M   Savigliane
15  CAM Kirsten Desmond     25  F   Nephara
17  ST  Corinne Fontana     28  F   Savigliane

12  GK  David Knight        20  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Gary Shepard        19  M   Tumbra
6   LB  Paul Marlin         25  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Ochoa Abril         28  M   Tequilo
17  CB  Almar Hussein       27  M   Tumbra
20  RB  Amelia Laurent      29  F   Savigliane
11  CM  Travis Dolan        24  M   Tikariot
8   CM  Matthew Ukrop       30  M   Tikariot
19  CDM Serena Philips      22  F   Tumbra
10  CAM James Hunter        30  M   Tumbra
24  LM  Max Mycroft         26  M   Tumbra
18  RW  Penny Wilson        21  F   Tumbra
22  ST  Cameron Keyes       28  M   Sylestone
23  ST  Richard Adams       29  M   Tumbra

*Second Schottic nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Serena Philips from Hesham, 3.5m
Max Mycroft from Fraser Valley, 2.2m
Outgoing: 
Adrian Hewitt to Concord Heights City, 4.4m
Ian McDermott to Macarthur City, 4.0m

Slow, steady progress — if they can keep it.

Last season: The arrival of Considine heralded a close of an era, as Ted Bayh declared not long after the close of the transfer window that the era of “big signings” was over. The ship proved remarkably easy to steady — perhaps the departures of Korniloff-Kouyate and Ramos were the major factors in that — but there was a sense that the ship began to run out of steam near the end of the year. Considine and Corinne Fontana both scored 14 goals, but the team dipped in form and they finished fifth, coming agonisingly close to finishing atop their neighbours for only the second time in the past eight years.

New Arrivals: Accordingly, new signings have been thin on the ground; the only real replacement for the departures of two highly rated talents, Adrian Hewitt and Ian McDermott, is Max Mycroft from Fraser Valley; who really comes in as backup for the nigh-undroppable Considine. The left winger has matured; previously an erratic talent who showed lots of potential, he was shipped out from Kingsbury to Fraser, and honed his craft. There has been more interest over the departures of Hewitt and McDermott, however; both Lakewood born and bred, they were both touted for big things at the club, but both seemed to be frustrated with a lack of opportunity — something that has been blamed for the departures of players like Neil Crozier and Sabine Kemp in the years before, and now Hewitt and McDermott.

Key Players: Considine has effectively become the figure the team coalesces around; while Nigel Harris remains a stalwart at the back.Corinne Fontana remains a strong figure up top, while Kirsten Desmond, now on the Nepharan national team radar, is the team’s main creative presence. Spencer Jepson, meanwhile, essentially transformed the Lakewood United defence when he arrived from Murphtannia as part of a player rehousing program; utilising his height and commanding presence on the pitch to his advantage. There are rumours that his leadership skills will endow him with the captain's armband sooner rather than later.

Prediction: It’s hard to see United not finishing at least fifth. The problem, however, is whether they will advance further than that. With almost all the teams around them (bar the one notable example of Serrapince) spending hard, could United’s decision not to spend more come back to haunt them?

West Couno United

Quick Facts

City and State: Couno, Napier
Last season: 6th, 68 points
Stadium: Wrenchwelt Stadium, 42,000
Nickname: the Pilots; the Chocolatiers
Manager: Bill Thompson, 71, Tumbra
Style of Play: Direct, route one football
Prediction: IFCF contenders
Key Player: ST Vasya Reisinger
Captain: RW Scott McIntyre

Roster

No Pos Name                 Age     Natl.
1   GK  Mike Hancy          30  M   Tumbra
2   LB  A. Charron-Becker   28  F   Quebec
5   CB  Ben Morgan          29  M   Tumbra
17  CB  George Steel        25  M   Tumbra
13  RB  Nicola Rinaldi      31  F   Savigliane
7   LW  Bill Allison        29  M   Tumbra
15  CM  Rajmund Sitko       24  M   Brenecia
18  CM  Slavomir Malik      32  M   Siovanija & Teusland
6   CM  Eden Wright         26  F   Tikariot
10  RW  Scott McIntyre      32  M   The Licentian Isles
11  ST  Vasya Reisinger     27  F   Nephara

12  GK  Darcy Lewis         24  M   Tumbra
23  GK  Adam Stanton        24  M   Tumbra
19  LB  Christopher Morgan  22  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Sarah Sears         17  F   Tumbra
16  CB  Dei Kaparros        29  M   Astograth
3   RB  Jennifer Murray     20  F   Tumbra
25  RB  Shim Seo-yeon       20  F   Tumbra*
20  CDM Stephen Goodman     22  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Rhyan Carson        29  M   Brenecia
14  CM  Remont Thomas       25  M   Gouvanarch
9   LW  Luka Vujanovic      19  M   Tumbra**
21  RW  Cyrus Vette         23  M   Chromatika
22  ST  Dominic Clyne       30  M   Tumbra
24  ST  Hazel Garlick       23  F   Tumbra

*Second Chromatik nationality
**Second Mytanar nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Christopher Morgan from Glenmont, 1.0m
Cyrus Vette from West Couno United, 0.0m
Outgoing: 
Martin Hawthorn to FC Inter Nantwich, 3.5m
Emmanuel Appleby to Lakewood City, 3.0m
Keith Giblin, retired

Somehow they’re up here. Now the job is to keep going.

Last season: A miracle run to sixth was aided by the seemingly never-ending supply of goals from Vasya Reisinger, who seemed to never run out of energy. Good form, more than a bit of luck and, quite frankly, just pure skill seemed to lift the Chocolatiers to their highest ever finish in the IFCF era. The only shame was that she was pipped to the Bronze Boot by Robin Vaughn — both scored 20, but Vaughn’s injury layoff early in the season meant that he picked up the award by virtue of having less minutes played. Cryptic hints of Bill Thompson’s impending retirement turned out, thankfully, to be unfounded; the manager signed a one-season contract extension, with a view to finding a replacement for him at the end of the season.

New Arrivals: The squad has been kept mostly intact — the departures of Martin Hawthorn and Emmanuel Appleby to Big Six clubs, and the retirement of Keith Giblin has been counterbalanced by the signings of members of the Under-18 World Cup squad, and Christopher Morgan from Glenmont. He’s not the main signing of the summer, though — highly-rated Chromatik talent Cyrus Vette arrives from West Couno United, ostensibly to serve as a long-term replacement for incumbent right-winger Scott McIntyre. The departures of Hawthorn and Appleby caused some tension amongst the fanbase; but Vette’s arrival late into the transfer window eased some of those concerns.

Key Players: But life goes on. Vasya Reisinger continues to fire goals up top, rendering the memories of ineffectual strikers like Miles Brent and Mike Vanderwelt a distant piece of the past, while George Steel continues to mature into a fully-fledged defender that might make the case for a firmer national team standing one day. One name that isn’t mentioned often is Rajmund Sitko, who seems to be fitting more into the mould of the footballer that isn’t often seen, but has an effect on the game elsewhere. He, more than anyone else, could probably be the key to how well this team plays; and if he can’t stay healthy then the fate of this team could very well hang in the balance.

Prediction: It’ll be hard to repeat their performance from last season; and WCU are infamous for being a bit of a yo-yo club at this point. Still, though, there’s a sense of momentum with this team; and momentum, that invisible force, tends to get a club somewhere. Expect them to challenge, though there won’t be hard feelings if the team falls short.

Hesham FC

Quick Facts

City and State: Hesham, Clearmont
Last season: 7th, 68 points
Stadium: George Bowen Stadium, 40,000
Nickname: the Greens; the Ploughmen
Manager: William Wight, 43, Tumbra
Style of Play: Steady, patient build-up
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Lucas Russell
Captain: CM Min Song-hwan

Roster

No Pos Name                 Age     Natl.
1   GK  Alan McDermott      23  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Hugo Mornington     26  M   Sylestone
14  CB  Mu Weihai           28  M   Yuezhou
3   CB  Nexev-Kresp Val     25  X   Qusmo
6   RB  Elsie Houston       23  F   The Licentian Isles*
15  LM  Kurosh Rostami      25  M   SRS
8   CM  Alisha Thompson     27  F   The Licentian Isles
16  CM  Min Song-Hwan       28  M   Chromatika
7   RM  Harriet Bevins      22  F   Tumbra
23  ST  Gerard Deighton     21  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Lucas Russell       27  M   The Licentian Isles

12  GK  Alan Tate           21  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Daphne Cross        19  F   Tumbra
24  LB  Miranda Dahlberg    19  M   Tumbra
17  CB  Jack Denham         21  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Nathaniel Edmonds   18  M   Tumbra
5   RB  Vic Nelson          31  M   Tumbra
18  CM  Paul Fletcher       28  M   Tumbra
10  CM  Richard Driver      28  M   Tumbra
13  CDM Andrew Hutton       21  M   Tumbra
19  CM  Matthew Noble       30  M   Tumbra
20  LW  Joe Bonner          28  M   Tumbra
21  RW  James Halliday      18  M   Tumbra
22  ST  Tom Elliot          17  M   Tumbra
9   ST  Sheena Glover       28  F   Brenecia

*Second Chromatik nationality
**Second Tikariotian nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Hugo Mornington from Z’ai’ai, 3.0m
Andrew Hutton from Port Marray, 1.0m
Outgoing: 
Serena Philips to Lakewood United, 3.5m
Carl Norton to Ridgewell Rovers, 2.5m
Harry Frist to Kirkby Railwaymen, 2.0m
Harvard Popov, released
Isla Kincorick, retired

A squad with relatively little turnover marks confidence — but is it misplaced?

Last season: William Wight’s second full season in charge resulted in a great — if under-reported and under-appreciated — charge up to seventh in the table. Well, as some fans put it, it would be sixth but the West Couno mafioso gave Reisinger her twentieth goal of the season to lift them to sixth instead. Regardless, there was very little to criticise about last season; the team played well, Squornshelan arrival Kurosh Rostami blended in well and started playing like the five million signing he was after a bit of a sluggish start; and the strike force of Lucas Russell and Gerard Deighton continues to pay dividends. Optimism is high at the George Bowen; at least for the time being.

New Arrivals: That confidence and optimism is reflected in the relatively quiet transfer window Hesham had; after losing Serena Philips to Lakewood United — the midfielder declining the chance to extend her contract — the Ploughmen drafted in Andrew Hutton from recently-relegated Marray, one of the few bright spots in Marray’s mostly-woeful season. Hugo Mornington, formerly of Z’ai’ai, became the main signing of the summer; the left-back looking to increase his profile by playing in Hesham ahead of a rumoured return of the Sylestonean national team to international football in a few years.

Key Players: And, to be honest, can anyone blame them? This squad is probably one of the strongest outside the top six; though the same could frankly be said for most squads in the midfield mush that has somewhat defined the Tumbran Premier Division. Elsie Houston at right-back is a fast-growing defensive stalwart; while the midfield duo Min Song-hwan and Alisha Thompson are able to run rings around most. And, of course, up top, the indefatigable strike partnership of Deighton and Russell continues; assisted, of course, by Kurosh Rostami and Harriet Bevins on the left and right.

Prediction: A lack of turnover might cause some to worry, but William Wight has expressed a belief in the past that he prefers squads with less turnover, to properly build bonds with the squad. The forty-three year old has quickly become one of the most sought-after managerial talents in the division, and it’s the perpetual sense of calm that seemingly emanates from him that gives Hesham the patience, belief and power to forge on ahead. It’s hard to see them not challenging up in these spots once again; though football, as always, is as unpredictable as the ball is round.

by **Tumbra** » Fri Sep 23, 2022 10:17 am

Kingsbury United

Quick Facts

City and State: Kingsbury, Georgia
Last season: 8th, 63 points
Stadium: Fletcher Park, 45,000
Nickname: the Princelings, the Royals
Manager: Samara Kaniatarii, 46, Quebec/Gatchinggerak Union
Style of Play: Direct, fast-flowing
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: RW Antti Perkkanen
Captain: GK Tom Sterling

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Tom Sterling        34  M   Tumbra
3   LB  Wei Haifeng         25  M   Yuezhou
15  CB  Nathan Quinn        26  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Thomas Krabb        27  M   Tumbra
2   RB  Bernard Martin      29  M   Savigliane
6   CDM Coco                24  M   Montana Verde
16  CM  V. Loustaunau       26  M   Farfadilis
14  CAM Haydn Schwartz      24  M   Zeta Reka
22  LW  Joyce Hughes        24  F   Tumbra
9   RW  Antti Perkkanen     28  M   Tikariot
11  ST  James Anderson      32  M   Tumbra

12  GK  Susan Moran         23  F   Tumbra
25  GK  Hugh Williams       19  M   Tumbra
13  LB  Mátyás Boullogne    17  M   Farfadilis
4   CB  Louis Paterson      31  M   Tumbra
19  CB  Desimir Gavrilovic  24  M   Farfadilis
18  RB  Jude McReary        17  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Bede Cheschon       22  M   Brenecia
20  CM  Sean Cushing        34  M   Tumbra
21  CAM Tania Layton        27  F   Nephara
10  CAM Kalene Chenoweth    28  F   Nephara
7   LW  Xaime Medal         31  M   Tequilo
23  RW  Kim Chae-yeong      18  F   Quebec
17  ST  Malcolm Winter      28  M   Tumbra
24  ST  Dannon Larr         27  M   Mertagne

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Louis Paterson from Lakewood City, 3.4m
Bede Cheschon from Felswyr State University, 0.0m
Kim Chae-young from Miposojeon, undisclosed
Outgoing: 
Tom Kinzinger to Macarthur City, 3.7m
Gethin Stewart to Straton, 3.2m
Charles Allams to Bencoolen City, 1.8m
Mekhi Overton to New Timbourne Knights, 0.6m
David Walliams, retired

Kingsbury seem to have hit a ceiling on their performance — is it time for a shake-up?

Last season: A relatively anonymous, if solid season, defined Kingsbury’s season; and the club remains up for sale. A disappointing end to the season saw West Couno knock three past the Kingsbury defence; and more promises were issued of investment in the squad ahead of a proposed sale, which would mark the second foreign owner in the Premier Division. The Princelings seem to have hit a ceiling on their performance, with two consecutive eighth-placed finishes; and bar a major squad refresh (difficult, because owners are reluctant to spend despite promises) or a managerial switch (also difficult, because Sama K, as she’s become known, is widely respected amongst the fanbase and has done nothing to merit a firing), there’s not much they can do to move upwards. Though, given how top-heavy the Premier Division is, and how churn-heavy the midtable is, perhaps that’s a blessing.

New Arrivals: To mark that lack of investment, there have been five signings; but Kingsbury only paid money for one of them. Louis Paterson, out of favour at Lakewood City, arrives for three and a half million; the imposing enforcer marked his signing with the shaving of his impressive beard, but that only added to his mystique. Seeking their own version of Rajmund Sitko at West Couno United, Bede Cheschon arrives from Felswyr State; and Kaniatarii will be hoping that he will be able to provide an attacking nous that seemed to be missing from Kingsbury’s offence from the past few years. Kim Chae-yeong arrives from Miposojeon as an unknown quantity; but there are murmurs around her undoubted quality and how she might be the future star that Kingsbury builds its team around. If she stays for long enough, that is.

Key Players: The longstanding defensive partnership of Nathan Quinn and Thomas Krabb, two defenders who are as close in real life as they are on the pitch, forms the spine of an impressive back line that surprisingly has not been too weakened by the departure of Gethin Stewart to Straton. Coco, the Verdean midfield destroyer, didn’t exactly set the league alight in his first season with the club but proved himself as a key member of the squad in his second, while Haydn Schwartz has provided a creative presence in the hole behind veteran James Anderson. Anderson, who scored fifteen goals last season, has declared that he’s not intending on slowing down anytime soon; and his form in pre-season seemed to confirm it, much to the dismay of his competitors and understudies, Dannon Larr and Malcolm Winter.

Prediction: Kingsbury are in a state of transition; they’re owned by an owner who wants rid, who wants results to boost the market value of the club while scarcely opening the purse-strings, and who somehow have enough momentum to keep finishing in the upper midtable year-on-year. That in itself may be more of a testament to Sami K’s managerial skill, though if she does decide to leave — or, in the cruel world of football management, is pushed — then things will look a lot more gloomy for fans of the Princelings.

Columbia City

Quick Facts

City and State: Columbia, Alexandria
Last season: 9th, 62 points
Stadium: Columbus Field, 49,000
Nickname: the Southerners, the Fishermen
Manager: David Griffiths, 53, Tumbra
Style of Play: Moderately attacking, heavy on side passing play
Prediction: In the hunt
Key Player: CB Torcado Fiallo
Captain: CM David Burnet

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
13  GK  George Danvers      24  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Jolanda MacPierce   28  F   Zwangzug
4   CB  Torcado Fiallo      27  M   Tequilo*
15  CB  N-H McKinley        22  M   Quebec
3   RB  Finlay Hall         26  M   Tikariot
7   LW  Mike Coonan         29  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Enis Crnogorčević   24  M   Mytanija
6   CM  David Burnet        28  M   Tumbra
10  RW  Luciano Bello       27  M   Savigliane
9   ST  Vic. Thesselborg    24  F   Tikariot
11  ST  Liang Wei           26  M   Yuezhou

1   GK  Farzana Patel       21  F   Tumbra
25  GK  Reed Woodward       20  M   Tumbra
16  LB  Rhys Vanney         27  M   Nephara
5   CB  Tomas Hull          30  M   Brenecia
19  CB  Linda Marshall      22  F   Tumbra
20  RB  Ashley Crittenden   22  F   Tumbra
18  CDM Henry Morgan        21  M   Tumbra
23  CM  Susan Ramsden       19  F   Tumbra
14  CM  Kálmán Sásk         23  M   Farfadilis
24  CAM Manuel Vaquilar     20  M   Tumbra**
21  LW  Peter Hurst         21  M   Tumbra
17  RW  Bruno Powell        29  M   Tumbra
22  ST  Jean Starling       17  F   Tumbra
12  ST  August Haller       23  F   Tumbra

*Second Tumbran nationality
**Second Farf nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Liang Wei from Stahlburg Rovers, 4.0m
Victoria Thesselborg from Delphi Lionesses, 3.6m
Outgoing: 
Frank Wilson to Jutland FC, 3.0m
Thomas Burrows to Binclestad Wood FC, 2.0m 
Tim Rowland to AFC Gillman, 0.8m

Columbia have fallen, but they’re looking to build back better..

Last season: After proving themselves to be the league’s success stories — making youth a central part of the team’s strategy and relying on a smaller squad competing for regular minutes — the wheels finally fell off Columbia’s wagon. Some said it was the gruelling IFCF campaign that ultimately came to nought; some said it was bad luck on Columbia’s part with injuries. The truth, as truths are always likely to be, is probably somewhere in the middle. Ninth was probably not the result anyone wanted, though a commitment to the principles of “fair play” landed them an invite to the Vilitan Cove Invitational.

New Arrivals: The squad has pivoted as a result; the offence has been cleaned out and new strikers have been brought in. Victoria Thesselborg was always the natural signing; it took little to convince her to move south from Serrapince anyway, and her skills were always agitating for a bigger stage to show them on. Liang Wei makes the move from a relegated Stahlburg; as a giant fish in a tiny pond, he’ll be given the chance to show his talents in a team that can give him lots of service in Columbia.

Key Players: George Danvers in goal continues to repay the faith that David Griffiths put in him after the retirement of Gerald Scicluna, while Torcado Fiallo excels in the back, possibly with the weight of expectations lifted after leaving the pressure mill of Valanora. Mike Coonan is an underrated presence on the left wing, as is David Burnet in the middle; while fan favourite Enis Crnogorčević, or Enis as he’s just affectionately known, is the heart and soul of the team.

Prediction: Columbia will face a tough task in trying to lift themselves up after last season’s semi-debacle; but there’s a general sense of confidence that they’ll be able to give it a good shot. Morale is good, Griffiths is still secure and hungry to claw his way back into IFCF football; and with an entirely new strike-force, Columbia are one of the wildcards of the season.

Straton FC

Quick Facts

City and State: Straton, Straton
Last season: 10th, 56 points
Stadium: Straton Olympic Stadium, 63,000
Nickname: the Senators; the Capitals
Manager: Mark Stevenson, 58, the Licentian Isles
Style of Play: Wide wing play; attacking, generally
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: LW Harvey Osbourne
Captain: GK Graham Dodds

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Graham Dodds        33  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Gethin Stewart      26  M   Tikariot
3   CB  Michael Toussaint   26  M   Savigliane
4   CB  Ashley Asanta       27  F   Tikariot
13  RB  Chris Carter        28  M   Tumbra
18  CDM Vlart Hedberg       26  M   SRS
10  CM  Liang Tao           24  M   Yuezhou
8   CDM Amund Freyrsson     24  M   Kaldtfjell
9   RW  Charlie Baker       24  M   Tumbra
14  LW  Harvey Osbourne     24  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Tino                24  M   Montana Verde

23  GK  Joe Bonner          24  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Douglas Campbell    20  M   Tumbra
12  LB  Kirsten McDonald    21  F   Tumbra
17  CB  Barry Hamilton      24  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Bram Levin          28  M   Nephara
24  CB  Abigail Paterson    20  F   Tumbra
16  RB  Hans Ferdinand      19  M   Tumbra
6   CDM Hannah Harwood      21  F   Tumbra
19  CM  John Lawrence       24  M   Tumbra
22  CM  Kevin Dunstan       24  M   Tumbra
20  CAM Desmond Sartain     21  M   Tumbra
7   LM  Simon Cole          30  M   Tumbra
21  RW  Felicity Woodhouse  21  F   Tumbra
15  ST  Helene-Anne Rivard  25  F   Quebec

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Chris Carter from Lakewood City, 5.5m
Charlie Baker from Lakewood City, 4.6m
Gethin Stewart from Kingsbury United, 3.2m
Outgoing:
Paul Collins to Bencoolen City, 2.3m
Michael Campbell to Tavistock Athletic, 1.8m
Russell White to Trelmont Rangers, 1.7m

With the stadium debacle over and finances mostly in order, Mark Stevenson must now set things right in the capital.

Last season: Straton’s move to a new stadium was relatively uncomplicated, but the new stadium took some time to adjust to. Tenth was still a relative disappointment, however, but the board announced that its finances were finally in the clear; meaning that it was now in a position to finally spend and beef up its squad a bit. The old full-backs, including club captain Michael Campbell, were cleared out; paving the way for a squad built around the mercurial Verdean striker Tino and effervescent winger Harvey Osbourne to be built around. The path forward for Mark Stevenson now is clear; he must deliver.

New Arrivals: To that end, Chris Carter and Charlie Baker both arrive from Lakewood City, the former a victim of the club’s clearing-out and the latter leaving in search of more playing time. Carter is a right-back with proven pedigree, used to making attacking runs; while Baker is a slightly raw, but definitely talented winger who’s already jumped into this squad with enthusiasm. Gethin Stewart arrives from Kingsbury, the left-back not willing to extend his contract beyond his last season there; the move to Straton allegedly brought with it a larger paycheck, but none of the size that brought Straton into financial ruin and arguably lost them the future greatest Tumbran defender of all time.

Key Players: The main star of the team has slowly become Harvey Osbourne, the city’s response to Stephen Kerr; unlike Kerr, he’s solidly rooted himself at the club, and has no intention of leaving. Tino up front is a slippery striker who can and will barge his way to victory; and he’s very slippery in more ways than one. Amund Freyrsson has aged his way into being one of the finer defensive midfielders of Tumbra, especially now that Kaldtfjell’s rhetoric has calmed down somewhat; his partner, Vlart Hedberg is one of the Premiership’s best double pivots, and there have been rumours that Serrapince have been sniffing around, trying to grab him as a long-term replacement for the aging Laura Ness.

Prediction: With the nonsense of financials out of the way and a much-strengthened squad, Mark Stevenson’s only job is to pull this club out of the gutter they’ve found themselves in for the last four years and finally move again. There’s a good chance he’ll do it; though the maelstrom that is midtable means there’s also a good chance he’ll spin out of control.

Clyde Park

Quick Facts

City and State: Clyde, Clearmont
Last season: 11th, 56 points
Stadium: Clyde Park, 38,500
Nickname: the Clarets; the Lions
Manager: Joep Martens, 44, the Licentian Isles
Style of Play: Attacking, short passing plays, fast forwards
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Gedeo Escat
Captain: LB Jacob Keene

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
12  GK  Raphael Brennan     24  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Jacob Keene         29  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Trevor Marshall     28  M   Tikariot
19  CB  Stuart Murdoch      27  M   Tumbra
6   RB  Juul de Bruin       23  F   The Licentian Isles
18  LW  Brendan May         25  M   Tumbra
13  CM  Lydia Gomboult      22  F   Mertagne
10  CAM Edwin Markozy       26  M   Zeta Reka
11  RW  Kim Kearnes         25  F   Sylestone
9   ST  Elaine Calare       26  F   Nephara
17  ST  Gedeó Escat         28  M   Tequilo*

1   GK  Mederick Brown      21  M   Quebec
25  GK  Mark Leader         20  M   Tumbra
15  LB  Holly Willoughby    23  F   Tumbra
4   CB  Belinda Proudfoot   22  F   Tumbra
14  CB  Ricardo Wyatt       23  M   Tumbra
3   RB  June Orenthal       28  F   Nephara
22  CM  Monica Searle       17  F   Tumbra**
8   CM  Martin Humphreys    28  M   Tumbra
16  CM  Shirley Gillard     18  F   Tumbra
23  CAM Mickey Lynch        28  M   Tumbra
7   LW  Alistair McGarry    24  M   Tumbra
21  RW  Daryl Ferguson      24  M   Tumbra
20  ST  Bernard Brown       30  M   Tumbra
24  ST  Joanna Bradford     23  F   Tumbra

*Second Tumbran nationality
**Second Nepharan nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Juul de Bruin from Delphi Lionesses, 4.3m
Mickey Lynch from Lakewood City, 2.8m
Lydia Gomboult from Signal Dannin, 2.0m
Outgoing:
Natalie Coleman to Couno Rangers, 5.0m
Lucas McCormick to Colbrook City, 4.7m
Bertille Gavrill to Urrhed FC, 2.0m
Sam Cooper to AFC Cayalon, 1.0m
Rodrik Penn, released

What are Clyde? Are they meant to be challenging for the top five? How much longer does Martens have?

Last season: Clyde started off with a bang, but their campaign eventually ended up fizzling out, going so far as seven matches winless at the end of the season. Gedeo Escat ended up scoring seventeen goals, a full third of Clyde’s final total; but there was a general sense of frustration around the club that the Tequiloa striker wasn’t being utilised to his full potential. Rumblings by some of the club’s talented younger players, too, began; particularly from the highly-rated Natalie Coleman and Lucas McCormick. Fans began clamouring for them to be given more game-time, but…

New Arrivals:...in possibly the most boneheaded move of the season, Martens let them both go. Coleman moved to Couno; McCormick bafflingly moved to Colbrook, but if the club ever got relegated at least it’d be an easy ticket out of Tumbra, which some suspected was his real motive. In came Mickey Lynch, always out of place at Lakewood City, to replace the former; Lydia Gomboult arrives from Mertagne, one of the people joining the steadily growing Mertagnian contingent in the Premier Division.

Key Players: The most obvious answer here is Gedeo Escat, the Tequiloa striker who’s bailed his team out on more than one occasion. Trevor Marshall at the back is doing wonders for Clyde’s defence while Raphael Brennan has been sniffing around the national team lately. Many will be hoping, however, that the midfield will shape up; and though Kim Kearnes is a bright spark there,

Prediction: Clyde, having lost two of their brightest young talents, are a club that looks pretty muddled. Where they’ll finish is anyone’s guess; whether Martens will make it through the season is another. Things aren’t looking good at Clyde Park, and Martens will have to hope his so-far smooth spell in charge of the Lions won’t go south too soon.

Ridgewell Rovers

Quick Facts

City and State: Ridgewell, Westmond
Last season: 12th, 49 points
Stadium: Kensington Stadium, 48,000
Nickname: the Blues; the Rovers; the Club o’the North
Manager: Chris Haines, 47, Tumbra
Style of Play:
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: CM Malachite Riester
Captain: GK Nigel Philips

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Nigel Philips       34  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Carl Norton         25  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Romain Coutard      23  M   Farfadilis
15  CB  John Rouse          25  M   Tumbra
20  RB  Clay van der Hout   29  M   The Licentian Isles
10  CM  Malachite Riester   29  F   Nephara
22  CM  Julian Stance       30  M   Nephara
8   CAM Ottavio Bonucci     25  M   Savigliane
7   LW  Alex Kristensen     30  M   Tumbra
9   RW  Christophe Ghislane 29  M   Savigliane
16  ST  Heidi Canavan       22  F   Tumbra

13  GK  Mark McDonald       23  M   Tumbra
24  GK  Daniel Meredith     19  M   Tumbra
19  LB  Hazel Kennedy       20  F   Tumbra
3   CB  Peter Bassett       28  M   Tumbra
18  CB  Donovan Cox         19  M   Tumbra
25  CB  Edmün Îmiév         20  M   Tumbra*
4   RB  Parminder Kaur      19  F   Tumbra
21  CM  Angela Makeba       18  F   Tumbra**
6   CM  Ian Harris          21  M   Kelssek
12  CAM Andrew Walsh        29  M   Tumbra
17  LW  Amanda Browne       21  F   Tumbra
11  RW  Christopher Steele  24  M   Tumbra
23  ST  Duncan Hall         21  M   Tumbra
14  ST  Christian Borzoi    29  M   Nephara

*Second Farf nationality
**Second Osarian nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Carl Norton from Hesham, 2.5m
Amanda Browne from Port Marray, 1.2m
Duncan Hall from Bencoolen City, 1.0m
Outgoing:
Chris Finney to Serrapince, 5.8m
Gianluca Cardini to Fraser Valley, 2.4m
Aaron Mortensen to AFC Cayalon. 2.0m
Sean Delap to Ashton Rovers, 1.0m

At this point, the thing Ridgewell needs most is stability. Will Chris Haines offer that?

Last season: No rest for the weary. Ridgewell won five of their opening twenty-two games last season, something which marked the sacking of Mark Pryor and the temporary return of Des Clarke, who refused to stay longer than his designated contract. With the brass unwilling to stake a chance on the 66 year-old Brian Devzies, in comes the ever-excitable and still somewhat highly-rated Chris Haines, eager to take on this chance to lead Ridgewell to the top half. Twelfth may not have been an extraordinarily bad season for Ridgewell, but the owners feel like Ridgewell should be challenging for top half. Maybe they should stop reading articles that constantly call the Ridgewell squad underrated…

New Arrivals: The big loss in the offseason was Chris Finney, who declared his intention to leave after Chris Haines took charge. Not exactly a vote of confidence in the new boss, but there were rumours Finney had been looking for an out anyways; so off to Serrapince he went. Carl Norton came in as his replacement; though not as flashy as Finney, Norton is a workmanlike player who does put in a lot of hard work — which fits into how Haines is likely to set up the squad to play. The other new signings, though, are slightly less reassuring; Amanda Browne and Duncan Hall are both good signings from relegated clubs, but the fact remains that they both came from relegated clubs. Those aren’t exactly moves that tend to give people confidence; but Haines, as always, seems to have confidence in his squad. He has to. This is make or break for his career.

Key Players: Good question. Romain Coutard has slowly become one of the better Farf defenders around — as good as a Farf defender can be, of course — while Clay van der Hout is a tough, uncompromising yet still gentlemanly defender whose full grown beard over the past season has made him look much older than he really is. At the base of midfield, Malachite Riester continues to try and rally the squad; though one has to wonder if her boundless energy is about to run out. And finally, Heidi Canavan, supposedly Ridgewell’s Next Big Thing, seems eager to embrace her role as starting striker. Whether she’s in it for the long run or whether she’ll be looking to jump ship at the first opportunity remains to be seen…

Prediction: This is a squad that seems almost destined for midfield, no matter how many people claim that this squad is “underrated” or it will “make a run” sooner rather than later. A few seasons ago, Nantwich manager Conan Estelline complained that foreign players disliked moving anywhere west of Marcato; for Westmond, which is both west of Marcato and very cold half the year, the problem is even worse. They won’t be in much danger of being relegated bar the worst of circumstances, but to expect them to make any serious progress off the back of signing players from the second tier isn’t going to do much, either.

Fraser Valley FC

Quick Facts

City and State: (the outskirts of) Serrapince, Bechor
Last season: 13th, 44 points
Stadium: Valley Park, 45,000
Nickname: the Stallions; the Denizens
Manager: Michael Hardwick, 57, Tumbra
Style of Play: Defensive first; attacking last
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Tricia Barker
Captain: LB Xu Xuanliang

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Azeld-Kresp Tla     25  X   Qusmo
17  LB  Xu Xuanliang        30  M   Yuezhou
22  CB  Matrona Croxteth    29  F   Nephara
14  CB  Philip Gonzalez     28  M   Tumbra
2   RB  Don Blather         26  M   Tumbra
15  LM  Leigh Eyre          21  F   Mertagne
8   CM  Cole Pearlman       24  M   Tikariot
21  CM  Pilta-Blonz Yol     25  X   Qusmo
20  RW  Anne Beckett        23  F   Tumbra
23  ST  Tricia Barker       22  F   Tumbra
16  ST  Xilix-Oxolt Mal     24  X   Qusmo

12  GK  Cayden Gillespie    18  M   Tumbra*
25  GK  Michael Kennan      20  M   Tumbra
3   LB  Clarence Tate       18  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Carlos Wolfe        32  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Frances Sinclair    22  F   Tumbra
18  RB  Mark Ryton          31  M   Tumbra
13  CM  John Bush           32  M   Tumbra
24  CM  Jonathan Hwang      19  M   Tumbra**
6   CM  Lucas Courtney      31  M   Tumbra
19  CAM John Batten         24  M   Tumbra
9   LM  Matilda Kerry       29  F   Brenecia
7   RM  Nicholas Kinsella   31  M   Tumbra
10  ST  David Greer         25  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Gianluca Cardini    29  M   Tumbra

*Second Licentian nationality
**Second Quebecois nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Cole Pearlman from Vilharady Owls, 3.0m
Gianluca Cardini from Ridgewell Rovers, 2.4m
Don Blather from FC Inter Nantwich, 2.3m
Leigh Eyre from Inner Circle Ist, 2.0m
Outgoing:
Julie Phehlukwayo to Delphi Lionesses, 3.5m
Max Mycroft to Lakewood United, 2.2m
Gareth Roberts to Sturrey Athletic, 1.0m
Alasdair Dunlap to Komras Livropol, 0.0m
John Cameron, retired
Stuart Langford, retired

With more investment and things relatively calm at the helm, Fraser can finally set their eyes upward.

Last season: For a side that had been dreading more dreary, defensive football under the master of the dark arts also known as Michael Hardwick, last season was a pleasant surprise. Thirteenth may have only brought forty-four points with it, but the fact that Fraser weren’t scrabbling away from relegation again this season was a nice change and a pleasant surprise. Some dared to dream that one day they’d be back to the heady days of the Hemmings and Shawcross eras, where they would regularly tangle with the Big Six. But mostly Serrapince. Every match against the Bees in those days seemed to end up with some kind of brawl. Those halcyon days…

New Arrivals: The pleasant influx of investment continues this season, with four big signings; Cole Pearlman from the Vilharady Owls looks set to revitalise the side’s midfield, while Gianluca Cardini may be playing second fiddle to local girl made good Tricia Barker, but he’s still a quality striker nonetheless. Don Blather from Nantwich is a surprisingly offensive signing from Hardwick, while Leigh Eyre arrived relatively late in the window; but filled the gap created by Max Mycroft’s own late transfer in the window.

Key Players: As hinted at above, Tricia Barker has become the latest vehicle of hope for many a Fraser fan; while Anne Beckett on the right has become her key supporting partner. One of the squads that signed Qusmi when the league first opened its door to foreign players, Pilta-Blonz Yol, Xilix-Oxolt Mal and Azeld-Kresp Tla all have grown to form a key part of the Fraser Valley squad, with Pilta-Blonz in particular having endeared himself to the fanbase forever for wishing he’d been born in Fraser Valley, so he could “repay the country and the city that has shown me love and gratitude.” It’s a pity Tumbra still seems so strict on allowing Qusmi to take up full citizenship, presumably to try and dissuade escapees from fleeing to the country; for Pilta-Blonz’s passion for the game in particular could serve Tumbra very well in an era where the national team seems to be scrabbling just about everywhere for reserves.

Prediction: Well, Fraser have always been known to be a surprise package; and with the generous (for their level, at least; they’re no Lakewood City) investment to try and move Fraser back up the table again, there’s a good chance they can break top half. Watch out for Beckett and Barker, particularly; if they’re allowed to link up unblocked, who knows what could happen…

Macarthur City

Quick Facts

City and State: Macarthur, Georgia
Last season: 14th, 44 points
Stadium: FisherArena, 40,000
Nickname: the Blackbirds; the Greybeards
Manager: Vince McCarthy, 48, Tumbra
Style of Play: Heavy, aggressive pressing with one-touch dynamics
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: CM Alan Morgan
Captain: RB Kilarul Dhaundhen

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  James Kent          26  M   Tumbra
16  LB  Savatije Kralj      26  M   Farfadilis
4   CB  Brian Marsden       26  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Carole Bond         22  F   Tumbra
3   RB  Kilarul Dhaundhen   31  M   Ko-oren
6   CM  Ivan Bader          28  M   Nephara
8   CM  Alan Morgan         30  M   Tumbra
23  CM  Ryan Morgan         30  M   Tumbra
7   LW  Ian McDermott       24  M   Tumbra
9   RW  Tom Kinzinger       24  M   Tumbra
17  ST  Vivienne Anderson   22  F   Tumbra

13  GK  Oliver Scott        18  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Julie Pereira       19  F   Tumbra
2   LB  Sean McDonald       31  M   Tumbra
19  CB  Duncan Freeman      20  M   Tumbra
14  CB  Henry Butler        33  M   Tumbra
24  CB  Harish Shah         20  M   Tumbra
15  RB  Tom Jones           27  M   Tumbra
12  CDM Tony Fernandes      28  M   Tumbra
18  CM  Sandy Rowling       31  M   Brenecia
22  CM  Julia Garland       25  F   Nephara
20  LW  Gordon Jennings     32  M   Tumbra
21  RW  Scott Wilson        19  M   Tumbra
10  ST  Jason Pearce        25  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Linnie Huxley       32  F   Bollonich

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Ian McDermott from Lakewood United, 4.0m
Tom Kinzinger from Kingsbury United, 3.7m
Outgoing:
Stephen Read to AFC Gillman, 1.6m
Shaun Healey to Guillemard Town, 1.5m
Andrew Wordsworth, retired

Macarthur’s steady rise has fallen away, prompting a change in course.

Last season: Macarthur’s sudden fall at the end of last season — to use the term fall in itself sounds a little dramatic, but going from steady climb up the ranks back down to 14th feels like a bit of a wasted effort. Macarthur went nowhere; the club ended with their worst-ever points total since their first season, and confidence slowly began to shatter. So the off-season saw some adjustment. Linnie Huxley began to be slowly phased out of the team; cult hero that she was, she’d been distinctly off-colour last season, and there was a certain Vivianne Anderson waiting in the wings. Gordon Jennings was placed on the bench, too, while Stephen Read was not-very-gently shown the door…

New Arrivals:...to make space for Ian McDermott from Lakewood and Tom Kinzinger from Kingsbury. The signings of these two marks a dramatic break from the previous strategy of “sign players cast out from the Big Six,” which is why Macarthur’s squad is a cast full of names like Alan and Ryan Morgan (no relation), the aforementioned Jennings, and Savatije Kralj. Had the strategy persisted perhaps half of Lakewood would’ve been on their way to northwestern Georgia; but Vince McCarthy decided to desist, and maybe not lumber his squad with highly-paid stars. Stars, sure, but definitely ones paid more than average and definitely getting older every year.

Key Players: Alan Morgan and Ryan Morgan, former stars of Lakewood City and Straton respectively, both turn thirty this year; but they’re both sweet-passing, technically-gifted midfielders with a penchant for skill, recycling possession and starting attacks from deep. Vivianne Anderson will be looking to grab the chance she’s been given with her own two hands, while Carole Bond looks to be shaping up quickly as one of Tumbra’s best defensive talents in recent years. Only twenty-two but playing like someone a decade older, she brings poise, intelligence and vision to the game like a veteran. It’s only a matter of time before she gets plucked off by a Big Six club or someone else entirely…

Prediction: Macarthur have, to their credit, seen something go wrong and made the requisite steps to correct it. They’ve spent smartly, moved the underperforming players on or down on the depth chart and are poised to make a smart comeback. All that matters now is how McCarthy — still one of the highest-rated managers in the game and hinted at as a future Lakewood City manager — can bring this squad all together.

by **Tumbra** » Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:58 am

Sturrey Athletic

Quick Facts

City and State: Sturrey, Thornton
Last season: 15th, 36 points
Stadium: Coldfield Lane, 35,000
Nickname: the Maroons; the Lactics
Manager: Colin Barrendale, 52, Tumbra
Style of Play: Defence, route one football, whatever you call it.
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: CB Ian Coleman
Captain: CB Pat Philips

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Joseph Cranston     24  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Marcus Ganley       26  M   Tumbra
3   CB  Pat Philips         31  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Ian Coleman         28  M   Tumbra
5   RB  Roger Turnbull      28  M   Tikariot
14  CDM Yuri Ghislane       31  M   Nephara
8   LW  Marc Evans-Jones    28  M   Tumbra
19  CM  Ákos Trouvé         22  M   Farfadilis
16  CM  Fried Rossum        27  M   The Cordian Isles
9   RW  Thore Grönholm      27  M   Norrhem
7   ST  Joe Mercer          28  M   Tumbra

23  GK  Colin Kirby         20  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Kathleen Phelps     19  F   Tumbra
12  LB  Frankie Valentino   28  M   Tumbra
21  CB  John Turnbull       25  M   Tumbra
15  CB  Chris Vowles        23  M   Tumbra
18  CB  Kevin Renshaw       27  M   Tumbra
13  RB  Ivar Halgorsen      23  M   Gatchingerrak Union
6   CAM Valerie Campbell    28  F   Nephara
20  CM  Alison Foster       20  F   Tumbra
10  CM  Asa Anderson        26  M   Tumbra
22  LW  Clarissa Nunnaro    18  F   Tumbra*
17  RW  Robert Vatnarsson   18  M   Graentfjall
11  ST  Gareth Roberts      30  M   Tumbra
24  ST  Debbie Burrows      19  F   Tumbra

*Second Osarian nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Gareth Roberts from Fraser Valley, 1.0m
Robert Vatnarsson from Frederiksfahrn, 0.0m
Outgoing:
Adam Langley to Gelder Creek, 1.2m
Tom Maguire to Gelder Creek, 1.0m
Dave Mason to Dorival, 1.0m

Can Sturrey’s ambitions really be summed up as “remain in the Premier Division”?

Last season: Was it disappointing? Not really. Was it exciting? Not particularly, either. The problem with having twenty teams in a league is that sometimes, a few clubs slip under the radar; they do not much of note. Sturrey probably fit the bill most out of all the clubs last season; they won ten games, weren’t ever in much danger of relegation and apart from a few weeks where it seemed that Colin Barrendale was on the verge of being sacked, were relatively stable. Fifteenth probably fit that bill.

New Arrivals: The off-season saw several elder members of the team pack up and move to the lower divisions; in their place, Gareth Roberts arrived from Fraser Valley, the striker’s reputation having sunk lower and lower ever since that ill-advised swap from Kingsbury. He knows he’ll mostly be playing second fiddle to Joe Mercer — a striker if there ever was one — but he’ll finally be out of the spotlight. The other addition to the squad ended up being Robert Vatnarsson from Graentfjall, who, by sheer coincidence, becomes the first-ever Graentfjaller to play in the country after Lakewood City failed to pull off a transfer for Vanessa Marvinsdottir. Robert will be looking to carve out a career in the post-industrial southwestern city of Sturrey for himself; all while battling a disciplinary record that Grimson Hoskins would blush at. He’s still young though, at least there’s time for that disciplinary record to improve. Or not. After all, Sturrey’s always been a side for battlers.

Key Players: Joe Mercer’s respect within the community has increased substantially for continually producing despite playing at a defence-focused side like Sturrey. A lot of that is because of hs wingers, Marc Evans-Jones and Thore Gronholm, who are arguably some of the Prem’s most underrated sides. At the back, Pat Philips and Ian Coleman are both tough, workmanlike defenders with zero technical ability; but it works for them. Sturrey are a small club by most standards, but their close-knit squad and deep bonds with their wider community — offering a small glimmer of hope to the economically-depressed city, and lording it over close neighbours Bencoolen — does give it a sense of soul that the bigger clubs do tend to feel like they’re lacking sometimes.

Prediction: It’s Sturrey. They won’t do badly enough to get relegated; but they’ll likely potter on until the winds turn against them. Their fanbase isn’t really expectant of much beyond that; and Barrendale has turned out to be a perfectly serviceable manager for this purpose. They’ll be fine.

Delphi Lionesses

Quick Facts

City and State: Serrapince, Bechor
Last season: 16th, 29 points
Stadium: Bexley Park, 46,000
Nickname: the Lionesses; the Pinks; the Guerilla
Manager: Aiofe Ruth, 41, Chromatika
Style of Play: Defensive, quick counter-attacking football
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: CDM Kateryna Zuniga
Captain: CDM Kimberly Doyle

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Simone Parker       27  F   Tumbra
2   LB  Maryam Rowbury      28  F   Nephara
4   CB  Sile Macewan        29  F   The Licentian Isles
5   CB  Sandra Illaoi       28  F   Chromatika
13  RB  Julie Phehlukwayo   26  F   Quebec
16  LM  Jacklyn Chung       26  F   Chromatika
8   CM  Kateryna Zuniga     32  F   Chromatika
6   CDM Kimberly Doyle      32  F   Chromatika
9   RM  Karina Holt         28  F   Savojarna
10  ST  Ashleigh Sweeney    30  F   Tikariot
19  ST  Natasha Caroline    22  F   Tumbra

12  GK  Laura Fisher        21  F   Tumbra
25  GK  Selena Collins      19  F   Tumbra
23  LB  Mariana Budi-Dursun 20  F   Quebec
18  CB  Lai Sinyue          23  F   Chromatika
14  CB  Judith Houghton     24  F   Tumbra
20  CB  Mary McGrath        21  F   Gatchingerrak Union
3   RB  Jilian Griffiths    20  F   Tumbra
21  CDM Amanda Bader        32  F   Nephara
15  CAM Ashling Brooks      31  F   Brenecia
24  CM  Mathilde Barthet    23  F   Chromatika
7   LM  Kate Stepford       31  F   Brenecia
17  RM  Ashley Hall         25  F   Tumbra
11  ST  Faith Williams      23  F   Tumbra
22  ST  Jennifer Burham     22  F   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Julie Phehlukwayo from Fraser Valley, 3.5m
Faith Williams from Glenmont AFC, 1.0m 
Outgoing:
Juul de Bruin to Clyde Park, 4.3m
Victoria Thesselborg to Columbia City, 3.6m

After several tumultuous seasons, are things slowly coming together?

Last season: Delphi’s original project of being a woman-led club for women players has slowly started to fall apart. From the legal troubles, to the massive amount of foreign female players, to the disputes between brass and management, to the hiring of an inexperienced Chromatik who used to play for the club: it’s not exactly been smooth sailing for the Lionesses. By all accounts, Aiofe Ruth should’ve been sacked last season; but to do that would throw an already-unstable squad into even more instability. There are rumours that Julie Smith, the main originator behind the women-only idea, is facing a board revolt; and any takeover would probably see a return to focusing on more homegrown talent, and at least some men in the squad.

New Arrivals: With Victoria Thesselborg and Juul de Bruin — two of the most highly-rated talents in this squad — leaving, Julie Phehlukwayo arrives from Fraser Valley to try and shore up the defence. Meanwhile Faith Williams, one of the brighter spots in a torrid season by Glenmont, arrives for a second crack at Premiership football. She’s got a task ahead of her, however; Thesselborg’s snapping up by Columbia reflects just how highly-rated the Tikariotian striker is, and Williams has known to have gone through long periods of goalscoring droughts.

Key Players: The dual pivot of Kateryna Zuniga and Kimberly Doyle run the show here; Zuniga’s calming presence bringing some stability to this team, while Doyle’s experience in Delphi also lending itself to her leadership. Apart from that, Karina Holt, who once won the Young Player of the Year award amidst Delphi’s first season in the Prem, is still a formidable presence on the right for Delphi. Up front, too, Natasha Caroline will be relied on to start scoring goals for the side that desperately needs some; her technicality and pace will be useful in this aspect, but she does tend to go down like a feather whenever tackled.

Prediction: It’ll be another long, tough season ahead for Delphi fans. Instability up top, a depleted squad, not too many homegrown players to cheer on…the squad should have enough individual quality to stay in the Prem; but whether there’s a long-term solution coming for this is unknown.

Colbrook City

Quick Facts

City and State: Colbrook, Grantfeldt
Last season: 17th, 27 points
Stadium: Colbrook Stadium, 30,000
Nickname: the Northerners; the Canners
Manager: Matthew Reeves, 65, Tumbra
Style of Play: An emphasis on quick transition from defensive to attacking play; guided by an unorthodox formation which allows for numerical superiority in all aspects of the game
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: CAM Edith Ferguson
Captain: CB Rupert Kirkwood

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Bob Allison         29  M   Tumbra
13  CB  Claire Steadman     26  F   Tumbra
4   CB  Rupert Kirkwood     31  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Fiona Harcourt      24  F   Tumbra
3   LWB George Calvert      25  M   Tumbra
19  CDM Lucas McCormick     23  M   Tumbra
2   RWB Mira Foster         26  F   Tumbra
7   LW  Louis Newton        31  M   Tumbra
22  CAM Edith Ferguson      24  F   Tumbra
9   RW  Cynthia Grimley     24  F   Tumbra
20  ST  Andrew Gillingham   24  M   Tumbra

12  GK  Aidan James         24  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Gilian Bryce        21  F   Tumbra
14  LB  Laurel Hilling      26  F   Tumbra
6   CB  Sonja Connolly      18  F   Tumbra
15  CB  Sarah Robson        25  F   Tumbra
16  RB  Levi Beckton        25  M   Nephara
8   CDM Christian Gallagher 28  M   Tumbra
17  CM  Faye de Vries       18  F   Tumbra*
18  CM  John Hyland         20  M   Tumbra
21  LW  Edward King         28  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Olenna Bruune       25  F   Nephara
23  RW  Alexander Anderson  31  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Fedya Yeltsov       18  M   Tumbra**
24  ST  Alex Finlay         21  M   Tumbra

*Second Licentian nationality
**Second Mytanar nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Lucas McCormick from Clyde Park, 4.7m
Outgoing:
Roger Stevens to Cobham United, 2.5m
Richard Whittingdon to Gelder Creek, 1.8m
Alan Curran, retired
Emil Klempner, retired

Time and again, Colbrook keep playing with the gallows. Will they ever push on?

Last season: That Colbrook are in for a third season in the Premiership is surprising to about half the fans of the league. The squad was getting old; the players were reportedly getting burned out from Reeves’ intense training methods and sessions, and the club were always on the brink of some crisis or another, financial, injury-wise or not. But still; they managed to pull off a late rally to finish seventeenth. They only scored twenty-seven points, but still. They avoided the playoff game; they avoided being relegated. In that sense, they’re probably the Northwestern version of Sturrey.

New Arrivals: There was a semi-large squad clearout, with four elder members of the squad either retiring or leaving for the Second Division. Somehow, Colbrook managed to convince three players on the Under-18 World Cup side to sign for them; but the main transfer this season is defensive midfielder Lucas McCormick, who signed from Clyde Park. How Colbrook managed to convince one of the most highly-rated young defensive midfielders in Tumbra to sign for them is, and will probably remain a mystery; and it almost certainly cost McCormick a place in the Eagles’ Cup squad in favour of Vince Cahill of Serrapince. But he’s here now.

Key Players: Apart from the aforementioned McCormick, there are also names like Fiona Harcourt and Rupert Kirkwood in Reeves’ 3-3-1-3 formation that marshal the defence. Harcourt, in particular, somehow managed to get an invite to the Eagles’ Cup squad where McCormick was left out; which probably says a lot about her talent and potential. Up front, Louis Newton holds down the left; while home-grown talents Edith Ferguson and Cynthia Grimley run the show up top. Grimley, in particular, is seen as Colbrook’s saving grace; to the extent that she is in the same squad as former Couno and national team winger Alexander Anderson, and is ahead of him in the depth chart.

Prediction: This is Colbrook’s third season in the Premiership. They’ll be alright; they’ve got a young squad who are acclimated to the league, and will be able to hold their own. Will they be able to cast their ambitions towards a position higher than seventeenth? That one’s a mystery, though this is probably another one of those underrated squads, however liberally that term is used. All they need to do is go on a run and avoid an injury crisis…

Guillemard Town

Quick Facts

City and State: Guillemard, Napier
Last season: 18th, 25 points
Stadium: Rochester Field, 34,500
Nickname: the Browns, the Engineers
Manager: Mark Kirkham, 39, Tumbra
Style of Play: Relentless defense
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: ST Halyos le Gall
Captain: CDM Anthony Woodhead

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Marc Greenwood      28  M   Tumbra
15  LB  Tony Baldwin        31  M   Tumbra
14  CB  Bryan Chappelle     24  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Emma Gary           28  F   Gortolekua
5   RB  Dennis Milburn      25  M   Tumbra
3   CDM Anthony Woodhead    30  M   Tumbra
8   CDM Fiona Morrison      24  F   Tumbra
9   LW  Mark Hailstorm      29  M   Tumbra
16  CAM Traci Lachmann      25  F   Nephara
11  RW  Carol Haywood       23  F   Tumbra
10  ST  Halyos le Gall      29  M   Apox

12  GK  Sonja Barrett       24  F   Tumbra
13  GK  Christopher Kilian  19  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Richard Laycock     29  M   Tumbra
18  CB  Andrew Parker       21  M   Tumbra
17  CB  Jayne Thompson      23  F   Tumbra
19  RB  Gordon Hughes       26  M   Tumbra
6   CM  Stanley Branthwaite 20  M   Tumbra
20  CAM Charles Lyon        22  M   Tumbra
24  CM  Jacob Black         28  M   Tumbra
23  CDM Sean Harris         32  M   Tumbra
25  LW  Erica Illsley       23  F   Tumbra
22  RW  Shaun Healey        29  M   Tumbra
7   ST  Derek Scott         20  M   Tumbra
21  ST  Kenneth Lamb        27  M   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Tony Baldwin from FC Inter Nantwich, 1.7m
Shaun Healey from Macarthur City, 1.5m
Outgoing:
Lewis Robinson to Glenmont AFC, 1.1m
Tom McGuinness, retired

Guillemard survived their own baptism of fire in the Premier Division. Will they be able to repeat their magic?

Last season: How about that? Eighteenth in previous seasons would have been a death knell, but the team beat Bencoolen in a play-off to stay in the Prem. This was largely due to the heroic efforts of Halyos le Gall, the Apoxian striker who adapted surprisingly well to Tumbran football; the man scored fourteen goals to save the Engineers from relegation. They’ll be up against the wall again; but judging from their first season in the Prem, they’re more than up for it.

New Arrivals: Two new arrivals from Nantwich and Macarthur form the backbone of Guillemard’s spending this season. Tony Baldwin, an experienced leftback from Nantwich, makes the jump; Engineers manager Mark Kirkham will be hoping that Baldwin will be able to impart some of his experience on the squad. Shaun Healey could be argued to be a bit of a luxury signing, especially with the right being Guillemard’s strongest position; but as Guillemard gears up for a second relegation fight, every bit of Prem-level quality is needed.

Key Players: Anthony Woodhead and Fiona Morrison are two frankly great midfielders covering up for a very one-legged defence. Mark Hailstorm has the pace and ferocity on the left befitting his name, while the main man in this squad is of course Halyos le Gall, the man from Apox who scored fourteen in the Prem. With how Apox has essentially retired from international competition, players from nations like this — and Schottia, and Tequilo, to give two other examples — are exceptionally highly-valued for their skill and playing ability.

Prediction: They’ll be up against it this time, and there’s a realistic chance they slip up, finish nineteenth and are relegated to the second tier after two seasons. But if Guillemard’s first season showed us anything about the side’s efforts, they’ll be giving it all they’ve got — and, as last season showed, they shouldn’t be counted out of anything. Even if they did have to take the long road to staying in the Prem.

Clark City

Quick Facts

City and State: Clark, Finnley
Last season: 1st, Second Division, 90 points
Stadium: Clark City Arena, 63,000
Nickname: the Red-and-Black; the Red Devils
Manager: Robert Brent, 50
Style of Play: Low block leading into a fast counterattack
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: LW Mason Clark
Captain: CB Patrick Sanders

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  James Clinton       29  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Marcus Bradley      28  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Charles Walsh       24  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Patrick Sanders     32  M   Tumbra
19  RB  Sophie Randall      31  F   Sylestone
6   CDM David Millar        26  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Findlay Tran        28  M   Tikariot
15  CM  Brian Murphy        26  M   Tumbra
7   LW  Mason Clark         29  M   Sanford
9   RW  Cheryl Nightingale  22  F   Tumbra
22  ST  Mick Coltrane       25  M   Tumbra

12  GK  Dirk McDonald       23  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Joanne Hawkins      18  F   Tumbra
14  LB  Jeanine Vincent     22  F   Tumbra
16  CB  Peramjot Singh      18  M   Tumbra
17  CB  Daniel Grant        31  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Carlene Barnard     24  F   Tumbra
8   CM  Casper Hovhannisyan 18  M   Tumbra
24  CM  Miles Horgan        25  M   Tumbra
13  CDM Oliver Gibbs        30  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Colin Campbell      18  M   Tumbra
18  LW  David Clarkson      30  M   Tumbra
20  RW  Harry Hoskins       33  M   Tumbra
11  ST  James Turner        25  M   Tumbra
21  ST  Sarah Walker        21  F   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Findlay Tran from Veriasod Wolves, 1.5m
Outgoing:

After four long years, Clark have made it out of the minefields of the Second Division. Will they be able to make it stick this time?

Last season: After four long years of just missing out on promotion, Clark City finally made the title run they always knew they were capable of. They were never really in much danger of losing out; with all their potential promotion rivals being weakened in various capacities throughout the season, it was only a matter of time. And trying to deliver. And that, they did. For the first time since Ensio Kedar’s relegation in Season 3, Clark are finally back in the Prem. And they’re looking to stay here, this time.

New Arrivals: The main arrival this season is Findlay Tran from Veriasod, who’ll try to give some technicality and defensive play to the midfield. The squad, however, has signed an eye-watering four names from the Under-18 World Cup squad that went to Gortolekua and finished third; Joanne Hawkins, Peramjot Singh, Casper Hovhannisyan, and Colin Campbell. Whether or not Robert Brent’s strategy will work out remains to be seen; though the four do look like they could be the beginnings of a golden generation. If they can stay in the Prem.

Key Players: The big names are Mason Clark from Sanford and Cheryl Nightingale; both will be looking to assist Mick Coltrane up top to try and score as many goals as possible. Looking back, though, Patrick Sanders, Sophie Randall and Marcus Bradley eagerly anticipate their returns to the Prem; Bradley, in particular, suffered from not being able to find anyone in the Prem willing to sign him, putting an unfortunate end to his national team career. The offensive-minded left-back will be looking to strike back and prove to the world that he was always destined for the top, even at 28.

Prediction: Of the two teams that were promoted last season, Clark’s odds to stay in the Prem are much higher than Kirkby’s; in fact, SixHundredFifty’s sports section has them at a 20% chance of finishing at least eighteenth or above. Will they be able to surprise all observers and make a run for survival? Or will their second run in the post-IFCF Premier Division fizzle out faster than their first one ever did?

Kirkby Railwaymen

Quick Facts

City and State: Kirkby, Alexandria
Last season: 2nd, Second Division, 86 points
Stadium: Railyards, 29,500
Nickname: the Railwaymen
Manager: Anthony Davies, 48, Tumbra
Style of Play: Hard-tackling defence aimed at breaking down attacks.
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: ST Harry Frist
Captain: GK Julian Moore

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Julian Moore        31  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Graham Bishop       27  M   Tumbra
6   CB  Rilan-Paliv Abe     23  X   Qusmo
4   CB  Philip Chamberlain  23  M   Tumbra
5   RB  Janet Ritchie       25  F   Tumbra
3   CM  Natasha Glynn       22  F   Tumbra
8   CM  Christian Ermine    26  M   Nephara
17  LW  Jon Eagleton        31  M   Tumbra
22  CAM Bill Bowen          30  M   Tumbra
19  RW  Sarah Howell        25  F   Tumbra
14  ST  Harry Frist         28  M   Tumbra

13  GK  Thomas Tarleton     21  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Kathleen Grant      24  F   Tumbra
18  LB  David Ellison       24  M   Tumbra
19  CB  Penelope Gorostieta 18  F   Tumbra*
20  CB  Kip Gifford         30  M   Tumbra
12  RB  Joan Jenkins        25  F   Tumbra
15  CM  Aaron Bradley       32  M   Tumbra
17  CM  Stephen Bagnall     28  M   Tumbra
14  CDM Shane Parker        33  M   Tumbra
7   CAM Brian Anderson      32  M   Tumbra
10  LW  L Frecklington      17  F   Tumbra
11  RW  Caleb Hoffman       17  M   Tumbra
9   ST  Mats Andersson      19  M   Tumbra**
16  ST  WillIam Collins     27  M   Tumbra

*Second Mertagnian nationality
**Second Graentfjaller nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Bill Bowen from Couno Rangers, 2.5m
Harry Frist from Hesham, 2.0m
Rilan-Paliv Abe from Sanar University, 0.0m
Christian Ermine from Belgrave, 0.0m
Outgoing:

The IFCF era’s thirty-first — and smallest — team faces a strident challenge to survive in the Prem. But seven years ago, they were on the cusp of bankruptcy.

Last season: Kirkby’s run to second was arguably long overdue for the Second Division side; and while in the end they lost out on the title to Clark by four points, second still guaranteed a promotion berth. And what a run it was — twenty-seven wins and only six losses from thirty-eight. Now, though, they face a hard time surviving in the Prem, as possibly the smallest club financially to ever make it up here. It’s still a remarkable story from where they were seven years ago, however; when they were on the cusp of bankruptcy, and were saved by a group of fans one hour before it was due to be wound up by the Internal Revenue Service. Those fans have since made Kirkby one of the slimmest, yet most well-run outfits in the league; trimming the fat from the squad while maintaining a level of performance some have referred to as nothing short of amazing. Now they’ve reached the biggest stage in Tumbra — will they survive?

New Arrivals: Kirkby, however, seem to have committed the cardinal sin of clubs newly-promoted to the league always seem to make: they have not spent too much money on signings. Unloved at Couno, Bill Bowen arrives, desperate to play regular minutes, even in a relegation scrap. Harry Frist arrives from Hesham, aware of the mammoth task ahead of him; for them to survive he has to perform on the level of Halyos le Gall for Guillemard last season, and then maybe more. Rilan-Paliv Abe, a Qusmi with a massive hulk, arrives from Sanar University eager to provide more physicality to the back line; while no relegation-threatened squad is complete without a Nephar, and Christian Ermine arrives from Belgrave to fulfil this role. Calm and technical, Ermine will be relied on the move the ball into channels reliably; which will be key to Anthony Davies’ tactical approach to the game.

Key Players: The club are under no illusions that the above four names will probably be the key players of the squad for the season. Apart from that, Jon Eagleton will be relied on for his experience on the wing; Philip Chamberlain is short for a defender, but nimble and technical on the ball; while the club thinks signing three members of the U-18 squad that went to Gortolekua will help their relegation chances. It’s a bold move; but bold circumstances demand them.

Prediction: Kirkby have already become most neutrals’ second team — most, after having watched Premiership Lives, have flocked to Colbrook. They’re plucky, they’ve got a backstory most movie producers would pay lots of money for, and they accept their underdog status. When asked about his pre-season hopes, captain Julian Moore — known for his atheism — mentioned that it would probably take an intervention from God to save them. The next question revolved around the hypothetical situation that God didn’t want to save Kirkby, at which point Moore, without missing a beat, replied that he would “face God and walk backwards into hell.”

Those, if anyone has ever heard them, are fighting words.

by **Tumbra** » Mon Sep 26, 2022 7:39 am

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8

So here we are again; at the start of another gruelling season. Thirty-eight games, one winner. At the top end, Couno, Nantwich and City all look like they're about to challenge for the title; Serrapince and United look like they're going to put up at least a good fight, while who knows what'll happen in the midtable and below. But before the twenty clubs go at each other, there's always the traditional season-opener: the Supercup.

78th RUNNING OF THE TUMBRAN SUPERCUP

Yeah, well, it's basically a glorified friendly that everyone — pundits, fans, almost everyone — reads too much into. Perhaps it's the lack of club football over the past three or so months that's made it this way; after all, club football does tend to scratch an itch that watching your national team sometimes just can't reach. Couno won the double last season; so they'll be representing the Cup, and Nantwich will represent the league this year. A rematch of last season's title-defining fight.

The atmosphere between Schroeder and Giuliani is markedly tense — after all, who can blame them? — even as the stadium announcer tries their best to lighten the mood and say the proceeds of the match will all go to charity. This season, the match is being hosted at Couno's home stadium on the waterfront; the 54,500 strong capacity crowd is as loud as ever as Couno look to complete the domestic treble.

Couno Rangers 2–1 FC Inter Nantwich
Hertel 82', Nolan 87'//Coxeter 23'

Basilica Coxeter silences the stadium, scoring first after an unforced error from left-back Bryan Parker. Couno are very evidently thrown off by the goal; they nearly concede another before the break, but Couno rallied after and came back to score two goals in relatively quick succession. Nolan's goal, late on in the second half, nearly deafened the stadium; he sprinted along the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Nantwich travelling contingent.

So that was how the Supercup ended; with Couno winning their third trophy and completing a treble. Would they be able to win a second league title and Cup in a row?

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART ONE: MATCHDAYS 1-5

Yes, well, the Supercup is fun and all, but to those that dislike that kind of football (and many exist) it's time for the main event. Thirty-eight matches of pain. Or joy. Or somewhere in between. Well, there'll be tears all right.

MATCHDAY 1
Macarthur City 0–3 Serrapince
Sallay 14', 38', Perry 80'
Straton 2–0 Guillemard Town
Tino 33', Liang T 80'
Sturrey Athletic 1–0 Delphi Lionesses
Evans-Jones 60'
Lakewood City 3–2 Fraser Valley
Vaughn 24', Henshaw 33', 68'//Barker 49', Beckett 82'
Hesham 4–2 Clark City
Min 38', Deighton 47', Mu 69', Glover 84'//Coltrane 9', Sanders 19'
Columbia City 4–2 FC Inter Nantwich
Thesselborg 16', 84' Crnogorčević 38', Liang W 80'//Fisher 71', Coxeter 77'
Colbrook City 1–3 West Couno United
Grimley 33'//Reisinger 39', 48', Wright 63'
Couno Rangers 3–1 Kirkby Railwaymen
Nolan 12', Vaillancourt 77', Conder 83'//Frist 30'
Ridgewell Rovers 0–1 Lakewood United
Fontana 8'
Kingsbury United 4–0 Clyde Park
J Anderson 11', 24', Schwartz 65', Cheschon 87'

Amongst the bigger stories of the day include Nantwich falling to a revitalised Columbia away from home, while Kingsbury United's 4-0 thrashing of Clyde Park also raises eyebrows. James Anderson's eleventh minute goal sets the ball rolling; he scores again, past a hapless Clyde defence thirteen minutes later. By this time, Clyde are running with no purpose; they're sluggish off the ball and struggle to string three passes together. It's little surprise that Haydn Schwartz scores the third goal past the hour mark; while substitute Bede Cheschon manages to score on his debut, compounding Clyde's misery. Overall, it's humiliation for Clyde, as the side collectively registers three shots and none on target in ninety minutes; even Gedeo Escat can't seem to place his shots on target today. But is it a bad day or a symptom of something much worse? After all, Clyde did manage to reach the finale of the Republic Cup last season.

Nantwich's fall to Columbia is also deeply surprising; though when you look at the fact that Wakajama and Thomas are both out of contention for this match — "minor niggles", as Schroeder calls it — maybe it's not so surprising. Devon Daniels and Joaquin Santo aren't bad defenders by any stretch of the imagination, mind; Daniels is a superb Dagan defender while Santo always brings a little flair to the Nantwich defence, but they both can't really defend together. Columbia's new-look offence — Victoria Thesselborg, lifted from Delphi over the summer combined with Liang Wei from a relegated Stahlburg — run rings around Nantwich, taking advantage of fatigue to score two goals in the last ten minutes of the game to doom them.

Elsewhere, United come away with the three points against Ridgewell but really should've scored more; West Couno's Vasya Reisinger proves she hasn't lost a bit of her scoring instincts, bagging a brace against Colbrook; and City survive a late scare against Fraser Valley to hold on to a lead and the three points.

MATCHDAY 2
Serrapince 2–1 Clyde Park
Lawrence 36', Sallay 70'//Calare 50'
Lakewood United 0–2 Kingsbury United
Perkkanen 38', J Anderson 55'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–0 Ridgewell Rovers

West Couno United 2–2 Couno Rangers
Reisinger 36', McIntyre 49'//Nolan 12', Krzanowski 30'
FC Inter Nantwich 1–0 Colbrook City
Dufour 50'
Clark City 1–3 Columbia City
Clark 48'//Coonan 36', Thesselborg 50', Powell 85'
Fraser Valley 0–0 Hesham

Delphi Lionesses 0–2 Lakewood City
Bernard 12', McTavish 45' + 2'
Guillemard Town 0–1 Sturrey Athletic
Mercer 84'
Macarthur City 1–1 Straton
V Anderson 38'//Sartain 72'

The Couno Derby — which has become ever more hotly contested after West Couno revealed that they were actually good now — doesn't disappoint. Bruce Nolan opens the scoring at Wrenchwelt, twelve minutes in; a trademark powerful shot from the hulking striker gives Couno the lead. Eighteen minutes later, Tjorlish wunderkind Tobi Krzanowski gives Couno a 2-0 lead, his first goal for the club. It's a momentous occasion for the twenty-two year old midfielder, but in a moment that displays that he still has a lot to learn, he gives away the ball to Ben Morgan in the attack. Bad idea. Vasya Reisinger latches on to the lobbed through ball, as she always does, and while she may not be the fastest player on the pitch, something she can do is shoot. She locks on, shoots; and WCU are back in it. Scott McIntyre, the ever-present Licentian winger, scores early in the second half to tie things back; and WCU fall back for the remaining forty minutes. Couno try to hunt for an elusive third goal, but it never comes.

Elsewhere, Fraser versus Hesham sees an entertaining box-to-box game that's only ruined when a dubious VAR call rules a goal scored by Lucas Russell as offside. Post-match footage showed that Russell was actually onside, but the camera angle used by VAR proved to be inaccurate when making the judgement. Former player and TV pundit Todd Symes blasted the judgement, calling it a 'farce'; the TFF promised an immediate investigation into the incident. But what was done was done; the game ended scoreless, the two teams shared a point; and the glare on Russell's face after the full-time whistle said almost everything.

Elsewhere, there were draws for Macarthur and Straton; the latter side relying on Desmond Sartain, starting his first match for the Senators, to come in and score for them late on; and Kirkby and Ridgewell, which by all accounts was an absolute snorer. Perhaps the most surprising result of the day was Lakewood United falling to Kingsbury; Ted Bayh opened fire on some of his players for "not working hard enough and not getting their fitness issues in order," something that seemed clear to most observers was an open shot at United's new left winger, Max Mycroft. Mycroft himself was carted off just after the half-hour mark, with a problem in his calf; whilst Kendra Considine came on and rallied the team, there was no match for the offensive behemoth that was Kingsbury. News and rumours that a Tikariotian consortium was about to open talks with the existing owners of the club stirred much happiness within the fanbase, too; maybe they'd finally be able to get that uncertainty out of the way. That Kingsbury had scored six goals and conceded none so far was a point of particular pleasure, too.

MATCHDAY 3
Straton 2–2 Serrapince
Baker 66', Tino 84'//Knežević 30', Ness 50'
Sturrey Athletic 3–4 Macarthur City
Trouvé 10', Robert 38', Mercer 52'//Kinzinger 19', 28', V Anderson 45' + 2', A Morgan 77'
Lakewood City 4–1 Guillemard Town
Appleby 33', Wague 48', 70', Ashburn 88'//le Gall 90' + 1'
Hesham 1–0 Delphi Lionesses
Russell 19'
Columbia City 4–0 Fraser Valley
Bello 11', Burnet 37', McKinley 67', Thesselborg 81'
Colbrook City 1–2 Clark City
Gillingham 40'//Nightingale 16', Murphy 33'
Couno Rangers 2–2 FC Inter Nantwich
Nolan 18', Kearney 31'//Gell 44', Luo 80'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–3 West Couno United
Canavan 40'//Reisinger 30', Vette 49', Vujanovic 74'
Kingsbury United 1–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
J Hughes 86'
Clyde Park 2–0 Lakewood United
Escat 42', Bradford 81'

Lakewood United's loss streak continues, as they are outplayed and outgunned by the team currently twentieth in the league. Yes, Clyde Park, who have started this season abjectly out of form, managed to scrape together enough of a game to win against Lakewood United. The relief on Martens' face is palpable; the disbelief on Bayh's face as he throws down his clipboard after Joanna Bradford scores Clyde's second is also distinctly palpable. He takes full blame for the defeat; and publicly calls on his team to rally. United have scored one goal from open play so far this season; somehow the offense is distinctly uninspired and insipid so far. Something has to change, he says, in what could possibly be a grim reflection of his own future (or lack thereof) at the club; United's owners aren't exactly known to be the most patient bunch, and van der Brumen only really survived as long as he did because he was essentially a part of the club furniture. No such leeway for Bayh.

Kingsbury continue their winning run with another dominating win over Kirkby; they remain the only team to have not conceded a goal, but lost top spot to Columbia on goal difference. A 4-0 victory at home against Fraser displays just how good the revitalised squad is; Thesselborg's late penalty drives home the utter humiliation of Fraser Valley. It would have been five, but an almost superhuman save by Azeld-Kresp Tla denies her a brace.

Elsewhere, Clark City score their first win in the Premier Division in four years; that it comes at Colbrook's expense makes it all the more crucial for the relegation fight they'll both be finding themselves in. The Canners remain as one of three teams on zero points; it may be three games in, but that they're in the company of Guillemard and Delphi doesn't bode much well for their chances of remaining in the Prem.

Speaking of Delphi, Hesham's win against them takes much less priority than the move by disgruntled board members to quietly remove Julie Smith from her post as chairwoman. Zuniga's post-match interview insists that keeping the squad together for a long, difficult season is her priority; but it's hard not to think about how secure everyone's position at the club is if they do go down. Or if the new board decides to end the project that started amazingly, but has since had largely diminishing results.

MATCHDAY 4
Serrapince 3–1 Lakewood United
Sallay 14', Anggara 39', Hilton 55'//Considine 80'
Kirkby Railwaymen 1–1 Clyde Park
Bowen 88'//Kearnes 4'
West Couno United 3–0 Kingsbury United
Reisinger 13', Steel 48', Sitko 59'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–0 Ridgewell Rovers
Coxeter 77', 83'
Clark City 0–1 Couno Rangers
Vaillancourt 45' + 3'
Fraser Valley 3–0 Colbrook City
Pearlman 40', Eyre 58', Xilix-Oxolt 77'
Delphi Lionesses 1–0 Columbia City
Sweeney 48'
Guillemard Town 0–0 Hesham

Macarthur City 2–2 Lakewood City
Huxley 38', McDermott 77'//Vaughn 48', Bernard 60'
Straton 2–1 Sturrey Athletic
Rivard 62', A Paterson 88'//Turnbull 21'

United sink to sixteenth in the league, a 3-1 defeat to Serrapince not improving their fortunes one bit. It seems that United's unimpressive form has carried over from last season; and Ted Bayh's job, which still seemed relatively secure just five weeks ago, now looks like it's slightly less secure. He keeps a brave face, but he knows that it could all be over very quickly — one win in five, and just two goals scored in that timespan is not something that lends itself well to keeping a job. Serrapince are in unimpeachable form, that one draw to Straton aside; and they look like they could be on the verge of doing something very special.

Elsewhere, Kingsbury's run is brought down to earth by none other than West Couno; who themselves go top of the table after four games. Vasya Reisinger works her magic, as usual; but after the win against Ridgewell, in which both local Mytanar-Tumbran come good Luka Vujanovic and Chromatik future hopeful Cyrus Vette started and scored, they're both given another chance to make good on their positions. It works; Vette, Vasya and Vujanovic combine to thrill the Wrenchwelt Stadium and take the lead of the Premiership for what feels like the first time in half a century.

Ridgewell Rovers' new manager, Chris Haines, urges calm after a fourth consecutive winless match that sees the club drop to eighteenth; Guillemard and Hesham play an entirely unexciting 0-0 draw that was chock-full of chances for both sides to take the lead, but were never followed up on; and Delphi get back to winning form, themselves denting Columbia's ambitions of rising up the table further after an Ashleigh Sweeney goal proves to be enough to separate the two sides. City, meanwhile, are held to a draw by Macarthur; frustrating, to be sure, but Ian McDermott's goal from the left wing should really have been dealt with better. Komang Kurniawan and Leah Robbins are both extremely young in footballing terms; and the lack of experience shows.

MATCHDAY 5
Sturrey Athletic 0–2 Serrapince
Lawrence 55', Eschborn 78'
Lakewood City 2–3 Straton
Fraser 62', McTavish 85'//Tino 4', Baker 71', Osbourne 80'
Hesham 1–1 Macarthur City
Rostami 17'//R Morgan 39'
Columbia City 0–1 Guillemard Town
Haywood 66'
Colbrook City 2–3 Delphi Lionesses
Steadman 5', Gillingham 74'//Caroline 19', Illaoi 27', Holt 80'
Couno Rangers 4–2 Fraser Valley
Nolan 5', 28', Conder 46', Coleman 66'//Barker 40', Kerry 48'
Ridgewell Rovers 3–2 Clark City
Coutard 48', Bonucci 62', Borzoi 81'//Walsh 14', Turner 87'
Kingsbury United 1–1 FC Inter Nantwich
J Anderson 75'//Spekman 42'
Clyde Park 0–2 West Couno United
Reisinger 39', Allison 42'
Lakewood United 2–1 Kirkby Railwaymen
Keyes 13', 38'//Howell 90' + 1'

Serrapince easily breeze past Sturrey Athletic to end the first five matchdays of football as the highest-ranked of the Big Six (or Five, if you're loathe to count Straton as one of that bunch). City, meanwhile, suffer their first defeat of the season against Straton; but it's not too much of a big deal, considering they're still in fifth. There is also plenty of time remaining to get themselves back together; plus look at how Samuel McTavish is doing with the club. It's just that Straton, you know, played a much better game then them. Nantwich, meanwhile, are held to another frustrating draw as a late goal by James Anderson means they drop another two points; early in the season as it is, dropped points still add up, and Nantwich are already five points off the top of the table.

United finally win a second game; it may be against Kirkby, probably the easiest of slam dunks to get, but it's still a win nonetheless. A rotated lineup, with Mycroft surprisingly in it — "He's put in a lot of effort over the past few weeks" — runs riot over Kirkby, with Sylestonean striker Cameron Keyes netting a brace. It's slightly ruined by Sarah Howell scoring a late goal for the Railwaymen; but it finally marks a return to winning ways that should prove to be a morale-booster for the team. The Rovers, too, up north, claim their first-ever win of the season; running out 3-2 victors against Clyde, while Guillemard take a surprising win against Columbia, leaving the aforementioned Kirkby and Colbrook as the only two teams to not have won a game.

Delphi win a second consecutive match, against the aforementioned Colbrook; while a vote is announced for the tenth matchweek over whether Julie Smith's term as chairwoman should end early. The win does mask it, though; and while there are protests outside Colbrook's stadium, either calling for her removal or her continued presence (or even one that calls for the presence of a referendum conducted amongst club members), it's all forgotten as Karina Holt scores in the eightieth minute to give Delphi another crucial three points.

The big winners, though, are West Couno. Vasya cannot stop scoring. Her performances in the Eagles' Cup, where Nephara weren't doing too hot, may have left something to be desired; but for her club side, she's scored in all five games so far. The odds on her winning the Golden Boot have shortened massively; but she's taking it all in her stride, remaining calm even as West Couno end the first month of football atop the table — something that really hasn't occurred in almost half a century.

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts   Form5
 1 West Couno United       5    4   1   0    13    4   +9    13   WDWWW
 2 Serrapince              5    4   1   0    12    4   +8    13   WWDWW
 3 Couno Rangers           5    3   2   0    12    7   +5    11   WDDWW
 4 Straton                 5    3   2   0    10    6   +4    11   WDDWW
 5 Lakewood City           5    3   1   1    13    8   +5    10   WWWDL
 6 Kingsbury United        5    3   1   1     8    4   +4    10   WWWLD
 7 Columbia City           5    3   0   2    11    5   +6     9   WWWLL
 8 Hesham                  5    2   3   0     6    3   +3     9   WDWDD
 9 FC Inter Nantwich       5    2   2   1     8    7   +1     8   LWDWD
10 Macarthur City          5    1   3   1     8   10   −2     6   LDWDD
11 Sturrey Athletic        5    2   0   3     6    8   −2     6   WWLLL
12 Delphi Lionesses        5    2   0   3     4    6   −2     6   LLLWW
13 Lakewood United         5    2   0   3     4    8   −4     6   WLLLW
14 Fraser Valley           5    1   1   3     7   11   −4     4   LDLWL
   Ridgewell Rovers        5    1   1   3     4    8   −4     4   LDLLW
16 Clyde Park              5    1   1   3     4    9   −5     4   LLWDL
   Guillemard Town         5    1   1   3     2    7   −5     4   LLLDW
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Clark City              5    1   0   4     7   12   −5     3   LLWLL
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Kirkby Railwaymen       5    0   2   3     3    7   −4     2   LDLDL
20 Colbrook City           5    0   0   5     4   12   −8     0   LLLLL

by **Tumbra** » Tue Sep 27, 2022 9:12 am

THE 126TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE FIRST ROUND

The Republic Cup is Tumbra's longest-running domestic football competition. First organised in 1903, the tournament has steadily grown from a small cup involving just sixteen teams into a massive behemoth involving all 128 teams along the 6 leagues that together comprise the Tumbran Football League. Long-time readers will know what's coming up; everyone — from Couno Rangers to Wolskel — is thrown into a giant pot, drawn together and then the magic begins. Upsets galore, minnows beating giants, and so on; that's the magic of the cup, a phrase that's been bandied about so much that almost everyone's forgotten that the last time a non-Premier Division team won the cup was a very long time ago. Still. One can hope.

Republic Cup, First Round
( D2)          Tavistock Athletic   1-0   Ashton Rovers               (D2 )
( D2)               Mackay Rovers   1-2   Shepperton Ravens           (D3W)
(D4W)              Langley United   1-4   Fraser Valley               (D1 )
( D2)              Bencoolen City   1-0   Monroe Quakes               (D4W)
( D2)                 AFC Gillman   1-2   Colbrook City               (D1 )
(D3E)                 Dieren City   0-2   Blenheim                    (D4W)
(D3E)                     Lambeth e 1-0   Gisbourne                   (D3E)
(D4W)              Dynamo Denhelm   2-5   Dover                       (D4W)
( D2)             Washington City   1-1 p Millsburgh Steelers         (D3W)
(D4E)                  Blakehurst   2-1   Trelmont Rangers            (D2 )
( D1)            Ridgewell Rovers   5-1   Dunman Bay                  (D4W)
( D1)               Lakewood City   3-1   Burlington AFC              (D4E)
( D1)                      Hesham   2-1   Wintborough United          (D4E)
( D1)           FC Inter Nantwich   3-0   Oakton                      (D3W)
( D1)               Couno Rangers   8-0   Cortlandt United            (D4E)
(D3W)                    Dunsford   0-0 p Thomson City                (D4E)
( D1)                  Clyde Park   3-1   Glenmont AFC                (D2 )
(D4W)           Ilstead Wanderers   1-1 p Heffron City                (D3W)
( D1)             Lakewood United   2-0   Port Marray                 (D2 )
(D3E)              Rosenberg City   2-4   Macarthur City              (D1 )
(D3W)             Nottingham City   1-2   Carter United               (D3E)
(D4E)                    Farleigh   1-2   North Thornton United       (D2 )
( D1)                     Straton   3-1   Readale City                (D3W)
(D4E)             Maxwell Arsenal   1-3   Heath Bay Mariners          (D3E)
(D3E)                 Killiney SC   2-2 p Carrington Town             (D3E)
(D3E)            Straton Typhoons   4-3   AFC Cayalon                 (D2 )
( D1)            Kingsbury United   1-0   Grange United               (D2 )
(D3W)              Hoxford United   1-0   Hendon Cardinals            (D3E)
(D3W)           Southport Thunder   2-1   Mayfield AFC                (D4E)
(D3W)               Caldwell City e 1-0   Caldecott 93                (D3E)
(D3E)            Kelder Phoenixes   1-4   Columbia City               (D1 )
( D1)            Delphi Lionesses   4-1   Knapford City               (D4E)
(D4E)          Arlington Athletic   0-3   Tevandale Athletic          (D3W)
(D3E)             Knapford United   1-2   Chesterfield                (D4E)
(D3E)               Brades United   1-4 e Gelder Creek                (D3E)
(D3E)               Harren Armada   1-3   Sturrey Athletic            (D1 )
(D4W)          Johnstone Athletic   1-1 p Hindhede FC                 (D4E)
(D3W)               Colney Thorns   1-2   Locomotive Harper           (D4W)
(D4E)               Rookworth AFC   1-1 p Collett Park United         (D4E)
( D1)                  Serrapince   3-1   Windsor                     (D3E)
(D4W)                     Denhelm   3-2   Newark Argyle               (D2 )
(D3E)              Tavistock Park   3-0   Cobham Town                 (D2 )
(D3W)                  Cheltenham   1-1 p Readale Wanderers           (D2 )
(D3W)        Pomeroy Mountaineers   2-1   Staplewood                  (D3E)
(D4W)              Haversham City   1-0   Newton Wanderers            (D2 )
(D3E)                      Rosyth   1-3   Brensley                    (D4W)
( D1)             Guillemard Town   3-1   Hesham Wanderers            (D3E)
(D4E)                Richmond AFC   1-2   Havelock City               (D4E)
(D3W)  Millsburgh Revolutionaries   0-1   Algoma Wanderers            (D4E)
(D4W)              Greenford City   1-2   Clark City                  (D1 )
(D4E)                     Wolskel   0-2   Ridgewell United            (D3W)
( D2)       New Timbourne Knights   2-0   Dorival                     (D2 )
(D3W)             Fort Heatherton   3-0   Ruislip and Ipswich FC      (D4W)
(D3W)        Teignford Academical   1-0   Melwood United              (D4E)
(D3W)             Fontwell Rovers   0-2   Ricci Ironworkers           (D2 )
(D3W)           Harwick Wanderers   3-1   Wilmington Town             (D4E)
(D4W)                    Franport   1-0   Pinhal Athletic             (D3E)
(D4W)                 Kellsthorpe   0-1   Prinsip Street              (D4W)
(D4W)                 FC Montrose   1-1 p Clifton                     (D4W)
(D4E)                      Coburg   0-1   Enfield                     (D3W)
( D1)           Kirkby Railwaymen e 2-1   Orpington                   (D4W)
(D4W)                     Othaven e 2-1   Moresby United              (D4W)
( D1)           West Couno United   2-1   Falmouth Athletic           (D2 )
(D3W)           Harchester United   1-0   Sherwood Town               (D4E)

Eight-nil. Jesus. Someone should've told Couno to stop after the fifth, but apparently it would've been disrespecting the opponents to lay off after a certain amount of time. All the Prem teams made it through to the second round (Kirkby after extra time, which was even funnier considering their opponents were fourth tier side Orpington), while Newark Argyle, flush with Chromatik money, are somehow knocked out by fourth tier side Denhelm. Sixty-four teams are therefore out of the Republic Cup, and sixty-four remain...

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART TWO: MATCHDAYS 6-10

MATCHDAY 6
Serrapince 4–1 Kirkby Railwaymen
Sallay 13', 68', McGrath 44', Bosman 73'//Glynn 55'
West Couno United 4–3 Lakewood United
Vujanovic 33', 70', Reisinger 44', McIntyre 79'//Considine 18', Horvat 57', Desmond 65'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–1 Clyde Park
Luo 32', Coxeter 71'//D Ferguson 46'
Clark City 4–3 Kingsbury United
Coltrane 8', C Campbell 60', Nightingale 72', Walker 84'//J Anderson 22', Medal 40', Chenoweth 51'
Fraser Valley 0–1 Ridgewell Rovers
Canavan 30'
Delphi Lionesses 1–3 Couno Rangers
Caroline 42'//Krzanowski 11', Nolan 33', 49'
Guillemard Town 0–2 Colbrook City
E Ferguson 16', A Anderson 42'
Macarthur City 2–1 Columbia City
V Anderson 4', 29'//Bello 62'
Straton 4–2 Hesham
Tino 13', 34', Osbourne 48', Baker 70'//Deighton 19, Nexev-Kresp 55'
Sturrey Athletic 0–1 Lakewood City
Bernard 26'

Can anyone stop West Couno United? Well, they were gently removed from the top spot by virtue of goal difference — Serrapince's demolishing of Kirkby gave the Bees a one-goal advantage in that tiebreaker — but their offensive play was a sight to behold. Vasya Reisinger's quality was already a known quantity, and she scored again today to stretch her consecutive games scored in tally to 6 — putting Bryan McCann's record from the 1986/87 season of 12 consecutive games scored in on notice — but the real star of the show was left-winger Luka Vujanovic. He scored a brace, and made the whole thing look effortless while doing so. United had managed to pull back the scoreline from 2-0 down to 3-2 by the time Vuj scored his second goal, and it gave West Couno a second wind — Scott McIntyre would score the fourth goal in the seventy-ninth to deal United their fourth loss in six games. The full-time whistle was met with chants about Bayh being sacked in the morning, and with good reason — he'd been leading United to their worst start in the Prem in the IFCF era.

Colbrook pulled off a big win against a hapless-looking Guillemard to try and forget the loss against Clark a few weeks prior; that, and they'd finally gotten off the bottom of the table. It was a routine win, but the relief on Matthew Reeves' face was palpable after the final whistle blew. "If we can win more after today," he said during the post-match conference, "then it'll be much easier on my heart, that's for bloody sure." Elsewhere in the relegation stakes, Clark stunned Kingsbury after 21 year-old Sarah Walker scored a goal in the eighty-fourth minute to pull ahead of the Princelings; while Delphi put up a brave fight against Couno, but still fell to the Rams nonetheless. Sturrey may have long since moved themselves out of the conversation over whether they will be in a relegation fight — after all, it seems they survive relatively easily now — but moments like Pat Philips' howler against City that directly led to an Ophelie Bernard goal really does make you wonder about how strong they truly are. Apart from that one error, however, Sturrey give City a right run for their money; forcing City to work hard for the three points.

Straton's season had been going well so far; they were one of two teams to remain undefeated, putting four past Hesham to send the Ploughmen back home with zero points. The other undefeated teams were, of course, West Couno and Serrapince; and Couno Rangers, breezed past Delphi away from home, even if they did score just before the half-time mark, forcing Marco Giuliani to "tear up [his] half-time notes and approach the half-time talk from another angle." Whatever was said, however, worked; Delphi would not notch another shot on target in the second half.

MATCHDAY 7
Lakewood City 2–2 Serrapince
Vaughn 14', Henshaw 63'//Hilton 35', Ritchie 40'
Hesham 0–1 Sturrey Athletic
V Campbell 8'
Columbia City 2–2 Straton
Thesselborg 14', Coonan 74'//Rivard 25', Woodhouse 48'
Colbrook City 4–1 Macarthur City
Gillingham 32', 39', Kirkwood 47', Newton 78'//I McDermott 26'
Couno Rangers 2–0 Guillemard Town
Nolan 13', Coleman 40'
Ridgewell Rovers 2–1 Delphi Lionesses
Ghislane 67', Canavan 79'//Chung 40'
Kingsbury United 1–0 Fraser Valley
Loustaunau 18'
Clyde Park 2–1 Clark City
Escat 70', Gomboult 84'//Hoskins 36'
Lakewood United 2–3 FC Inter Nantwich
Considine 18', Fontana 44'//Spekman 12', Luo 30', Broadhurst 81'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–3 West Couno United
Reisinger 48', Wright 70', Charron-Becker 83'

Most expected the manager-sack race to be won by someone like Joep Martens, or Aiofe Ruth, or even Chris Haines; but if you asked anybody at the beginning of the season on the chance that Ted Bayh would be sacked seven games into the season, chances are they'd probably look at you like you were daft. But that's what happened after Nantwich won against United; Ted Bayh was given his marching orders. Well, officially he was given his marching orders; he'd announced his intention to resign, but the owners decided to sack him almost immediately after the post-match conference. Adam Herlinger, former Lakewood United player and now coach, was placed in interim charge of the team; as United were faced with another season of trying to pick up the pieces off the floor.

Where had it all gone wrong? A lot can happen in seven weeks. United had won just two of their opening seven games, the mood in the dressing room was shot, and the team just didn't have the same amount of intensity that some others had. The prevailing logic now was that the new manager would either come from within the league or from overseas; there weren't very many unemployed managers in the league that looked like they were much of a good fit for the club. The biggest name, Bayh aside, was Mark Pryor, who'd been sacked from both of his previous jobs under quite questionable circumstances. Christ. Names that could be plucked from elsewhere in the league? The hottest rumour was Samara Kaniatarii, then William Wight and David Griffiths. Of the overseas managers, there were rumours that the club would be looking at Andrea Spinelli, freshly unemployed following the implosion of Sanford's league, the Quebecois Moon Tae-hong, or the Valladar Martin Boyle.

Going back to actual football, however, the biggest match of the week — City versus Serrapince — ended with both teams sharing the spoils at the City Arena. Vaughn would open the scoring, a neat trick to sidestep Fiona Jones before smashing it into the top right; but Serrapince would strike back, with two goals in five minutes to bring them back ahead. It would take Charlotte Henshaw, by now having somewhat of a breakout season by most standards, five minutes after she was substituted on to peg the Bees back, and ensure that City would remain undefeated. The draw, however, did mean that West Couno United would re-take the lead of the league (Reisinger consecutive match score count: 7) ahead of a keenly-contested clash between the Chocolatiers and the Bees next week. Colbrook would mark their second consecutive win with a comprehensive demolishment of Macarthur, while Sturrey would hold on for eighty-two minutes against Hesham to record a famous win away from home.

MATCHDAY 8
Serrapince 3–0 West Couno United
Sallay 12', 25', 88'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–1 Kirkby Railwaymen
Spekman 65', Fisher 72'//Ermine 36'
Clark City 1–4 Lakewood United
Clark 47'//Considine 36', Keyes 42', Fontana 49', 55'
Fraser Valley 1–1 Clyde Park
Barker 77'//Calare 20'
Delphi Lionesses 0–3 Kingsbury United
J Anderson 23', Cheschon 86', Schwartz 90' + 2'
Guillemard Town 1–3 Ridgewell Rovers
Hailstorm 44'//Kristensen 14', Borzoi 38', Riester 70'
Macarthur City 3–3 Couno Rangers
A Morgan 25', V Anderson 42', Jennings 86'//Prost 11', Kendall 20', Tyler 80'
Straton 5–0 Colbrook City
Toussaint 14', J Lawrence 23', Tino 34', 49', 82'
Sturrey Athletic 2–2 Columbia City
Mercer 23', Evans-Jones 48'//Thesselborg 31', Haller 52'
Lakewood City 3–2 Hesham
Vaughn 5', Reed 23', Schärer 40'//Deighton 52', Russell 80'

The (presumably to be short-lived) Herlinger era begins with a comprehensive 4-1 demolishing of Clark City, which feels a bit like a fully-grown adult beating up a child for their candy. It worked for Bayh when he beat up on Kirkby, though; so there's not much criticism that can be had there. Bayh sets the team up in a 4-4-2, without Desmond but with Cameron Keyes playing as a deeper-lying forward behind Corinne Fontana. It works; Keyes scores one and assists both of Fontana's goals as United sweep past a disjointed looking Clark with relative ease. Elsewhere in strong teams beating up relegation candidates, Straton smash Colbrook, scoring five goals past them (including the season's first hat-trick, by none other than Tino) and bringing the Canners' momentum to a screeching halt. Kirkby score first against Nantwich, giving the faithful at the helical-ramped yet boringly-named Nantwich Stadium a mild scare. Jake Spekman and Andrew Fisher do set things right (from the perspective of the Bulls, at least), scoring two in quick succession to deny Kirkby their first-ever win in the Prem.

Most of the attention today, however, is focused on the top-of-the-table clash between Serrapince and West Couno; this match has seemingly become so important that it was moved from its original timeslot on Saturday afternoon to Saturday evening, bumping City versus Hesham out of the primetime television slot. It delivers. West Couno are stonewalled by a resolute defensive performance from the Serrapince back four; Vasya Reisinger's closest shot on goal is parried by Mick Key, and Vazsony Sallay runs riot around Ben Morgan (and, indeed, the rest of the West Couno defence) to score the second hat-trick of the season. In some ways, it's cruel that Vasya wasn't able to score the first hat-trick of the season; though she promised that the team would try to bounce back stronger after the abject humiliation that they were subjected to.

Elsewhere, Couno were held to a thoroughly entertaining three-all draw at Macarthur, which saw Joel Tyler's eightieth-minute header off a corner cancelled out just six minutes later as he tripped Gordon Jennings in the box; Jennings put away the resultant penalty with ease. Couno by this time were only two points off the top, and Giuliani expressed full support for his captain following the incident; but Tyler seemed to take it extremely heavily on himself to the extent that Francis Evers was forced to take on the traditional captain's post-match press conference instead. City held on against a Hesham side that seemed doggedly determined to steal points away from the Skyblues; a goal-line clearance in the eighty-seventh minute was met with a stadium-wide "OoooOh" as the ball was hoofed out of the way by Maja Olsman. Clyde's season was still going miserably; a draw against Fraser was not an ideal result for the Lions, though to most neutral observers it was a deserved result. The odds on Mertens leaving early before his contract ended or being sacked were shortened remarkably after Bayh was given his marching orders; after all, nobody wants to be the first one to sack a manager, but once someone's made the first move, others are more likely to follow...

MATCHDAY 9
Hesham 2–3 Serrapince
Min 7', Russell 33'//Tucker 14', Coulson 38', Hilton 72'
Columbia City 1–3 Lakewood City
Burnet 40'//Vaughn 26', McTavish 30', Bernard 73'
Colbrook City 1–0 Sturrey Athletic
Yeltsov 90' + 3'
Couno Rangers 1–0 Straton
Nolan 66'
Ridgewell Rovers 4–1 Macarthur City
Canavan 14', 27', Steele 38', Îmiév 70'//Kinzinger 56'
Kingsbury United 2–0 Guillemard Town
Hughes 40', Winter 73'
Clyde Park 3–0 Delphi Lionesses
Markozy 38', 62', Kearnes 49'
Lakewood United 2–1 Fraser Valley
Fontana 33', 69'//Cardini 70'
Kirkby Railwaymen 1–0 Clark City
Frist 65'
West Couno United 0–1 FC Inter Nantwich
Broadhurst 72'

Stars are sometimes made in the strangest of circumstances. Colbrook were level against Sturrey going into the eighty-seventh minute of their game; they had one substitute left. Matthew Reeves hadn't brought Alex Finlay to the game — he was out, injured — and despite him giving Andrew Gillingham lots of leeway, Colbrook's main striker had performed terribly. The only other striker on the bench? Eighteen year-old Tumbran-Mytanar Fedya Yeltsov. Why not, Reeves must've thought as he slowly signalled to the baby-faced striker to go onto the pitch. Gillingham was yanked off; Yeltsov was put on the pitch after reassurances from his manager. Slowly, surely, he began joining the rest of the team; Alexander Anderson gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder as play was restarted. Four minutes later, Yeltsov had rounded Ian Coleman and scored past Joseph Cranston to send three crucial, crucial points Colbrook's way. The fans were delirious; not five minutes ago was Fedya Yeltsov still a fresh-faced boy who'd been signed in the off-season from the Under-18 World Cup, and now here he was, a hero of the North. "Hopefully it'll be the first of many," said Reeves after the game, "but he's still eighteen. I don't want to pile on too much pressure on him." For his part, Yeltsov was shuttled away from the awaiting cameras by Alex Anderson and Bob Allison; Rupert Kirkwood's shit-eating grin when it was him and not the newly-minted star taking on the post-match interview was certainly something to behold. "No, I'm not letting you lot get to him," he said. "He's far too young for this nonsense."

For all of the criticisms levied at Colbrook — harsh training sessions, a manager whose temper was often comparable to that of a bull, the perceived lack of ambition — at least they were raising someone who could possibly be a future star right.

Chris Haines' tenure as Ridgewell manager may have started very unsteadily — just one win in the opening five games — but the side had now recovered to win five in a row. Heidi Canavan was seen as key to all this; the young, mercurial striker slowly carving a name out for herself after being called up to the Eagles' Cup squad. A brace in her latest game added to her impressive tally; she'd now scored five goals in nine games. Unlike Yeltsov, however, she didn't shy away from the attention; publicly thanking her manager for showing that much faith in her and her ability. Ridgewell's form, which in the past always seemed like it was three games away from getting a manager sacked, had improved massively; and they found themselves in the top half of the table for the first time in a long while.

Things were going from bad to worse for West Couno; Reisinger couldn't start for the Chocolatiers in a crucial match against Nantwich, due to an injury picked up in training, and backup striker Dominic Clyne looked positively ineffectual in front of goal by comparison. In a system which had essentially become built on "getting the ball to the front three, particularly the striker, and see if she can make magic happen," having a less-effective striker in front of goal meant the difference between three and zero points. Ultimately, Michelle Broadhurst scored the sole goal to give Nantwich the three points away from home. Whomever became the next manager of West Couno after Thompson retired would probably have to either rely less on Vasya or pick up a backup striker that could score at a similar rate to West Couno's miracle number nine; or they could forget about becoming regular competitors for the IFCF spots.

MATCHDAY 10
Serrapince 2–1 FC Inter Nantwich
D Lawrence 55', Hilton 83'//Coxeter 67'
Clark City 1–2 West Couno United
Nightingale 80'//Reisinger 8', Vette 62'
Fraser Valley 0–0 Kirkby Railwaymen

Delphi Lionesses 1–2 Lakewood United
Barthet 16'//Considine 34', Keyes 68'
Guillemard Town 1–4 Clyde Park
Haywood 49'//Proudfoot 31', May 70', Escat 81', 86'
Macarthur City 3–3 Kingsbury United
Garland 12', Bader 30', S Wilson 85'//Larr 38', Hughes 75', J Anderson 90' + 1'
Straton 2–2 Ridgewell Rovers
Dunstan 30', Osbourne 47'//Riester 38', Borzoi 89'
Sturrey Athletic 2–0 Couno Rangers
Mercer 32', Cambiaso og. 85'
Lakewood City 3–0 Colbrook City
Vaughn 14', Fraser 36', Morris 81'
Hesham 0–0 Columbia City

WCU finally get themselves back into winning shape, punting two past Clark City. Vasya Reisinger takes all of eight minutes to get back into scoring form; she's hailed as some sort of anomaly after her injury as she runs the show once more. Elsewhere, Hesham versus Columbia is quickly looking to be a match where something has to happen for either side. Neither Hesham nor Columbia have won in the past four matchdays; a win here for either side could prove crucial in bringing a sense of confidence back to either side —

Nothing happens for ninety minutes. The game is universally panned as dreadful watching, the kind that they make prisoners watch to make them repent for their crimes. It's that bad. Neither side can seem to string three passes together, the target work is awkward, the defending is slipshod; but nobody can seem to break the deadlock. The end of a frustrating ninety minutes brings no relief to either William Wight or David Griffiths, whose teams are stuck in fourteenth and twelfth respectively. Similar draws are had at Straton and Macarthur, but even those had exciting moments; the only match to be on par with this level of nothingness was Fraser versus Kirkby, and even then Kirkby holding Fraser to a draw was something to be celebrated. Here, nothing.

Sturrey versus Couno was meant to be a cakewalk for the visiting team, but something goes very wrong when Marvella Hargrove is sent off in the thirtieth minute for a tackle on Ákos Trouvé. It's very harsh on the Chromatik midfielder, and Marco Giuliani points to this moment as the one where things began to go wrong for the Rams. Two minutes later, Joe Mercer scores; and while Couno try their hardest to come back, Sturrey remain resolutely strong to refuse any attempts on goal. At this point, it feels like Sturrey gain an extra few points in defence whenever they play a side from the Big Six; while it may be annoying for the big clubs, it does make for fascinating viewing as Couno are frustrated time and again. A deflection off Luca Cambiaso's right leg leads to Couno conceding a second goal late on; and Sturrey make off with all three points as Serrapince are left as the only undefeated team in the league.

Speaking of Serrapince, they beat Nantwich quite handily at home to confirm their position atop the league; it's surprising considering that pre-season they weren't considered real title competitors, only in there because they'd been there for a majority of previous seasons. But it seemed now like they were on the verge of something special; perhaps a surprise title challenge was on the cards. Ten games in, they were three points on top; and that was about as comfortable as they could have been, really. Would they be able to keep it up?

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5
 1 Serrapince             10    8   2   0    26   10  +16    26   ▲1   WDWWW
 2 Lakewood City          10    7   2   1    25   13  +12    23   ▲3   WDWWW
 3 West Couno United      10    7   1   2    22   12  +10    22   ▼2   WWLLW
 4 Couno Rangers          10    6   3   1    21   13   +8    21   ▼1   WWDWL
 5 Kingsbury United       10    6   2   2    20   11   +9    20   ▲1   LWWWD
 6 FC Inter Nantwich      10    6   2   2    17   13   +4    20   ▲3   WWWWL
 7 Straton                10    5   4   1    23   13  +10    19   ▼3   WDWLD
 8 Ridgewell Rovers       10    5   2   3    16   13   +3    17   ▲7   WWWWD
 9 Lakewood United        10    5   0   5    17   18   −1    15   ▲4   LLWWW
10 Clyde Park             10    4   2   4    15   14   +1    14   ▲6   LWDWW
11 Sturrey Athletic       10    4   1   5    11   12   −1    13   -0   LWDLW
12 Columbia City          10    3   3   4    17   14   +3    12   ▼5   LDDLD
13 Macarthur City         10    2   5   3    18   25   −7    11   ▼3   WLDLD
14 Hesham                 10    2   4   4    12   14   −2    10   ▼6   LLLLD
15 Colbrook City          10    3   0   7    11   21  −10     9   ▲5   WWLWL
16 Fraser Valley          10    1   3   6     9   16   −7     6   ▼2   LLDLD
17 Kirkby Railwaymen      10    1   3   6     6   16  −10     6   ▲1   LLLWD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Clark City             10    2   0   8    14   24  −10     6   -0   WLLLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Delphi Lionesses       10    2   0   8     7   19  −12     6   ▼7   LLLLL
20 Guillemard Town        10    1   1   8     4   20  −16     4   ▼3   LLLLL

by **Tumbra** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:03 am

THE 126TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE SECOND ROUND

A month has passed since the first round, and the 64 remaining teams once again head into the gauntlet to see who survives. For many Prem teams, it's an opportunity to play newly-minted senior team members or oft-underused rotation players; for the lower division sides, it's time for them to enjoy a day in the sun. Even if it'll probably end with them losing by embarrassing margins.

Second Round
( D1)                      Hesham   5-0   Haversham City              (D4W)
(D3E)            Straton Typhoons   1-0   Heffron City                (D3W)
(D4E)                  Blakehurst   0-2   Fraser Valley               (D1 )
(D3W)           Shepperton Ravens   2-1   Blenheim                    (D4W)
(D3E)              Tavistock Park   2-0   FC Montrose                 (D4W)
(D3W)               Caldwell City   1-3   Ridgewell United            (D3W)
( D1)               Couno Rangers   2-0   Carter United               (D3E)
( D1)           FC Inter Nantwich   5-1   Tavistock Athletic          (D2 )
( D1)            Kingsbury United   0-1   Serrapince                  (D1 )
(D4W)              Prinsip Street   0-4   Lakewood United             (D1 )
(D3W)                     Enfield   0-1   Havelock City               (D4E)
( D1)                  Clark City   3-0   Tevandale Athletic          (D3W)
( D2)           Readale Wanderers   1-2 e Guillemard Town             (D1 )
( D1)                     Straton   4-0   Algoma Wanderers            (D4E)
( D2)       New Timbourne Knights   1-0   Gelder Creek                (D3E)
( D1)              Macarthur City e 2-0   Kirkby Railwaymen           (D1 )
(D4W)                     Othaven   0-3   Delphi Lionesses            (D1 )
(D3W)           Harchester United   0-3   Teignford Academical        (D3W)
(D4W)                    Franport   1-1 p Pomeroy Mountaineers        (D3W)
(D4W)           Locomotive Harper   0-2   Ricci Ironworkers           (D2 )
(D3W)           Southport Thunder   2-3   West Couno United           (D1 )
(D4E)         Collett Park United   0-1   Dover                       (D4W)
( D2)       North Thornton United   2-0   Denhelm                     (D4W)
(D3W)              Hoxford United   0-4   Colbrook City               (D1 )
(D3E)             Carrington Town   0-2   Ridgewell Rovers            (D1 )
( D2)             Washington City   1-2   Lakewood City               (D1 )
(D3W)             Fort Heatherton   1-0   Lambeth                     (D3E)
( D1)               Columbia City   5-1   Thomson City                (D4E)
( D1)            Sturrey Athletic   3-0   Brensley                    (D4W)
( D1)                  Clyde Park   2-1   Johnstone Athletic          (D4W)
(D4E)                Chesterfield e 1-0   Harwick Wanderers           (D3W)
( D2)              Bencoolen City   1-0   Heath Bay Mariners          (D3E)

There aren't any 8-0 demolitions this time out, but Hesham's 5-0 beating of Haversham certainly counts as one of the results of the round. The result, which comes after Hesham failed to win a game in their last five matches, certainly brings at least some kind of relief to William Wight's face. The other team to be going through a similarly torrid run of form, Columbia, also beat their fourth division opponents handily. They, though, did let one goal in in the dying embers of the match, which Griffiths passed off as "not really a big deal."

In other big news, Nantwich beat Tavistock Athletic 5-1; while Kingsbury were drawn against Serrapince, and held out for eighty minutes before Maxim Knezevic scored one on the break. It was a disappointing result, to go out so early in the Republic Cup; but, as some would put it, "them's the breaks." There'd always be future years. The thirty-two surviving teams would return in a month or so to whittle themselves down to sixteen; but before that,

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART THREE: MATCHDAYS 11-15

Serrapince are atop the table and are the last remaining undefeated team — is this just a momentary flash of form or has Danny Haverhead found a way to surpass expectations and challenge for the title once again with a relatively unfancied squad? West Couno United look unstoppable at present, despite two losses in quick succession to Serrapince and Nantwich; Nantwich themselves look like they're getting off the ground at long last, while Lakewood United are picking up the pieces as various managers declare themselves either uninterested or are playing themselves out of contention for that poisoned chalice of a spot. It's hard to believe that the country is almost a third through the Premier Division season; time really does fly when football is involved.

MATCHDAY 11
Columbia City 3–2 Serrapince
Liang W 25', 57', Crnogorčević 81'//Perry 46', Ness 52'
Colbrook City 1–3 Hesham
E Ferguson 71'//Bevins 23', Bonner 40', Deighton 59'
Couno Rangers 3–2 Lakewood City
Evers 15', Nolan 35', 74'//Fraser 40', Bernard 70'
Ridgewell Rovers 3–1 Sturrey Athletic
Steele 12', Borzoi 46', Riester 60'//Renshaw 23'
Kingsbury United 0–3 Straton
Baker 33', Osbourne 70', Rivard 73'
Clyde Park 1–0 Macarthur City
Marsden og. 32'
Lakewood United 1–0 Guillemard Town
Adams 81'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–1 Delphi Lionesses
A Hall 39'
West Couno United 2–0 Fraser Valley
Malik 26', Vette 73'
FC Inter Nantwich 4–2 Clark City
Thomas 15', Coxeter 36', 75', Dufour 58'//Coltrane 23', 29'

Columbia and Hesham finally win their first games in five; what made Columbia's win all the more surprising was that it came against Serrapince, meaning that all it took was eleven matchdays for the possibility of an undefeated side to completely evaporate. Liang Wei scored the only goal in the first half, ending a goal drought that stretched back all the way to the first matchday, while Serrapince scored twice early into the second half to pull them back into the lead. A brilliant passing play from David Burnet gave Columbia their equaliser; and now the hunt was well and truly on for Columbia's first win. Serrapince, playing a rather less mobile midfield of Tom Stansfield, Craig McGrath and Laura Ness, had the technique and game sense to keep control of the game; but were rather more vulnerable on the counter. Stansfield hacking down Mike Coonan in the middle of a run didn't help the Bees' case either; and the in-swinging free kick taken by August Haller proved enough for Crnogorčević to ensure that the three points stayed in Columbia. The relief on David Griffiths' face was palpable; three matches ago he'd proclaimed the only way he was leaving Columbia was if he was sacked or if the national team came calling, and he'd come very very close to achieving the former.

Hesham, too, beat Colbrook; but given Colbrook's recent form there wasn't much to celebrate about, really. Hesham did go three-nil up before an Edith Ferguson goal in the seventy-first minute woke them up; before that, Hesham were starting to pull their feet off the gas a little bit, something that manager William Wight admitted was "a problem that needed to be worked on." Either way, though, Wight and Griffiths' jobs were safe for now.

Elsewhere, Couno versus City was definitely the match that most people paid attention to this week; and it delivered. Couno went 2-0 up, taking advantage of a goalkeeping mistake by Victoria Jones and a missed tackle by Txomin Huon; but as ever, Lakewood City would strike back. A Neil Fraser goal just before the half-hour mark was followed up by an Ophelie Bernard screamer half an hour later; but Bruce Nolan, determined as ever to ensure that his team would defend their title, pulled off a world-class shot just five minutes later to secure the three points for Couno. The result saw Couno leapfrog City into third position; and with a game with Serrapince on the distant horizon, the Rams needed all the momentum they could get.

MATCHDAY 12
Serrapince 4–2 Clark City
Walsh og. 3', Tucker 12', D Lawrence 55', Sallay 76'//Tran 33', Clarkson 60'
Fraser Valley 0–1 FC Inter Nantwich
Spekman 44'
Delphi Lionesses 1–3 West Couno United
Burham 23'//Reisinger 14', Vette 27', Vujanovic 49'
Guillemard Town 0–1 Kirkby Railwaymen
A Parker og. 77'
Macarthur City 2–0 Lakewood United
V Anderson 42', A Morgan 73'
Straton 0–0 Clyde Park

Sturrey Athletic 0–2 Kingsbury United
Winter 26', L Paterson 55'
Lakewood City 3–2 Ridgewell Rovers
Vaughn 11', 86', Wague 34'//Canavan 62', A Walsh 66'
Hesham 1–2 Couno Rangers
Rostami 88'//Nolan 40', N Coleman 60'
Columbia City 4–1 Colbrook City
Haller 15', Thesselborg 33', 47', Bello 69'//Calvert 30'

There isn't much to be said about the week's proceedings in the grand scheme of things, though almost every individual match had something interesting or so to talk about. An early own goal by Charles Walsh got Clark off to the wrong foot in their game against Serrapince; while Findlay Tran and David Clarkson did score later in the game to try and nudge Clark back into the game, the momentum meter had lurched in Serrapince's direction, and Clark looked distinctly off-kilter for quite a while after the own goal. Had the own goal not been scored, there's no telling if Clark City would've put up a sterner fight.

That Sturrey Athletic - Kingsbury scoreline was remarkable and could have easily gone the other way if Robert Vatnarsson, the icy Graentfjaller with a fiery temper, hadn't gotten himself sent off early in the match. Forced to sit back and hold on after Robert got given directions to an early shower after just nine minutes, Kingsbury hit the Lactics for two away from home; but it could very easily have been more.

Elsewhere, there was more heated debate over whether Robin Vaughn's second goal against Ridgewell should've been counted; seemingly eager to avoid the mistakes of VAR in the Hesham match earlier in the season, the VAR room took way more time than normal to give the goal. Most pundits agreed that it should've counted — Ridgewell fans aside — but more questions were raised over why it took so bloody long to come out with results. The TFF promised a full and frank inquiry to be held over the winter break.

Adam Herlinger's honeymoon period at United came to a quick end with Macarthur, of all teams, pulling themselves together to score two against the Red Storm. By this time, there were credible rumours that the flailing club were in negotiations with Andrea Spinelli, but Herlinger himself said that "if he does come, Spinelli will likely arrive during the winter break," quashing rumours of an immediate takeover by the Savigliano. Couno manager Marco Giuliani welcomed the prospect of Spinelli managing Couno's arch-rivals, calling it "a very exciting prospect" and "a chance for Savigliane to excite Tumbra when it comes to the country's oldest footballing rivalry."

MATCHDAY 13
Colbrook City 0–0 Serrapince

Couno Rangers 4–0 Columbia City
Prost 11', 58', Wellingsley 38', Krzanowski 65'
Ridgewell Rovers 0–1 Hesham
Glover 33'
Kingsbury United 1–4 Lakewood City
Perkkanen 78'//Henshaw 12', 78', McTavish 69', Vaughn 87'
Clyde Park 3–0 Sturrey Athletic
Calare 44', Markozy 56', Bradford 80'
Lakewood United 4–2 Straton
Keyes 3', Considine 38', Horvat 49', 90 + 2'// Asanta 13', Sartain 29'
Kirkby Railwaymen 3–3 Macarthur City
Frist 3', Hoffman 18', Eagleton 42'//Jennings 60', S Wilson 64', V Anderson 67'
West Couno United 2–0 Guillemard Town
Garlick 38', Steel 70'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–1 Delphi Lionesses
Luo 12', Coxeter 78'//Caroline 44'
Clark City 1–1 Fraser Valley
Horgan 30'//Cardini 38'

Perhaps the funniest part about this week's football was Colbrook managing to deny Serrapince two more points by dragging them kicking and screaming towards a draw; a result that also meant West Couno United, playing a second-string team against bottom-of-the-table Guillemard Town, would once again take the lead of the league. It's fair to say that not many people expected the title race at the one-third point of the season to be between Serrapince — who, by Danny Haverhead's own admission, were still transitioning towards a younger starting line-up — and West Couno, whose seventh-placed finish last season was regarded by many to be some kind of a fluke. Still, though, surprises in football are appreciated at times; nobody likes a real dynasty of football, impressive as it may seem.

Eight losses in a row for Guillemard was enough for the sharks to begin circling around poor Mark Kirkham's job; the young, disheveled manager who didn't seem to own an iron or a comb and who had the dress style of a 1970s' socialist (read: beige, brown and everything in between) managed to guide Guillemard to a second season in the Premiership under the leadership of Halyos le Gall on the pitch; but the magic seems to have faded. As goals from WCU's decidedly second-string lineup sailed past Marc Greenwood, there was little to no reaction from the former midfielder. The team were rooted to the bottom of the table, incapable of stringing passes together, let alone attacking; the defensive organisation was shambolic, even. It was a miracle he'd survived this long; but as the Guillemard supporters seemed to be keen on reminding him, he probably didn't have much time left.

Those unwilling to watch Columbia get stomped by Couno, or City sail past Columbia, did have good television viewing this week; Macarthur versus Kirkby was universally rated as the best match that week, and the week's highlights show — Kickoff! on TBC Sports — dedicated a full half hour of its ninety minute runtime to dissecting the match. As far as matches went, this had everything; early goals, a sense of hope from Kirkby that they'd actually be able to take away three points from the game, an agonising near-miss from Mats Andersson on the right that would have seen Kirkby go four up; to a Macarthur swoop as they dominated the second half, pressing and playing liquid football as half-time substitute Gordon Jennings spearheaded the attack that would eventually see Macarthur take a point from the whole match. It was crushing for Anthony Davies, but for Macarthur there was a small sense of annoyance at how they'd nearly shipped four goals in the opening forty-five minutes. A point apiece was probably a fair result; but Mats would probably still get nightmares about missing the open opportunity he'd had in front of James Kent a few years later.

MATCHDAY 14
Serrapince 4–0 Fraser Valley
Anggara 22', Hilton 40', 86', McGrath 70'
Delphi Lionesses 0–0 Clark City

Guillemard Town 2–3 FC Inter Nantwich
le Gall 12', 82'//Spekman 13', 40', Gell 20'
Macarthur City 2–2 West Couno United
Kinzinger 38', 47'//Wright 16', Reisinger 40'
Straton 2–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Osbourne 33', Liang T 49'
Sturrey Athletic 0–2 Lakewood United
Fontana 75', 90' + 2'
Lakewood City 4–1 Clyde Park
Henshaw 13', Vaughn 50', 82', Reed 63'//Escat 29'
Hesham 2–0 Kingsbury United
Min 41', Deighton 70'
Columbia City 0–1 Ridgewell Rovers
Canavan 3'
Colbrook City 2–3 Couno Rangers
Gillingham 36', M Foster 45' + 3'//Conder 12', N Coleman 40', Prost 90' + 3'

The Lionesses had to be pleased with a point in their game against Clark City after Jacklyn Chung's placed shot agonisingly ricocheted off the crossbar; it was the closest either two relegation-threatened side would get to scoring. Delphi's political backstabbing had grown into a behemoth not worth following by the average fan; but most did indeed know that Julie Smith's future at the head of the club was up at the club's annual general meeting, to be held in January...two weeks after the start of the winter break. Aiofe Ruth looked tense; knowing that her immediate future probably hinged on the outcome of this vote probably didn't help matters. There wasn't much in it, either; fans were remarkably split on the issue, at once saying that the team's pivot to female players gave the club a unique selling point while at the same time agreeing that said pivot had been mishandled badly. There had been bright sparks — the team's signing of Zuniga, Doyle et al. were counted as particular high points, as was the team's first season in the Prem — but in recent years that sense of exhilaration had given way to exhaustion as the club were forced into relegation fight after relegation fight.

Colbrook gave the Rangers an actual run for their money, with Andrew Gillingham equalising twenty minutes after Dimitra Conder's goal. Natalie Coleman would score barely five minutes later, while Mira Foster would equalise with the very last kick of the first half. For the forty-five minutes of regulation time, Colbrook would hold tight; Lucas McCormick became the on-pitch conductor for Colbrook's defensive masterclass; for forty-five minutes, nary a Couno attacker would approach Bob Allison's goal. Then Frederick Prost would somehow get on the end of a ball rolling out; shimmying past Sarah Robson, he caught Allison unawares and scored with the last kick of the game. Couno, somehow, had scored yet another three points.

The same could be said for Guillemard, who'd run Nantwich ragged; but Jake Spekman would score a brace and Heather Gell would score just eight minutes after Halyos le Gall scored the game's opening goal to render all their efforts moot. On the sidelines, Kirkham looks utterly uninterested; after the game, he throws his clipboard down on the floor and walks away. He knows his time is up; he knows that Guillemard will probably head down at the end of the season. As the players look for their manager after the end of the game, they can't see anyone. The club's assistant manager (and, in all likelihood, next permanent manager) Jordan Green quietly ushers the players away, a look of resignation on his face.

MATCHDAY 15
Couno Rangers 1–1 Serrapince
Nolan 7'//Sallay 35'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–1 Colbrook City
Canavan 40'//Grimley 16'
Kingsbury United 2–0 Columbia City
J Anderson 25', J Hughes 81'
Clyde Park 0–2 Hesham
Thompson 75', Elliot 82'
Lakewood United 0–0 Lakewood City

Kirkby Railwaymen 0–1 Sturrey Athletic
Evans-Jones 58'
West Couno United 3–1 Straton
Vujanovic 8', Toussaint og. 49', Reisinger 65'//Tino 33'
FC Inter Nantwich 4–3 Macarthur City
Broadhurst 11', Haines 40', R Baker 65', Fisher 80'//R Morgan 20', 35', V Anderson 72'
Clark City 2–1 Guillemard Town
Clark 11', Coltrane 33'//le Gall 28'
Fraser Valley 1–0 Delphi Lionesses
Barker 40'

The football this week, once again, wavered from mind-numbingly boring to another match for the greats. The Lakewood derby, which had been eagerly anticipated, turned out to be a borefest; Nantwich versus Macarthur, which was thought of as an effective walkover for Nantwich, turned out to be the most exciting match of the week. Other big-named matches, like Couno versus Serrapince, ended up being hard-fought draws, meaning that West Couno United — once again taking advantage of a Serrapince slipup — would go top of the table on goal difference.

In an announcement almost everyone saw coming, Mark Kirkham is dismissed as manager of Guillemard Town. Jordan Green, the club's assistant manager, will take charge for the rest of the league season. What nobody saw coming was Kirkham leaving Tumbra less than twenty-four hours after the announcement for shores unknown. The sacking re-opens the conversation about who exactly is in danger; the typical names are thrown around. Aiofe Ruth at Delphi is about three matches away from losing her job, with her defeat against Fraser marking four without a win; David Griffiths' long-term future is once again the subject of speculation, after his third loss in a row, this time to Kingsbury. Michael Hardwick at Fraser, himself just hovering over the relegation zone after a pretty good start to the season, is another possible casualty. A manager getting sacked tends to open conversations about other managers getting sacked; and although you may not want to talk about it, it's difficult not to. One of your contemporaries — two, now, since the sacking of Bayh eight match weeks earlier — has been forcibly removed from their position. It's hard not to feel something.

After all, give or take a few bad results, and that could very well be you, too.

The Premier Division returns after the third round of the Republic Cup.

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5
 1 West Couno United      15   11   2   2    34   16  +18    35   ▲2   WWWDW
 2 FC Inter Nantwich      15   11   2   2    31   21  +10    35   ▲4   WWWWW
 3 Serrapince             15   10   4   1    37   16  +21    34   ▼2   LWDWD
 4 Couno Rangers          15   10   4   1    34   19  +15    34   -0   WWWWD
 5 Lakewood City          15   10   3   2    38   20  +18    33   ▼3   LWWWD
 6 Straton                15    7   5   3    31   20  +11    26   ▲1   WDLWL
 7 Kingsbury United       15    8   2   5    25   20   +5    26   ▼2   LWLLW
 8 Lakewood United        15    8   1   6    24   22   +2    25   ▲1   WLWWD
 9 Ridgewell Rovers       15    7   3   5    23   19   +4    24   ▼1   WLLWD
10 Hesham                 15    6   4   5    21   17   +4    22   ▲4   WLWWW
11 Clyde Park             15    6   3   6    20   20    0    21   ▼1   WDWLL
12 Columbia City          15    5   3   7    24   24    0    18   -0   WWLLL
13 Macarthur City         15    3   7   5    28   35   −7    16   -0   LWDDL
14 Sturrey Athletic       15    5   1   9    13   22   −9    16   ▼3   LLLLW
15 Clark City             15    3   2  10    21   34  −13    11   ▲3   LLDDW
16 Colbrook City          15    3   2  10    16   32  −16    11   ▼1   LLDLD
17 Fraser Valley          15    2   4   9    11   24  −13    10   ▼1   LLDLW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Kirkby Railwaymen      15    2   4   9    10   23  −13    10   ▼1   LWDLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Delphi Lionesses       15    3   1  11    10   25  −15    10   -0   WLLDL
20 Guillemard Town        15    1   1  13     7   29  −22     4   -0   LLLLL

by **Tumbra** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:07 pm

THE 126TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE THIRD ROUND

Thirty-two teams go back into the Cup to try and find the final sixteen. At this point in time, Prem-on-Prem matches are usually guaranteed; though with eighteen Premier Division sides remaining, there still is a chance that some could avoid the luck (or lack thereof) of drawing a Prem team.

As if.

Somehow we get another eight-nil result. This time, it's Nantwich comprehensively thrashing Dover, as a reward for making it to the final thirty-two. Most of the lower-tier sides are eliminated at this hurdle; North Thornton and Timbourne (remember them? Home to the worst Premier Division record in modern history) are the only ones that survived, and even then they did so by beating up on lower-ranked opponents. It'll be a while before the Republic Cup re-appears; the next time we'll see the last sixteen go at it will be in the last week of February. For reference, it's the last week of November 2028 right now.

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART FOUR: MATCHDAYS 16-19

It's been an exciting season so far, but in an unexpected way; most of the expected title challengers are having problems getting their form consistent enough to break away (though Nantwich winning five on the trot has seen them rise up four spots in the table.) Lakewood United are looking to hire Andrea Spinelli, as Cucinan sports reporter Francesco Raviolo has unhelpfully leaked; Guillemard's now-former manager has apparently fled the country, while Delphi are hovering uncomfortably over the balance. But things aren't all right in the rest of the league, either — there's a distinct tension that this season will see a lot more managerial sackings and turnover than most others.

In the lead-up to the halfway point, a remarkable five teams are within touching distance of the top (or are already on there). Lakewood City, two points off, having a rather mediocre season by their standards (though still godly by most others — a six point gap exists between them and Straton), their signings gelling well but still needing a real run to be able to make up for lost points. Couno, the defending champions, doing alright and just one point off the top. Serrapince, marshalling together a somewhat unexpected title run in a season where most expected they'd be fighting for the Challengers' Cup spots. Nantwich, determined to make up for their mistakes of last season, level on points and going on a tear with possibly the strongest squad in the league.

And then, West Couno, the darkest of dark horses; being led on by the Triple V, who somehow are on top of the table after fifteen games. The mood is buoyant; the football is (somewhat) fluid (within the strategy of Bill Thompson); the goals are being scored. Will they be able to hold on, or is the Premier Division in for another giant meltdown?

Welcome back to the Premier Division.

MATCHDAY 16
Serrapince 2–2 Delphi Lionesses
Ritchie 11', 68'//Barthet 61', Holt 75'
Guillemard Town 0–2 Fraser Valley
Eyre 46', Chappelle og. 62'
Macarthur City 1–0 Clark City
Huxley 32'
Straton 2–3 FC Inter Nantwich
Rivard 12', Osbourne 48'//Luo 3', 81', Haines 75'
Sturrey Athletic 1–2 West Couno United
Nunnaro 37'//Sitko 23', Wright 86'
Lakewood City 4–1 Kirkby Railwaymen
Schärer 30', 61', Morris 44', 82'//Frist 33'
Hesham 1–2 Lakewood United
Bevins 40'//Ukrop 37', Mycroft 55'
Columbia City 2–1 Clyde Park
Hurst 72', Haller 88'//McGarry 3'
Colbrook City 0–4 Kingsbury United
Perkkanen 13', J Hughes 29', Kim 81', J Anderson 90' + 4'
Couno Rangers 3–1 Ridgewell Rovers
van As 33', Kendall 40', Nolan 72'//Bonucci 60'

Charlotte Ritchie's been looked at suspiciously ever since she landed in Serrapince six years ago. There were hints of her potential here and there, but her appearances were mostly limited to cameos at the end of games, serving as an understudy to the ever-reliable Josip Horvat. When Lakewood United came calling for Horvat, he was let go; Ritchie was deemed to be good enough to start for Serrapince. Her first season as starter was somewhat overlooked; though it's difficult not to be overlooked when your main striker is also one of the best in Tumbra, the player on the opposite wing is a national team stalwart and there's a new attacking midfielder in the squad that is being heralded as the heir to a Chromatik legend. Tough times, there. This season, in fifteen games, she'd scored one goal. Even her backup, Bayu Anggara, had scored two. Criticism of her had grown; there were rumours that she just wasn't up to scratch, or couldn't make the grade even after six years at the Bees. But game after game, Haverhead put his faith in her; game after game, she'd started. Anggara was frustrated; but the boss' word was law.

Today Charlotte Ritchie stuck a metaphorical middle finger up at all her critics when she scored a brace to keep Serrapince in their game against Delphi. By most accounts, Serrapince should have lost; they simply weren't playing good enough to justify even taking a single point home. But today, Charlotte Ritchie's brace made the difference; and while Serrapince would only retain the lead for seven minutes before Karina Holt would score again, she'd made her point.

Elsewhere, Rebecca Haines and Luo Nanwei would prove to be too much for Straton; the duo scoring two goals in six minutes to ensure Nantwich would keep pace with WCU up top. By most standards, Luo's second goal was an absolute beauty; a shot taken from outside the box, curling over Nigel Philips in such a way that made it near-impossible for him to save. Lakewood City would punt four past a weakened Kirkby Railwaymen, reeling from the loss of several players due to training-related injuries. Clyde Park's form had become real cause for concern after Gedeo Escat failed to score. Yes, he'd scored two matches ago; but this season he'd only scored five goals so far, while last season he'd scored eleven at the halfway mark. He, of all people, seemed to realise this; after his third shot of the game had gone sailing over the crossbar, he just collapsed onto the ground, face in shirt. He would be the first substitution of the game; Joep Martens remarked that Escat "probably needs a few confidence boosters to start scoring like we all know he can," while grimly reflecting that the squad, stuck in twelfth after the defeat to Columbia, was "not performing at a level that maybe some would expect them to," and taking full responsibility for it.

MATCHDAY 17
Ridgewell Rovers 0–2 Serrapince
Ritchie 38', Sallay 77'
Kingsbury United 1–3 Couno Rangers
Coco 78'//Prost 23', 48', Vaillancourt 70'
Clyde Park 3–0 Colbrook City
Kearnes 13', Bradford 42', 80'
Lakewood United 1–2 Columbia City
Moore 49'//Liang W 31', Thesselborg 82'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–1 Hesham
Deighton 46'
West Couno United 0–0 Lakewood City

FC Inter Nantwich 2–1 Sturrey Athletic
Broadhurst 31', Robertson 66'//Roberts 80'
Clark City 0–0 Straton

Fraser Valley 1–0 Macarthur City
Xilix-Oxolt 63'
Delphi Lionesses 0–2 Guillemard Town
Morrison 31', Lachmann 68'

The big matches this season seem to have a rather disappointing tendency to end as draws. Just two weeks ago the Lakewood derby ended 0-0. The Couno derby ended 2-2, as did Couno versus Nantwich and Couno versus Serrapince. Come to think of it, maybe it's just Couno's big matches that tend to end in draws. This week, however, we were treated to yet another draw in a potentially season-defining match, as West Couno and Lakewood City went up against each other and both drew blanks. Ninety minutes of near-misses, Vaughn looking visibly frustrated — but also more worryingly, tired — and both managers looking visibly pleased that the match was over later, the fans who'd bought tickets to the match were left wondering if they could get refunds. A similar show was on display in Clark, as Helene-Anne Rivard's effort was the closest either side got to scoring; it took a massive effort from Charles Walsh to clear the ball off the goal-line and keep at least one point in Clark City.

Lakewood United lost yet another game — their season now seemed well and truly over before it'd even began — to Columbia. "There's not much point in needling me about our team's losses," said interim manager Adam Herlinger after the game. "I'm trying to get things set in order so the transition to our next manager will be smooth. Truth be told, I don't even know if I'll have a job after the winter break." United had managed to equalise after half-time, but the inimitable Tikariotian striker Victoria Thesselborg had managed to come through with another one of her goals, taking her tally up to nine for the half-season.

Elsewhere, Fraser Valley managed to piece together two consecutive wins for the first time this season, as Xilix-Oxolt Mal's goal was enough to separate Fraser and Macarthur; a Clyde Park side without Gedeo Escat was able to knock three past Colbrook, winning decisively and opening up a conversation over whether Escat should be benched more often; and a Guillemard Town side under Jordan Green was able to come out on top over a Delphi Lionesses side that had entered crisis mode. Time was now ticking on Aiofe Ruth's clock.

MATCHDAY 18
Serrapince 3–1 Guillemard Town
Hilton 12', Knežević 31', 48'//le Gall 20'
Macarthur City 1–1 Delphi Lionesses
I McDermott 20'//Sweeney 81'
Straton 1–2 Fraser Valley
Asanta 30'//Pilta-Blonz 35', Asanta og. 72'
Sturrey Athletic 3–3 Clark City
Rossum 36', Roberts 81', Burrows 90' + 5'//Coltrane 30', Millar 34', Hoskins 73'
Lakewood City 3–3 FC Inter Nantwich
Vaughn 14', 28', 40'//Fisher 58', Santo 66', Haines 75'
Hesham 3–0 West Couno United
Rostami 36', Russell 44', Glover 77'
Columbia City 0–0 Kirkby Railwaymen

Colbrook City 1–2 Lakewood United
McCormick 88'//Fontana 31', Desmond 64'
Couno Rangers 4–0 Clyde Park
Krzanowski 12', Hertel 30', 44', Conder 71'
Ridgewell Rovers 2–0 Kingsbury United
D Hall 43', Kristensen 72'

Yet another big match ends in a draw, but at least it's worth watching this time; City versus Nantwich is a three-all draw that sees Robin Vaughn use every last ounce of his creative nous to net a first-half hat-trick, while Nantwich surge back in the second half, completely dominating play with an immaculate pressing strategy that essentially neutralises Vaughn and forces him to come off, entirely bereft of energy, by the hour mark. Vaughn may be 32 — not that old, by his own standards — but seeing him pace around after an hour when he'd still be gliding along at full speed five years ago is a pressing reminder that City's best ever player may need replacing soon. The damage, however, is done; Emmanuel Appleby isn't anywhere near as influential as Vaughn, and is largely ignored; as Joaquin Santo scores a goal off a header and Rebecca Haines piles on the damage to ensure City are five points off the top of the table by the end of the night.

Ashley Asanta both experiences great joy and great pain in Straton's game against Fraser Valley; she scores, of course, to put Straton ahead; forty minutes later, an accidental backheel into her own net puts Fraser ahead. Try as she (and the rest of the team) might, the team couldn't find a way back; and Fraser are gifted three points. Both Hardwick and Stevenson express their sympathy for her; Stevenson admits it "may be a while before she's ready to rejoin the team."

Gedeo Escat is given another start in front of Couno; he plays all of forty-five minutes before he's yanked off at half-time for another defender. By this time, Couno are three-nil up; Escat hasn't registered a single shot on goal. To be fair to him, neither has his usual striking partner Elaine Calare, whose performances have also come in for heavy criticism this season; but the Tequiloa, who used to run around everywhere with a smile on his face as he dodged errant legs and knees is more known throughout the country. His frustrated face at the end of the first half, when Kingsley-Roger Hertel scores his second goal, is plain to see; Martens spares him any further embarrassment and pulls him off for Joanna Bradford.

Two teams fall to surprise losses; namely, WCU (who fall without a single peep in response to Hesham) and Kingsbury (who put up slightly more of a fight, but still lose out to Kingsbury). Both teams fall off as a result; WCU fall to fourth, while Kingsbury fall behind Lakewood United. It's not ideal, especially at this moment of the season; but there still is quite literally half the season left. Both teams can consider themselves quite pleased with their performances so far; and for Samara Kaniatarii especially, there are rumours that West Couno may be approaching her to be the long-term replacement for Bill Thompson once he retires...

MATCHDAY 19
Kingsbury United 3–3 Serrapince
Perkkanen 36', 87', Larr 42'//Knežević 12', McGrath 25', Hilton 77'
Clyde Park 2–0 Ridgewell Rovers
Kearnes 32', Calare 82'
Lakewood United 2–1 Couno Rangers
Atkinson 40', Keyes 55'//N Coleman 72'
Kirkby Railwaymen 1–2 Colbrook City
Bowen 90' + 2'//Gillingham 70', A Anderson 83'
West Couno United 2–0 Columbia City
Reisinger 41', 86'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–3 Hesham
Zheng 22', Thomas 70'//Anselm og. 15', Bonner 38', Bevins 62'
Clark City 0–2 Lakewood City
Bernard 16', Reed 85'
Fraser Valley 1–0 Sturrey Athletic
Xilix-Oxolt 34'
Delphi Lionesses 0–2 Straton
Osbourne 28', Tino 70'
Guillemard Town 1–2 Macarthur City
Illsley 31'//Jennings 8', V Anderson 65'

The hotly-anticipated midseason break arrives, and with it, the dawning realisation that half the season has gone by. This may prove to be several managers' last games in charge; namely, Adam Herlinger, who expressed a wish to hand over to the next permanent manager of United during the winter break; and Aiofe Ruth, whose future is essentially dependent on the outcome of the board vote to be held in January. Other managers holding their breaths over what might be a very long winter break include Joep Martens and David Griffiths; both leaders of squads expected to push up and above, but surprisingly haven't broken through in a while. Herlinger bade his managerial tenure farewell by guiding his Lakewood United side to a win over Couno in the Tumbran Classic; the defeat, surprisingly, didn't dampen the mood of some Couno supporters who viewed the title race as more important. After all, Nantwich had also managed to lose to Hesham at the same time, meaning the Rams would finish top of the league at the end of the first half. Considering Couno's often spotty history with first halves, to get that over the line seemed like a task and a half out of the way.

In terms of players, three players lead the race for the golden boot on fourteen goals apiece; Bruce Nolan, Vasya Reisinger and Robin Vaughn. Other expected names like Vazsony Sallay and Tino are up here, along with Victoria Thesselborg, experiencing somewhat of a mini-breakout season with Columbia; then experienced names like James Anderson, Corinne Fontana and Basilica Coxeter are present as well. One name conspicuously absent is Gedeo Escat, who was completely dropped from the matchday squad for the Lions' game against Ridgewell. Martens was keen to emphasise that Escat was not being iced out of the squad — a view Escat himself seemed very eager on endorsing, posting a picture of him and the manager sharing a lighthearted moment, smiling at the camera — but rather was taking some time off to recharge. "Gedeo is a key player, he is very very important to us [...] if he doesn't perform, then the whole team suffers as a result. He really is the heart of the team, and everyone is hoping he will be back to his best soon," Martens mentioned after Ridgewell were beaten 2-0.

With 573 goals scored across 190 matches so far, this season is quickly threatening to be the most offense-heavy season on record; and possibly the first to broach the hallowed three goals per game marker that so far hasn't occurred in the IFCF era. Commentators point out that it's a good thing; defensive coaches and goalkeepers are likely to disagree. But of course they will.

As the league troops off for its winter break, Couno hold a slender one-point advantage in the title fight over Serrapince, West Couno and Nantwich; City are a further point behind. It's a five-way race for the title this season, it seems, with all its little twists and turns; and it seems that the race to the title will be determined by who drops the least points. But with so many stellar offensive performances this season, who can really say if the league can even be predicted at this point? Even SixHundredFifty, a statistics modelling website for nerds dressed up in cute graphics and a rabbit that predicts elections, can't properly predict who will win. Couno, it says, is its favourite; but even then they have only a 21% chance to take the whole thing. Nantwich and City are on 19%; Serrapince are on 17% and WCU, surprisingly, are on 15%. Which leaves a 9% chance that none of these five teams will take the whole thing at the end of the season. United fans probably think that means there's a 9% chance their next manager will take the title. Still. From about nine points back.

Well, we're all optimists.

Golden Boot Race: Midterm
14  Vasya Reisinger          West Couno United
    Bruce Nolan              Couno Rangers
    Robin Vaughn             Lakewood United
12  Vazsony Sallay           Serrapince
10  Tino                     Straton
 9  Victoria Thesselborg     Columbia City
    Corinne Fontana          Lakewood United
    James Anderson           Kingsbury United
    Vivianne Anderson        Macarthur City
 8  Basilica Coxeter         FC Inter Nantwich
    George Hilton            Serrapince
 7  Heidi Canavan            Ridgewell Rovers
    Harvey Osbourne          Straton
 6  Charlotte Henshaw        Lakewood City
    Gerard Deighton          Hesham
    Mick Coltrane            Clark City
    Ophelie Bernard          Lakewood City
    Andrew Gillingham        Colbrook City
    Luo Nanwei               FC Inter Nantwich
    Kendra Considine         Lakewood United
    Jake Spekman             FC Inter Nantwich
    Cameron Keyes            Lakewood United
    Frederick Prost          Couno Rangers
5-1 [192 others]

Premier Division, Season Eight: Midterm

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5
 1 Couno Rangers          19   13   4   2    45   23  +22    43   ▲3   DWWWL
 2 Serrapince             19   12   6   1    47   22  +25    42   ▲1   DDWWD
 3 West Couno United      19   13   3   3    38   20  +18    42   ▼2   WWDLW
 4 FC Inter Nantwich      19   13   3   3    41   30  +11    42   ▼2   WWDDL
 5 Lakewood City          19   12   5   2    47   24  +23    41   -0   DWDDW
 6 Lakewood United        19   11   1   7    31   27   +4    34   ▲2   DWLWW
 7 Hesham                 19    9   4   6    29   21   +8    31   ▲3   WLWWW
 8 Straton                19    8   6   5    36   25  +11    30   ▼2   LLDLW
 9 Kingsbury United       19    9   3   7    33   28   +5    30   ▼2   WWLLD
10 Clyde Park             19    8   3   8    26   26    0    27   ▲1   LLWLW
11 Ridgewell Rovers       19    8   3   8    26   26    0    27   ▼2   DLLWL
12 Columbia City          19    7   4   8    28   28    0    25   -0   LWWDL
13 Macarthur City         19    5   8   6    32   38   −6    23   -0   LWLDW
14 Fraser Valley          19    6   4   9    17   25   −8    22   ▲3   WWWWW
15 Sturrey Athletic       19    5   2  12    18   30  −12    17   ▼1   WLLDL
16 Colbrook City          19    4   2  13    19   42  −23    14   -0   DLLLW
17 Clark City             19    3   4  12    24   40  −16    13   ▼2   WLDDL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Delphi Lionesses       19    3   3  13    13   32  −19    12   ▲1   LDLDL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Kirkby Railwaymen      19    2   5  12    12   30  −18    11   ▼1   LLLDL
20 Guillemard Town        19    2   1  16    11   36  −25     7   -0   LLWLL

by **Tumbra** » Wed Sep 28, 2022 11:38 pm

SECOND DIVISION
MID-SEASON

Standings after MD19

   Second Division           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Newark Argyle              19   14   3   2    42   14  +28    45
 2 AFC Gillman                19   11   4   4    28   18  +10    37
 3 Bencoolen City             19   11   3   5    39   25  +14    36
 4 Ricci Ironworkers          19   11   3   5    28   20   +8    36
 5 Readale Wanderers          19   10   4   5    32   27   +5    34
 6 Port Marray                19    9   6   4    29   17  +12    33
 7 Trelmont Rangers           19   10   3   6    33   24   +9    33
 8 New Timbourne Knights      19   10   3   6    31   23   +8    33
 9 Dorival                    19    9   6   4    29   23   +6    33
10 Cobham Town                19    8   6   5    26   17   +9    30
11 Glenmont AFC               19    8   5   6    26   21   +5    29
12 Newton Wanderers           19    7   5   7    27   19   +8    26
13 Ashton Rovers              19    4   6   9    27   32   −5    18
   Washington City            19    4   6   9    25   30   −5    18
15 AFC Cayalon                19    4   6   9    25   32   −7    18
16 Mackay Rovers              19    4   3  12    26   42  −16    15
-------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Tavistock Athletic         19    3   5  11    18   39  −21    14
18 North Thornton United      19    3   4  12    14   35  −21    13
19 Grange United              19    2   6  11    17   44  −27    12
20 Falmouth Athletic          19    2   5  12    20   40  −20    11

THIRD DIVISION EAST
MID-SEASON

Standings after MD21

   Third Division East    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Dieren City             21   12   4   5    47   36  +11    40
 2 Windsor                 21   12   3   6    36   26  +10    39
 3 Lambeth                 21   11   4   6    39   32   +7    37
 4 Kelder Phoenixes        21   11   3   7    40   30  +10    36
 5 Carrington Town         21    9   8   4    35   23  +12    35
 6 Hendon Cardinals        21   10   5   6    35   24  +11    35
 7 Knapford United         21   10   5   6    33   30   +3    35
 8 Heath Bay Mariners      21   10   4   7    31   23   +8    34
 9 Gelder Creek            21    9   6   6    35   29   +6    33
10 Carter United           21    9   4   8    38   37   +1    31
11 Straton Typhoons        21    7   8   6    28   27   +1    29
12 Hesham Wanderers        21    6  10   5    33   31   +2    28
13 Pinhal Athletic         21    5  11   5    28   27   +1    26
14 Rosenberg City          21    7   5   9    30   33   −3    26
15 Caldecott 93            21    6   7   8    24   24    0    25
16 Tavistock Park          21    7   4  10    26   29   −3    25
17 Brades United           21    6   5  10    26   34   −8    23
18 Harren Armada           21    6   4  11    24   32   −8    22
19 Staplewood              21    5   5  11    27   40  −13    20
----------------------------------------------------------------
20 Rosyth                  21    4   7  10    23   32   −9    19
21 Killiney SC             21    4   7  10    14   34  −20    19
22 Gisbourne               21    3   5  13    31   50  −19    14

THIRD DIVISION WEST
MID-SEASON

Standings after MD21

   Third Division West            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Pomeroy Mountaineers            21   16   2   3    48   16  +32    50
 2 Teignford Academical            21   14   3   4    40   21  +19    45
 3 Readale City                    21   13   1   7    32   27   +5    40
 4 Fort Heatherton                 21   11   6   4    36   31   +5    39
 5 Nottingham City                 21   11   3   7    38   28  +10    36
 6 Ridgewell United                21   11   2   8    39   28  +11    35
 7 Tevandale Athletic              21    8   9   4    30   26   +4    33
 8 Oakton                          21   10   2   9    37   29   +8    32
 9 Millsburgh Steelers             21    9   5   7    33   31   +2    32
10 Harwick Wanderers               21    7  10   4    24   17   +7    31
11 Fontwell Rovers                 21    9   4   8    35   32   +3    31
12 Shepperton Ravens               21    9   4   8    33   34   −1    31
13 Colney Thorns                   21    7   5   9    25   26   −1    26
14 Hoxford United                  21    7   4  10    27   28   −1    25
15 Heffron City                    21    7   4  10    19   27   −8    25
16 Harchester United               21    5   8   8    21   27   −6    23
17 Caldwell City                   21    6   4  11    25   36  −11    22
18 Enfield                         21    5   6  10    31   41  −10    21
19 Millsburgh Revolutionaries      21    4   6  11    22   38  −16    18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 Cheltenham                      21    3   7  11    23   36  −13    16
21 Dunsford                        21    4   4  13    22   39  −17    16
22 Southport Thunder               21    4   3  14    22   44  −22    15

FOURTH DIVISION EAST
MID-SEASON

Standings after MD21

   Fourth Division East    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Wilmington Town          21   13   6   2    37   17  +20    45
 2 Hindhede FC              21   13   5   3    42   28  +14    44
 3 Collett Park United      21   12   7   2    40   21  +19    43
 4 Arlington Athletic       21   13   3   5    40   25  +15    42
 5 Mayfield AFC             21   12   4   5    27   21   +6    40
 6 Sherwood Town            21   10   6   5    34   28   +6    36
 7 Richmond AFC             21   10   5   6    33   24   +9    35
 8 Maxwell Arsenal          21    9   7   5    41   29  +12    34
 9 Wintborough United       21    9   6   6    35   26   +9    33
10 Algoma Wanderers         21    8   6   7    46   35  +11    30
11 Knapford City            21    8   6   7    39   38   +1    30
12 Coburg                   21    8   6   7    30   30    0    30
13 Farleigh                 21    8   4   9    37   38   −1    28
14 Blakehurst               21    6   8   7    28   30   −2    26
15 Melwood United           21    7   3  11    35   42   −7    24
16 Rookworth AFC            21    4  10   7    26   32   −6    22
17 Havelock City            21    5   7   9    21   31  −10    22
18 Chesterfield             21    5   3  13    31   44  −13    18
19 Cortlandt United         21    3   6  12    15   26  −11    15
20 Wolskel                  21    4   2  15    24   43  −19    14
21 Burlington AFC           21    3   3  15    24   47  −23    12
22 Thomson City             21    1   7  13    26   56  −30    10

FOURTH DIVISION WEST
MID-SEASON

Standings after MD21

   Fourth Division West       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Orpington                   21   14   3   4    42   20  +22    45
 2 Langley United              21   14   0   7    46   33  +13    42
 3 Ilstead Wanderers           21   11   7   3    39   25  +14    40
 4 Locomotive Harper           21   12   3   6    35   24  +11    39
 5 Othaven                     21   11   4   6    37   24  +13    37
 6 Dynamo Denhelm              21   10   7   4    35   22  +13    37
 7 Clifton                     21   10   6   5    43   30  +13    36
 8 Moresby United              21   10   4   7    45   40   +5    34
 9 FC Montrose                 21   10   2   9    28   26   +2    32
10 Ruislip and Ipswich FC      21    9   3   9    36   41   −5    30
11 Haversham City              21    8   5   8    33   31   +2    29
12 Franport                    21    8   5   8    30   29   +1    29
13 Dover                       21    5  12   4    25   27   −2    27
14 Johnstone Athletic          21    8   3  10    21   26   −5    27
15 Brensley                    21    7   4  10    36   37   −1    25
16 Greenford City              21    7   3  11    31   33   −2    24
17 Kellsthorpe                 21    5   7   9    35   48  −13    22
18 Prinsip Street              21    5   6  10    18   30  −12    21
19 Denhelm Trinity             21    5   6  10    28   42  −14    21
20 Blenheim                    21    4   5  12    26   38  −12    17
21 Dunman Bay                  21    4   2  15    19   40  −21    14
22 Monroe Quakes               21    3   5  13    28   50  −22    14

by **Tumbra** » Thu Sep 29, 2022 12:33 pm

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART FIVE: MATCHDAYS 20-23

The long winter break is over. Four whole weeks without football, pierced only by noises made by other inferior leagues that don't have winter breaks making airwaves in Tumbran television. For all the faults that Tumbran football seemingly has (a federation that seems to make changes at something that can be best described as a glacial pace, a relative lack of fan protection beyond "twenty is enough for an away ticket", and a gnawing sense that perhaps the interests of the bigger teams are prioritised over the others), it's still a relatively nice play to play football. There's a winter break, safe standing's a thing, VAR and goal-line technology was introduced relatively quickly, and the very notion of an all-star game replacing the Supercup would be rubbished within three nanoseconds of it being suggested. Even if they did only shrink their top division from twenty-two to twenty clubs in 1990. And even if they're still dragging their feet on the issue of shrinking the league further to sixteen teams for what seems like forever.

The winter break saw two managerial changes — Delphi Lionesses' Aiofe Ruth's time in charge was, unfortunately, ended as the board decided that it was time for her to go. It was just as well, really; she'd not made much of an impression during her time in charge, plus she was widely regarded as a yes-woman to Julie Smith by the new board; but she'd endeared herself to the Delphi fans as someone who just really loved the club. In her place came Mark Pryor, who'd been tasked with keeping the club afloat. He agreed to stay until the end of the season; with further extensions contingent on whether the club stayed up in the first place. The club's first choice had been Desmond Clarke, but he'd joined Newark in their promotion push early in the Second Division season.

The other was one that had probably been the worst-kept secret in Tumbran football; Andrea Spinelli was announced as the new manager of Lakewood United. The 57 year-old marked his first press conference with the announcement that Adam Herlinger would be kept on as his assistant manager; and that he was relishing the scope of the task he had ahead of him. "Adam is, a fantastic person to have at my side," the Savigliano said in slightly-Sanford accented Terranean. "This is a fantastic club to be at, and I look forward to meeting all the managers in the league."

Nineteen matches and fifty-seven points remain. The top five are separated by two points. Who will end up as Premier Division champion?

MATCHDAY 20
Serrapince 3–0 Macarthur City
Hilton 24', Ritchie 65', D Lawrence 80'
Guillemard Town 1–2 Straton
Milburn 79'//Toussaint 12', Rivard 33'
Delphi Lionesses 1–0 Sturrey Athletic
Holt 34'
Fraser Valley 1–3 Lakewood City
Beckett 69'//Bernard 22', 48', McTavish 72'
Clark City 1–0 Hesham
Murphy 84'
FC Inter Nantwich 1–1 Columbia City
Coxeter 33'//Thesselborg 62'
West Couno United 3–2 Colbrook City
Reisinger 7', Vette 43', R Thomas 78'//E Ferguson 30', Gillingham 41'
Kirkby Railwaymen 1–4 Couno Rangers
Gorostieta 31'//Vaillancourt 6', 29', Hertel 49', Conder 73'
Lakewood United 2–1 Ridgewell Rovers
Desmond 8', 23'//Rouse 80'
Clyde Park 1–1 Kingsbury United
Escat 89'//Layton 43'

The rust evidently has been shaken off by Lakewood City, who rocket to a 3-1 victory courtesy of Ophelie Bernard and Samuel McTavish. It's an impressive victory for a side that some have written off, despite SixHundredFifty's 19% chance of City winning the league still. That hefty amount of money spent during the summer has done wonders. Back in Lakewood, Spinelli's first match sees Kirsten Desmond, who had been slowly eased out of the squad in favour of James Hunter or Travis Dolan, much to many fans' (and her) chagrin, score a brace; the look on her face as she sails down the wing is liberating. This is United, as the fans chant after the final whistle. We're here to stay. Kind words are exchanged with Chris Haines after the whistle; Haines himself refuses to divulge what happened during their conversation, but it's obviously left an impression.

Couno make their second half of the season, and their ambitions, known by knocking four past a hapless Kirkby; the Railwaymen are now winless in seven. When asked if his job was in any danger like Aiofe Ruth's or Mark Kirkham's, Kirkby manager Anthony Davies replies with a placid "no". Jean-Philippe Vaillancourt's brace is looked upon at wonder; the Quebecois midfielder is now seen as one of the best in Tumbra, combining a inhuman work rate with an attacking instinct few can match, and a mean tackle to boot. One Couno fan makes a mod for Back of the Net 12 that replaces the entire squad with one comprised entirely of Jean-Phillippe Vaillancourts and manages to win the league on their first try, much to the mirth of several others on the /s/footballmanagergames subseenit. The user, of course, gets several "awards" and "updoots" and "imaginary internet points".

WCU haven't dropped off either, with Reisinger scoring seven minutes into the end of the winter break, striker's instinct as primed as ever. Her goals, which often come early on in each half, have the side effect of garnering momentum in the club's direction. She possesses an uncanny ability to find a goal out of nowhere, which is often, but those early goals do tend to set the momentum going in WCU's direction. In his forty years of management, Bill Thompson says, he's never managed someone so eager to prove a point as Vasya.

Perhaps the happiest story of the week, however, is Gedeo Escat's return to claret and blue in Clyde; a sixtieth-minute substitute for a Clyde Park team desperately chasing down a one-goal deficit, the Tequiloa leaves it late but eventually scores in the eighty-ninth minute to secure a draw for the Lions. Escat is clearly emotional; he embraces Joep Martens, who later remarks that it was "important for both of us" even despite the somewhat disappointing result.

MATCHDAY 21
Clyde Park 1–3 Serrapince
Escat 67'//Sallay 23', Anggara 67', Perry 80'
Kingsbury United 1–4 Lakewood United
J Anderson 29'//Desmond 11', 17', Fontana 38', Dolan 73'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Canavan 25'
Couno Rangers 2–2 West Couno United
Nolan 17', Prost 82'//Vujanovic 35', Sitko 39'
Colbrook City 3–2 FC Inter Nantwich
Newton 28', A Anderson 55', 73'//Broadhurst 23', Daniels 65'
Columbia City 3–2 Clark City
Liang W 12', 24', 36'//C Campbell 49', Turner 77'
Hesham 3–0 Fraser Valley
Rostami 38', Glover 48', Bevins 79'
Lakewood City 3–2 Delphi Lionesses
Schärer 35', Vaughn 70', Henshaw 78'//Williams 80', Brooks 84'
Sturrey Athletic 1–0 Guillemard Town
Vowles 9'
Straton 3–2 Macarthur City
Liang T 20', J Lawrence 48', Rivard 62'//Bond 35', V Anderson 39'

Tino got himself injured across the winter break, so Straton have had to rely on their nominal back-up striker Helene-Anne Rivard. A hard worker but a quiet personality, Rivard's never complained about playing second fiddle to Tino; she grabs whatever chances she can get. It's probably something that doesn't cross many minds, but outside of City, Nantwich, Couno and Kingsbury, Straton have probably the best set of strikers in the league. Well, pair; they've only got two real strikers. But anyway. Straton themselves have been quietly building a case for themselves to return to the upper echelons of Tumbran football for quite some time now. Things were going fine, at first — there was a time when Vazsony Sallay, Pasargan extraordinaire and man with a cannon for a leg, played in red and blue — but financial troubles soon meant that Straton were forced to shed most of their overpaid squad. A few seasons of midtable muddling, and a break with a manager who'd clearly lost his passion for the club later, Mark Stevenson (most try to ignore that bit where Brian Devzies led the club for a season and a half) found himself at the reins of the club. That, and a stadium move out of a terrible stadium they didn't even fully own into one that they could play with to their heart's content (as long as the athletics track remained somewhat accessible) freed up funds. A lot of them.

But the pants-tightening also gave the club something it wouldn't have gotten otherwise: a young squad, scrimped and saved together from bits and pieces, with the occasional big name signing. There's Nigel Philips, one of the holdovers from the pre-broke days; Michael Toussaint, who came very close to leaving the club when the crisis was at its worst; Amund Freyrsson, Kaldtfjell refugee, and of course, Rivard and Tino, both of whom arrived for a song one year apart but have since bled themselves into the very DNA of the club. Yes, the club may still be seventh and some distance away from properly challenging for anything yet; but there's that sense of belief, now, of Mark's Men (and women) bravely leading the club on.

Elsewhere, Couno's tendency to draw their big matches lands them in big trouble as a draw in the Couno derby sees them lose the lead of the league to Serrapince. And, to be very brutal, it's really on the Rams. WCU weren't playing up to their usual standard; but Bruce Nolan kept skying his shots, meaning that Couno weren't able to equalise earlier. It took Frederick Prost, Mertagnian super-sub extraordinaire, being substituted on and deploying his usual tactic of Standing There and heading the ball into the net for Couno to rescue a point for the Rams. It wasn't pretty; but it was all that was needed. Things didn't get much better for Nantwich, who fell to Colbrook, of all teams; their pithy loss to the Canners meant they were five points off the top of the table. This wasn't meant to happen; they had one of the strongest, deepest squads in the league, and now they were losing to a team hovering outside the relegation zone.

MATCHDAY 22
Serrapince 2–1 Straton
McGrath 14', 28'//Dunstan 75'
Macarthur City 2–1 Sturrey Athletic
I McDermott 30', 40'//V Campbell 62'
Guillemard Town 0–5 Lakewood City
Henshaw 32', 37', 39', 83', Olsman 42'
Delphi Lionesses 0–1 Hesham
Russell 66'
Fraser Valley 1–2 Columbia City
Eyre 2'//Burnet 72', Coonan 83'
Clark City 0–0 Colbrook City

FC Inter Nantwich 3–1 Couno Rangers
Luo 57', Gell 68', 77'//Krzanowski 42'
West Couno United 2–0 Ridgewell Rovers
McIntyre 40', Vujanovic 66'
Kirkby Railwaymen 1–2 Kingsbury United
Collins 86'//J Hughes 42', Kim 87'
Lakewood United 2–0 Clyde Park
Horvat 70', Mycroft 79'

If there were ever a clearer sign needed that Charlotte Henshaw was shaping up to be the next Nick Riordan or Bruce Nolan, then surely four goals against Guillemard was it. Sure, it'd be difficult to match up to someone of such prodigious talent like Felixe Vetiver or Angus Jack, but there was something about Henshaw that seemed uniquely hers. Maybe it was the way her blond hair bounced as she chased after ball after ball, a look bordering on murderous in her eyes as she kept looking for ways to break a tired Guillemard squad down. Maybe it was the way her feet handled the ball, staring down Tony Baldwin or Bryan Chappelle, deftly skirting and hugging the line, looking to pass onto somewhere else. Or maybe it was just the way she shot, which didn't look like a typical striker's shot. Nobody couldn't argue that it didn't work, though; four goals in four shots on target on seven shots the whole game was an impressive conversion rate, and she was now rightly a contender for Young Player of the Year. It said a lot, too, that she was even being considered; so many names had broken out this season that it felt difficult keeping track of all of them. Vette, Vujanovic, Krzanowski, Coleman, Schärer, Anderson (Vivianne, not James nor Asa or Alexander or even Brian), Canavan, Baker (Charlie)...the end of season award list could probably fill an entire eleven.

Kim Chae-yeong of Kingsbury probably wouldn't be on this season's list, but the Quebecois winger, all of eighteen years of age, put out another prodigious performance against Kirkby in one of her cameos. She may not have been prepared for a full-time role on the world stage yet — her body still too young for the rigours of playing ninety, week in, week out — but what little Kingsbury fans had seen of her had certainly left fans hungering for more. Her goal — an intense solo performance in the dying minutes of the game against Kirkby, enough to break the deadlock in the direction of the Princelings — was a thing of beauty, and a sign of things to come. Hopefully. She did jump out of the way of a tackle that looked more like attempted murder two minutes later, something that drew intense apologies from Rilan-Paliv Abe, so there's still that for her to be worried about. But overall? Things look fine.

MATCHDAY 23
Lakewood United 1–4 Serrapince
Considine 45' + 3'//Ritchie 36', Abril og. 44', Eschborn 58', Sallay 60'
Clyde Park 1–1 Kirkby Railwaymen
May 24'//Bowen 90' + 5'
Kingsbury United 2–2 West Couno United
J Anderson 15', Schwartz 36'//Reisinger 60', Steel 77'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–3 FC Inter Nantwich
Borzoi 44'//Spekman 7', Haines 39', R Baker 82'
Couno Rangers 3–2 Clark City
Nolan 20', Krzanowski 45', Conder 68'//Walker 34', 55'
Colbrook City 2–0 Fraser Valley
King 19', Bruune 75'
Columbia City 1–0 Delphi Lionesses
Haller 38'
Hesham 0–0 Guillemard Town

Lakewood City 3–1 Macarthur City
Wague 24', Vaughn 27', Reed 85'//A Morgan 62'
Sturrey Athletic 0–1 Straton
C Baker 64'

Questions over Bill Thompson's successor raged after the 71 year-old manager, best described as having the skin tone and body shape of a particularly rotund beet, was pictured being very friendly with Samara Kaniatarii, a woman 24 years his junior, after West Couno's 2-2 match with Kingsbury. Once the question of whether Thompson was flirting with Kaniatarii was cleared up — "I'll have to make sure the wife doesn't have any unsheathed knives around me when I'm home, thanks to you lot trying to make something out of nothing" — Thompson became visibly more evasive once the question of his successor was raised. "That's a business decision best left to those in suits," he grunted, "I never particularly fit well into those." He was very much full of praise for the Quebecois manager's skill, though, but preferred to keep the chat on the title fight.

Kaniatarii, for her part, kept equally mum on the prospect of her jumping ship after four years at Kingsbury. "I have a job to do here at Fletcher, and I'm committed to that for the immediate future," came the corporate-friendly response. Another statement of hers later in the press conference, though, revealed that she might choose to head for greener pastures if the new owners chose to take the club in a different direction. "I'm not blind. I know what happens when clubs get taken over, and while I'll definitely be happy staying where I am, I will take the chance to re-evaluate my career path," came the much less corporate-friendly remark.

Elsewhere, Spinelli's honeymoon was brought to an abrupt end as Serrapince put four past United. The Savigliano, though, was full of praise for his opposite number, Danny Haverhead. "Serrapince have a lot of guts, a lot of spirit, a lot of spavalderia," searching for a while for the right word to describe his opponents. "Definitely a lot for me to learn from them about, as always." The /s/lakewoodunited subseenit had a bit of a civil war afterwards, with one camp describing Spinelli as "someone that looked about ten thousand feet out of depth against Serrapince and still had the gall to praise them after" and the other saying Spinelli was "a master of the shithouse, just lulling enemies into a false sense of security by saying nice things about them and then smashing them afterwards." With just four Lakewood United games under his belt, conclusions were a little bit too early to be drawn, and the good feelings were still present. Even if SixHundredFifty did now give them like a 2% chance of winning the league. Oh well. There's always next season.

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5
 1 Serrapince             23   16   6   1    59   25  +34    54   ▲1   DWWWW
 2 Lakewood City          23   16   5   2    61   28  +33    53   ▲3   WWWWW
 3 Couno Rangers          23   15   5   3    55   31  +24    50   ▼2   LWDLW
 4 West Couno United      23   15   5   3    47   26  +21    50   ▼1   WWDWD
 5 FC Inter Nantwich      23   15   4   4    50   36  +14    49   ▼1   LDLWW
 6 Lakewood United        23   14   1   8    40   33   +7    43   -0   WWWWL
 7 Straton                23   11   6   6    43   30  +13    39   ▲1   WWWLW
 8 Hesham                 23   11   5   7    33   22  +11    38   ▼1   WLWWD
 9 Kingsbury United       23   10   5   8    39   36   +3    35   -0   DDLWD
10 Columbia City          23   10   5   8    35   32   +3    35   ▲2   LDWWW
11 Ridgewell Rovers       23    9   3  11    29   33   −4    30   -0   LLWLL
12 Clyde Park             23    8   5  10    29   33   −4    29   ▼2   WDLLD
13 Macarthur City         23    6   8   9    37   48  −11    26   -0   WLLWL
14 Fraser Valley          23    6   4  13    19   35  −16    22   -0   WLLLL
15 Colbrook City          23    6   3  14    26   47  −21    21   ▲1   WLWLW
16 Sturrey Athletic       23    6   2  15    20   34  −14    20   ▼1   LLWLL
17 Clark City             23    4   5  14    29   46  −17    17   -0   LWLLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Delphi Lionesses       23    4   3  16    16   37  −21    15   -0   LWLLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Kirkby Railwaymen      23    2   6  15    15   38  −23    12   -0   LLLLD
20 Guillemard Town        23    2   2  19    12   44  −32     8   -0   LLLLD

by **Tumbra** » Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:59 pm

THE 126TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE FOURTH ROUND

The last week of February sees a return to the Republic Cup, where sixteen teams — fourteen from the Premier Division and two from the Second Division — go at it to determine the eight sides that will go into the quarter-final in five weeks' time. The two sides from the second tier that have made it this far — North Thornton and Timbourne — have matches against local rivals Sturrey (which makes it a must-watch!) and, uh, Serrapince. It was nice knowing you, Timbourne; your run this far will be respected.

Timbourne and North Thornton do fall, but North Thornton's game against Sturrey is far more exciting than most would admit. North Thornton and Sturrey don't get to meet often, and it's a show of real partisan loyalties when they do; a real match that shows the clashing of the Thornton spirit. As a state, Thornton got hit particularly hard by de-industrialisation in the 80s, when its manufacturing jobs left the country en masse; it's joined the ranks of Southwestern states that have seen its incomes plummet. As a region, the Southwest ranks last in almost every conceivable economic and quality-of-life metric, and when it doesn't it's often second last to the Northwest. A match like this is important, but beyond reasons that can be put onto paper.

Ian Coleman's eighty-sixth minute header does put Sturrey ahead and through to the next round, but at the end, despite the clubs' enmity, there's a shared sense of solidarity too. Thorntonites stick together.

Elsewhere, the defending champions' run comes to an end, as Couno are outscored by Columbia. Nantwich, too, knocked out, unable to respond to Lakewood United's veritable barrage of goals. But otherwise, the wins were about expected; and at this point, it's about a coin-flip for who wins and who loses anyway.

The Republic Cup returns after Matchday 28.

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART SIX: MATCHDAYS 24-28

The top five are separated by six points. That's also the margin between the fifth-placed side, Nantwich, and the sixth-placed side, United. Serrapince's wholly-unexpected title challenge has retained its momentum, surprising most who expected it to be a rematch between Couno and Nantwich, with appearances from City trying to spoil the party. But Couno are four points off and Nantwich are six adrift, and City are Serrapince's strongest competition right now. And amidst all this, there's also the wildcard of West Couno — who still seem to be putting on the pace. Manager Bill Thompson is relaxed on the team's title chances, saying they're "two to three signings away from a title challenge", but is also strangely sad about the fact that he won't be the one leading them on this hypothetical title challenge.

MATCHDAY 24
Serrapince 4–0 Sturrey Athletic
Coulson 24', Hilton 44', 68', Ness 57'
Straton 3–0 Lakewood City
Tino 33', 86', T Lawrence og. 50'
Macarthur City 2–4 Hesham
Marsden 40', V Anderson 66'//Fletcher 23', Glover 43', Thompson 66', Russell 85'
Guillemard Town 0–0 Columbia City

Delphi Lionesses 0–2 Colbrook City
Grimley 68', Yeltsov 88'
Fraser Valley 1–1 Couno Rangers
Barker 38'//Fortier 88'
Clark City 1–0 Ridgewell Rovers
Millar 49'
FC Inter Nantwich 1–0 Kingsbury United
Gell 72'
West Couno United 2–0 Clyde Park
Vette 43', Wright 80'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–1 Lakewood United
Horvat 80'

Tino's return to full match fitness is marked by a three-nil demolishing of Lakewood City, in which he scores a brace and would nearly have netted a hat-trick if not for the ball taking an unlucky deflection off Tom Lawrence's ankle. Otherwise, it's a superb performance by the Verdean striker; who leads his team, with two former Lakewood City players, to victory over their former clubs. The gap lengthens; Serrapince now have a four-point lead over the rest of the league as they score four past a slow-moving Sturrey Athletic.

Kirkby hold on for eighty minutes against Lakewood United before sheer force of will from Josip Horvat breaks through and breaks the deadlock; the goal marks an end to a resolute performance from United, in which it seemed that Corinne Fontana just could not break away from the presence of Philip Chamberlain. Chamberlain, a former Hesham youth product, hadn't really been given the chance to shine at the Ploughmen due to his relatively short stature; but excelled at man-marking and technique, displaying those characteristics when marking Corinne Fontana off the pitch. Spinelli paid his compliments to the twenty-three year-old defender; marking speculation over whether United might pursue a move for the defender if/when Kirkby went down, though Spinelli did also seem to be complimenting anything that crossed his path recently.

Clark City pulled a fast one out on Ridgewell as David Millar scored near the beginning of the second half before the Red Devils basically shut up shop; neither Heidi Canavan nor Ottavio Bonucci were able to find ways past the Devils' defence as they hung on for dear life to steal a 1-0 win. The result meant that Clark were technically safe for now, as they and seventeenth-placed Sturrey Athletic were both five points ahead of eighteenth-placed Delphi Lionesses; whom, despite a new manager and a win during Mark Pryor's first match in charge, had now lost five games in a row after losing to Colbrook City and their new teenage star, Fedya Yeltsov.

MATCHDAY 25
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–2 Serrapince
Sallay 85', D Lawrence 88'
Lakewood United 4–0 West Couno United
Fontana 13', 19', Considine 38', Horvat 65'
Clyde Park 2–4 FC Inter Nantwich
Escat 24', Gomboult 59'//Zheng 20', Fisher 39', 77', Spekman 48'
Kingsbury United 0–0 Clark City

Ridgewell Rovers 0–1 Fraser Valley
Xilix-Oxolt 66'
Couno Rangers 4–1 Delphi Lionesses
Conder 38', Hertel 45', Krzanowski 69', Kearney 88'//Zuniga 80'
Colbrook City 0–0 Guillemard Town

Columbia City 2–0 Macarthur City
Thesselborg 40', L Marshall 83'
Hesham 3–4 Straton
Mu 13', Dodds og. 34', Deighton 87'//Dunstan 6', Osbourne 40', C Baker 68', Tino 82'
Lakewood City 2–0 Sturrey Athletic
Bernard 15', 84'

Kirkby's strategy nearly works once more, with Serrapince's offensive firepower proving too much for the Railwaymen to bear in the last ten minutes of the game. Again, the Silvers are forced to watch as their hard-earned and well-trained defensive strategy falls apart after eighty minutes. Anthony Davies says that his team needs just a little more practice on bringing games home; but that's two valuable points that could've been in Kirkby's account gone right there. Given that Delphi are just three points ahead of Kirkby and don't look like scoring any more anytime soon, it stings even more.

One team whose strategy seems to be working is Guillemard, who successfully ices Colbrook out to take home a valuable point home. At this stage of the season, Guillemard just seem to be doing as good as they possibly can; Jordan Green doesn't even seem that interested in staying up. Successive draws against Columbia and Colbrook, though, do pay testament to the interim manager's skills; and there are rumours he is angling for an assistant manager's job at a bigger club once Guillemard go down. Being just 48 himself, Green's career still has a while to go, and he's quickly earning a reputation as a manager that can do things with a defence. Kirkby could sure do with someone like that...

Elsewhere, City recover from their defeat by beating Sturrey 2-0; it's not a particularly spectacular win or anything, just City going through the notions; but the fact that they can play at what looks to be 65% and still get a comfortable win over a mid-to-lower midtable side is staggering. It's not a match many are particularly invested in; Gateway search engine, which provides match odds for most football matches throughout the world before kickoff, gave City an 87% chance of winning before kickoff, and City only had 48,000 people attending the match.

The midtable battle continues to heat up, with Straton emerging atop a back-and-forth battle at Hesham; Hesham, unfortunately, run out of time to try and come back at Straton. Even more frustratingly (and cruelly), yet another Lucas Russell goal was counted out after VAR deemed it offside. This time, though, it actually was offside, though the game had to be paused for a bit as the chance of a pitch invasion by irate Hesham fans was deemed too high. Cruel? Yes. But not as cruel as the 4-0 defeat West Couno suffered at the hands of United, a result that saw WCU slump to fifth as United tore the West Couno defences apart. Was there a way back from this?

MATCHDAY 26
Serrapince 0–2 Lakewood City
Bernard 27', Vaughn 80'
Sturrey Athletic 0–2 Hesham
Noble 36', Bevins 45'
Straton 2–4 Columbia City
Tino 44', Osbourne 72'//Thesselborg 30', 76', Liang W 48', Coonan 55'
Macarthur City 3–1 Colbrook City
R Morgan 36', 60', Kinzinger 51'//A Anderson 44'
Guillemard Town 0–0 Couno Rangers

Delphi Lionesses 1–1 Ridgewell Rovers
Chung 42'//Bonucci 85'
Fraser Valley 0–0 Kingsbury United

Clark City 1–2 Clyde Park
Hoskins 7'//Escat 60', 69'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–0 Lakewood United
Moore og. 3', Coxeter 81'
West Couno United 3–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Reisinger 14', 29', 62'

Vasya Reisinger finally gets her hat-trick, twenty-six games into the season. The anger on her face was palpable; her team getting steamrollered by United the previous week probably didn't do her temper many favours. It takes just fourteen minutes for Reisinger to begin unlocking the Couno defence, striking once after sidestepping a clumsy tackle from Rilan-Paliv; she struck again fifteen minutes later, after what seemed like a traditional goal-mouth scrabble, and then just hour the after mark Reisinger received the ball on the halfway mark and then consequently dribbled her way to the goal. Kirkby are in shambles; the prospect of Anthony Davies becoming the season's fourth managerial casualty is suddenly much higher after:

1. Delphi gain a point after forcing a draw out of Ridgewell, and
2. Guillemard continue their shtick of forcing 0-0 draws out of much stronger teams, this time doing it against Couno to close the gap between Guillemard and Kirkby to one point.

It's not exactly a nice thing to look at Kirkby's form table, especially when the side have now lost their seven of their past eight games and their last win was fourteen matches ago. Could someone else be doing a better job? Making up eight points to safety in twelve matches wasn't an impossible task, difficult as it may be; and if Davies failed, at any point, to convince the upper brass that he was the right man for the job, there was always a chance that other managers like Brendan Howard or even Brian Devzies may step in.

Elsewhere in the league, Serrapince's nicely-built up four point lead over the league was brought crashing down to earth as Ophelie Bernard and Robin Vaughn ran riot over the Bees. Bernard, who's self-admittedly been feeling a lot more stressed than usual — and who in her position wouldn't be, with one of Tumbra's hottest young strikers (in both senses of the term) and one of Brookstation's most promising talents constantly fighting with her for one starting spot, was seen a lot more relaxed after her opening goal against Serrapince. There were rumours she was considering a move; either out of the country or to a side that was in need of a striker, like Clyde Park; but she'd rubbished all those rumours. "I love Lakewood City, and I'm here to stay," she went on the record after her brace against Sturrey last matchday. "I'm not leaving; I'm here to fight for my spot." Despite Henshaw's magnificent rise in the squad (and that four-goal spree against Guillemard), Bernard still remains first choice striker for City. For now, at least.

United's 4-0 win against WCU last week is followed up by an uncharacteristically sluggish performance against Nantwich, a Douglas Moore own goal starting things off on the wrong foot. "Sometimes things don't work out like you want them to, sometimes the team doesn't play up to your expectations," said Spinelli after the game. "Today, regrettably, the team was lackluster, and so was my coaching." It's a truly disappointing loss for the Savigliano, whose easygoing nature has quickly become something journalists have become comfortable with; so to hear him be so negative about something is a bit shocking for those assembled. "But we'll come back stronger soon," he says with a mischievous grin.

MATCHDAY 27
West Couno United 2–0 Serrapince
McIntyre 24', Reisinger 39'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–0 FC Inter Nantwich

Lakewood United 2–1 Clark City
Fontana 48', Horvat 81'//Clark 62'
Clyde Park 2–0 Fraser Valley
Kearnes 51', Markozy 63'
Kingsbury United 2–0 Delphi Lionesses
J Anderson 24', Perkkanen 67'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–0 Guillemard Town
Canavan 78'
Couno Rangers 4–1 Macarthur City
Nolan 5', N Coleman 28', 86', Kent og. 34'//McDermott 60'
Colbrook City 2–4 Straton
E Ferguson 6', 74'//Osbourne 30', C Baker 57', Rivard 68', 74'
Columbia City 0–1 Sturrey Athletic
Evans-Jones 42'
Hesham 0–1 Lakewood City
Fraser 60'

And the lead of the league is lost for the first time in six weeks; Serrapince's loss to West Couno, still trying to make up for their loss to United that one time, means that City assume a slender one-point lead after Neil Fraser's strike puts the Skyblues ahead. It's been a long time coming for City fans; they've seen their club flounder across recent seasons, a four-year title drought in which the team have looked remarkably toothless. Shamelessly, it's a raft of investment in the club that's seen them succeed once more — Samuel McTavish, Txomin Huon, Mathias Scharer, et cetera — but City fans, who are used to being bankrolled since they were taken over in 2004 by local magnate come good John Ashburn, have come to see success as every part of their DNA. Never mind the fact that the rest of the Big Six still give them somewhat dirty looks for "buying" their way to success; how else did Nantwich win their title two seasons ago? Or Serrapince that time they broke the Prem record for most points scored in a season? Money's the way to make it in the Prem these days, which is an unfortunate harsh reality. Or it would be harsher if the Prem hadn't also seen the success stories of clubs like Clyde, Hesham, Columbia and now West Couno; but the cynical naysayer will say that it requires money for sustained success.

Elsewhere, the noisy neighbours blow Clark City away 2-1, to Spinelli's great satisfaction; and while Mason Clark, the Sanfordan, gets one back on United — a swooping move that the Midcontinental player loops into the net with a flourish — United generally get their gameplan off and press well. It's tough to see what tactical approach United will be going for; Spinelli coyly says that the remainder of this season is "to see where I go forward with the team," but here they adopt a very hard press against a side that they know is much weaker than them. It works; but Max Mycroft has to be subbed off on the hour mark for Considine.

Kirkby finally hold Nantwich to a draw, perhaps saving Davies' job for the time being; but it's really ignored in the grand scheme of things as people attempt to read too much into what West Couno did to Serrapince. Colbrook go down 2-4 to Straton, who have somehow grown a knack for getting involved in high-scoring games lately. And lastly, Guillemard's luck runs out against that enigmatic striker, Heidi Canavan, whose smile after denying the Engineers a fourth consecutive goalless draw does have to be seen to be believed. Maybe it's the satisfaction of cracking a nut that hasn't been cracked in two hundred and seventy minutes. But in this case, the nut's a football team

MATCHDAY 28
Serrapince 4–1 Hesham
Sallay 15', Ritchie 37', Hilton 60', McGrath 82'//Rostami 23'
Lakewood City 0–0 Columbia City

Sturrey Athletic 4–2 Colbrook City
Mercer 29', 42', Rossum 62', Robert 80'//A Anderson 26', 54'
Straton 0–1 Couno Rangers
Hertel 33'
Macarthur City 1–1 Ridgewell Rovers
V Anderson 40'//Ghislane 73'
Guillemard Town 0–1 Kingsbury United
Cheschon 66'
Delphi Lionesses 1–3 Clyde Park
Sweeney 35'//May 2', Calare 48', 67'
Fraser Valley 4–2 Lakewood United
Barker 40', 66', Beckett 48', 75//Considine 36', 71'
Clark City 0–2 Kirkby Railwaymen
Frist 28', Eagleton 77'
FC Inter Nantwich 1–0 West Couno United
Fisher 59'

And just as quickly as the lead was lost by Serrapince do they re-take it; as City and Columbia battle for a single point in Lakewood. Serrapince's victory over Hesham is remarkable not just for its magnitude but for the surgical precision of the way the Bees dissect the Ploughmen; Rostami's goal in the twenty-third minute is the only time Serrapince allow a shot on goal. It's no wonder that they've sustained this title challenge; despite being rank underdogs to Couno and Nantwich, they've remained consistent (recent dip in form notwithstanding) and attacking. They're now the favourites for the league, even with the tight five-way fight for it refusing to let up.

Nantwich deal WCU's title hopes another blow, sending them sliding down to fifth (still seven points ahead of Lakewood United, if there was a point of comparison needed). Most fans are realistic about their title chances — they're lucky to be this far into the title race, with ten games remaining, and being just four points off the league title — but there's always a propensity to let your mind wander. After all, WCU have been home to some of the biggest meltdowns of the past eight years; rocketing up to the top early, then falling off, hard, so is it little wonder that some have begun to dream? After all, Vuj-Vasya-Vette is working perfectly, and could be the team's attacking lineup for at least the next half decade. All they need is a defensive signing here, and a midfield there, and suddenly everything's looking in-place for a title challenge...

Elsewhere, Kirkby produce a rare win over Clark, keeping a clean sheet while they're at it. The win, coupled with Delphi's own chronic inability to win, moves Kirkby into the relative safety of the playoff zone with ten games to go. That is, at least, a modicum of hope for the Railwaymen; though it does set off panic stations at Delphi, with rumours that Pryor's very short tenure at Delphi is about to end with a sacking. Or with Pryor walking out; different sources have different takes on the situations, though Pryor remains committed to the club for the short-term, at least. Things are not good in the other Serrapince club, it seems; as the league begins to count down its last nine hundred minutes of football, it looks increasingly likely that Delphi will be heading down into the Second Division after six seasons of Premiership football.

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5
 1 Serrapince             28   19   6   3    69   30  +39    63   -0   WWLLW
 2 Lakewood City          28   19   6   3    66   31  +35    63   -0   LWWWD
 3 FC Inter Nantwich      28   19   5   4    58   38  +20    62   ▲2   WWWDW
 4 Couno Rangers          28   18   7   3    65   34  +31    61   ▼1   WWDWW
 5 West Couno United      28   18   5   5    54   31  +23    59   ▼1   WLWWL
 6 Lakewood United        28   17   1  10    49   40   +9    52   -0   WWLWL
 7 Straton                28   14   6   8    56   40  +16    48   -0   WWLWL
 8 Hesham                 28   13   5  10    43   33  +10    44   -0   WLWLL
 9 Columbia City          28   12   7   9    41   35   +6    43   ▲1   DWWLD
10 Kingsbury United       28   12   7   9    42   37   +5    43   ▼1   LDDWW
11 Clyde Park             28   11   5  12    38   41   −3    38   ▲1   LLWWW
12 Ridgewell Rovers       28   10   5  13    32   37   −5    35   ▼1   LLDWD
13 Fraser Valley          28    8   6  14    25   40  −15    30   ▲1   DWDLW
14 Macarthur City         28    7   9  12    44   60  −16    30   ▼1   LLWLD
15 Sturrey Athletic       28    8   2  18    25   44  −19    26   ▲1   LLLWW
16 Colbrook City          28    7   4  17    33   58  −25    25   ▼1   WDLLL
17 Clark City             28    5   6  17    32   52  −20    21   -0   WDDLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Kirkby Railwaymen      28    3   7  18    17   44  −27    16   ▲1   LLLDW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Delphi Lionesses       28    4   4  20    19   49  −30    16   ▼1   LLDLL
20 Guillemard Town        28    2   5  21    12   46  −34    11   -0   DDDLL

by **Tumbra** » Mon Oct 03, 2022 11:36 am

THE 126TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE QUARTER FINAL

Eight teams remain, and all of them are Premier Division teams. Funnily enough, though only three of them are members of the Big Six; the other five are regular-old members, and two of them are even supposedly members of the club that are meant to be fighting against relegation. It's guaranteed, too, that at least one of the three Big Six members will be knocked out; Lakewood United got drawn against Serrapince.

Surprisingly, United manage to stop a second-string Serrapince in their tracks. It's a singular goal from Richard Adams that separates the two sides; Serrapince don't seem to be quite bothered by the loss, and fewer than 6,000 fans make the long trip down south to watch the Bees get knocked out of the Republic Cup. Craig McGrath pays lip service to the Cup, and regrets that the club have been knocked out, but deep down Serrapince fans really care more about the league at this point.

In the other matches, City thrash Clark 4-1. There's no mercy shown there, as Riedweld declares that as long as he's in charge of the club, he'll be aiming to win every competition his team finds itself in. Hesham beat a nervy Ridgewell on penalties, something that surely won't bode well for the two clubs' league chances — playing a hundred and twenty full minutes this late into the season, with a mostly first-choice eleven surely can't be healthy — while Sturrey reach into their hat of magic tricks and score two goals in extra time. Vatnarsson even manages to avoid picking up a card in extra time.

The final four are set; there's almost no doubt amongst fans that the draw will be "massaged" to ensure that there's a Lakewood Derby in the final. Regardless, though, the Republic Cup returns after Matchday 33.

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART SEVEN: MATCHDAYS 29-33

Four points separate the top five. None of the top four realistic title contenders feel like they're letting up. Or, if they are letting up, their losses are mostly cushioned by the other members of the Big Five dropping points. Their stories have all had enough elucidating; Serrapince are the dark horse making an unexpected title challenge, City are an old name rising back to the top, Nantwich are perpetually strong and making a charge for a title they felt they'd unjustly lost, Couno are scrabbling to defend their title and West Couno are being fired on by their inimitable offence of the Triple V. Behind them, United seem to be trundling along in no man's land, seemingly consigned to sixth; while the maelstrom that calls itself the midfield battles amongst itself, six teams separated by thirteen points while all looking hopefully at scoring as little cards as possible to gain an elusive chance that they'll get invited to the VCIAPP. The relegation fight looks moot this year; everyone knows that Delphi, Kirkby and Guillemard are going down. The only question is in what order they will. Kirkby manager Anthony Davies looks like he's holding on to his job for dear life; surely now it's too late to change horses midstream. He hopes.

Ten matchdays remain. Nine hundred minutes of football.

MATCHDAY 29
FC Inter Nantwich 1–1 Serrapince
W Thomas 38'//Knežević 60'
West Couno United 3–0 Clark City
Vette 4', Wright 38', R Thomas 64'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–2 Fraser Valley
Greer 16', 85'
Lakewood United 2–2 Delphi Lionesses
Hunter 23', Atkinson 62'//D Moore og. 45', Lai 53'
Clyde Park 3–2 Guillemard Town
Calare 22', 49', Murdoch 73'//Lachmann 61', Hailstorm 85'
Kingsbury United 2–1 Macarthur City
Winter 20', Cheschon 49'//Huxley 35'
Ridgewell Rovers 3–2 Straton
Borzoi 35', Steele 49', Kristensen 82'//Woodhouse 18', Sartain 40'
Couno Rangers 3–2 Sturrey Athletic
Evers 23', Hargrove 49', Prost 77'//Mercer 36', V Campbell 89'
Colbrook City 1–3 Lakewood City
Grimley 80'//Reed 24', Appleby 70', Wague 88'
Columbia City 1–1 Hesham
Crnogorčević 87'//Min 4'

The Bees and the Bulls battle themselves to a draw, a Maxim Knezevic goal on the hour mark cancelling out a Walter Thomas header in the middle of the first half; the result, of course, sees Lakewood City, themselves playing a heavily rotated squad, take the lead of the league after grinding out a win against Colbrook. It's almost a matter of inevitability at this point; City can and will always be there to take advantage of when the team in the lead of the league drops points. Couno have a bit of trouble against Sturrey, but pull through in the end thanks to a goal from super-sub Frederick Prost; while WCU have no trouble at all demolishing Clark City 3-0 as they desperately try to stay in the title fight.

Delphi's stay of execution is extended after they somehow hold United to a draw; Douglas Moore has a nightmare of an afternoon as he announces before the game he's leaving Lakewood United at the end of the season, then somehow scores an own goal. And the worst part of it all is that the goal matters; Lai Sinyue scores eight minutes after the second half begins, and United fail to come up with enough moments of magic to bring home all three points. It's celebrations for Delphi, however; the result means that they move up one spot into the playoff. Which they might win. Considering that third in the Second Division right now is Bencoolen, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that they could pull one more trick on the gallows and escape for one more season. They just need to hold on.

In the midfield, Ridgewell come out on top over Straton after a thoroughly entertaining match in which all three of Ridgewell's chosen front three score; Felicity Woodhouse and Desmond Sartain score in retaliation for the Senators but it's not enough. The Rovers seem to have settled down under the leadership of Chris Haines; sure, they might not have Finney at left-back anymore, but he was overdue a move to a big club anyway and Serrapince were in need of a left-back. Haines, who is still as excitable as ever, seems to have gotten to grips with management after his first stint at Newton; and shown flashes of undoubted talent with the Rovers.

MATCHDAY 30
Serrapince 4–1 Columbia City
Sallay 28', Trimble 62', Ritchie 74', 90' + 3'//Liang W 32'
Hesham 2–1 Colbrook City
Nexev-Kresp 36', Deighton 55'//Newton 84'
Lakewood City 0–2 Couno Rangers
Nolan 22', 40'
Sturrey Athletic 1–2 Ridgewell Rovers
P Philips 50'//Canavan 24', 81'
Straton 3–1 Kingsbury United
Cole 8', C Baker 23', 48'//J Anderson 26'
Macarthur City 2–0 Clyde Park
Jennings 14', 88'
Guillemard Town 3–4 Lakewood United
Haywood 26', 40', Hailstorm 33'//Abril 59', Desmond 81', Horvat 83', Jepson 89'
Delphi Lionesses 1–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Caroline 6'
Fraser Valley 1–1 West Couno United
Bush 38'//McIntyre 81'
Clark City 0–1 FC Inter Nantwich
Coxeter 44'

Couno go to the Lakewood City Arena, carrying themselves with confidence and the belief that they'll be able to show up the league leaders, who've been nigh unstoppable. Bruce Nolan is back at full fitness; and he scores, twice. Archetypical big game player, that striker seems to be; shushing the Arena after he scores after twenty minutes and doing a full-pitch sprint with his team after the second goal in the fortieth. Nothing seems to go City's way; shot after shot by Vaughn seemed to be saved by the unimpeachable Andrew Taylor, while Charlotte Henshaw was carted off injured after sixty minutes. The result means that Serrapince re-take the lead of the league after just one matchday; while City slump to third.

WCU's bid to stay in the title fight is dealt a small blow as they're forced into a draw with Fraser; but they're not even playing well today. Reisinger's ruled out by a small injury picked out in training; seeing Dominic Clyne trying to play in the Reisinger role is frustrating. Already that's something that the next manager of West Couno will have to work on; and speculation continues to intensify that that name will be Samara Kaniatarii. The news on the grapevine is that she'll be looking to leave as the sale to the Tikariot-based Ravenstone Group goes through in the summer, to give them a fresh start; and it just so happens that she's also number one on Bill Thompson's list of potential successors. Will she be able to translate a high-firing front three into a title challenge? After all, if Thompson got them this close...

More modest expectations are in play at Hesham, as a win against Colbrook brings them to within touching distance of fifty points. William Wight's first season may have been a bit wobbly, but the former Clark City winger has proven himself as a safe, secure manager; and while he rubbishes the prospect of a Hesham title challenge in WCU's vein, there are signs he's destined to make it big as a manager one day.

Anthony Davies edges closer and closer to sackings' door as he loses a must-win game against Delphi; the result means they're four points behind with eight games remaining. He admits that he may be in danger, but he'll keep putting in shifts as the league season draws to a close. Their next game is against Guillemard, who are bottom of the league; surely Kirkby will be able to eke out a win there! Surely!

MATCHDAY 31
Clark City 0–4 Serrapince
Hilton 15', Ness 40', D Lawrence 66', 87'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–0 Fraser Valley
Fisher 31', Spekman 42'
West Couno United 2–0 Delphi Lionesses
Reisinger 48', Vette 77'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–3 Guillemard Town
le Gall 19', Illsley 38', 81'
Lakewood United 4–1 Macarthur City
Fontana 11', Horvat 34', Considine 62', Desmond 78'//V Anderson 70'
Clyde Park 0–0 Straton

Kingsbury United 0–0 Sturrey Athletic

Ridgewell Rovers 0–5 Lakewood City
Vaughn 11', 20', Bernard 40', 86', Fraser 75'
Couno Rangers 4–1 Hesham
N Coleman 12', Hertel 35', Conder 74', Vaillancourt 83'//Russell 48'
Colbrook City 3–3 Columbia City
E Ferguson 8', 64', Gillingham 33'//Thesselborg 20', 48', Bello 69'

Anthony Davies makes it ten minutes after the game against Guillemard before he's served his notice. Patience had run out; the club had failed to win against bottom-of-the-league Guillemard, for God's sake. They'd scored an average of one goal a bit more than every other game, had a somewhat dismal clean sheet record, and just couldn't seem to string together five passes. There just wasn't much Anthony Davies could do to rescue this team. Paul Cramner, former manager of Glenmont, is yanked from the dole and given six matches to fix everything. Or get sacked.

The smart money's on sacked. Beats being on the dole though. Bit hard to get a punditry gig when your CV largely consists of "keeping a bang average squad in seventeenth for five and a bit seasons".

Serrapince and Couno both hit seventy points, Serrapince demolishing Clark 4-0 with a Dague Lawrence brace to secure the win, while Couno go on a tear (that's interrupted somewhat when Lucas Russell takes advantage of a sluggish start to the second half to score one on the break) to beat Hesham 4-1. It's still not enough to shake off any of the title competitors, though; Nantwich win 2-0 against Fraser, while City smash Ridgewell by an eye-watering 5-0 scoreline to keep pace.

The win itself is the stuff of dreams, by the way; Ridgewell have several players out thanks to injury, resulting in their starting back four having an average age of 20.5. Vaughn breaks the deadlock after eleven minutes, and scores his brace nine minutes later. Ophelie Bernard strikes before the half-time whistle, making it three by the break; then Ridgewell are given a respite as City seemingly ease off the scoring; but Neil Fraser, with fifteen minutes to go, strike a tired Ridgewell for another. With five to go, Bernard scores City's fifth; it's as much a mercy kill as it is a final blow. The whistle goes after the two minutes of extra time; nobody really seems interested in playing after the board goes up.

MATCHDAY 32
Serrapince 5–0 Colbrook City
Sallay 24', 76', 85', Hilton 36', Anggara 55'
Columbia City 0–2 Couno Rangers
Prost 33', 80'
Hesham 1–1 Ridgewell Rovers
Thompson 80'//Canavan 31'
Lakewood City 4–1 Kingsbury United
Ashburn 30', Mixon 38', Schärer 49', 58'//J Hughes 73'
Sturrey Athletic 2–1 Clyde Park
Roberts 40', Nunnaro 77'//Calare 32'
Straton 0–0 Lakewood United

Macarthur City 2–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Huxley 60', Kinzinger 82'
Guillemard Town 0–2 West Couno United
Allison 49', R Thomas 68'
Delphi Lionesses 0–1 FC Inter Nantwich
Broadhurst 90' + 2'
Fraser Valley 0–0 Clark City

The title race won't let up. Nantwich bail themselves out courtesy of a Michelle Broadhurst goal; they get their three points. Couno give Frederick Prost a run-out; he scores a brace and has a third goal ruled out by VAR, much to everyone's dismay. It's hard to dislike Fred Prost; the Mertagnian striker actually starts for his nation, but here he fulfils his role as backup almost perfectly, only coming on when Nolan's injured or is tired. He always gives his hardest; and Couno fans collectively groaned when his third goal was ruled out for offside. City continue their momentum, beating Kingsbury 4-1; Twilight Mixon scoring a rare goal from left-back as Kingsbury's form began to take a turn for the worse. And Serrapince follow up on City's example by beating Colbrook senseless. Five goals.

The wins means the title race doesn't change. Nantwich and City cross the seventy-point mark; but it's still as tight as ever.

Paul Cramner's tenure at Kirkby starts dimly, as Linnie Huxley and Tom Kizinger fire two goals past them; the result means that they're six points from safety with six matches to go. There's almost no chance that Kirkby will make their way out of the relegation zone; but Cramner has to at least act like he's giving a shit. Straton, meanwhile, limp to a goalless draw with United; but there's a sense that the teams are both going through the motions. Spinelli speaks out against this; but admits it can be a bit difficult to motivate a team when they're nine points behind the team in fifth and seven ahead of the team in seventh.

Elsewhere, Sturrey show up the odds with a win against Clyde Park; but attention is so focused on the title race that the really quite impressive win flies under the radar. Brendan May is out for the rest of the season after a bone-crunching tackle from Fried Rossum; almost scandalously, Rossum gets away with only a yellow card.

MATCHDAY 33
Fraser Valley 1–2 Serrapince
Barker 8'//Perry 40', Sallay 79'
Clark City 2–1 Delphi Lionesses
Nightingale 30', Coltrane 53'//Caroline 77'
FC Inter Nantwich 5–0 Guillemard Town
Gell 12', 84', Spekman 31', 49', Luo 58'
West Couno United 2–1 Macarthur City
Vujanovic 33', Steel 78'//R Morgan 44'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–2 Straton
Tino 44', Osbourne 59'
Lakewood United 4–2 Sturrey Athletic
Fontana 13', Horvat 28', 47', Desmond 85'//Evans-Jones 58', Russell og. 67'
Clyde Park 2–2 Lakewood City
Escat 69', Kearnes 78'//McTavish 21', Fraser 38'
Kingsbury United 0–1 Hesham
Deighton 77'
Ridgewell Rovers 3–1 Columbia City
Riester 30', Bonucci 77', Canavan 84'//Bello 21'
Couno Rangers 4–2 Colbrook City
Nolan 23', 84', Hertel 38', Vaillancourt 57'//E Ferguson 8', Gillingham 40'

Five games to go, and perhaps the only consolation for Serrapince, Couno and Nantwich is that City have suffered an entirely self-inflicted draw. They were on course to cruise to a perfectly normal 2-0 win over Clyde; but Gedeo Escat and Kim Kearnes came off the bench, and their pace made the City defence, playing an unusually high line, pay dearly. They managed to salvage a point from the entire exercise, but there was a feeling that the whole thing might just have dealt their title hopes a fatal blow, especially in a season that looked to be decided on extremely fine margins like this.

Couno themselves had to survive a scare when Edith Ferguson scored after eight minutes; Nolan scored and then Hertel, having somewhat of an off-season compared to his first one, produced a rare goal to put the Rangers 2-1 up. Two minutes later, Andrew Gillingham tied the game. It took a Vaillancourt effort to put the Rangers back in the lead; before Nolan finally put the Northerners down for good with a brace. Serrapince encountered minimal trouble in putting down Fraser — Tricia Barker's goal in the eight minute a temporary block on their ambitions — while it was Nantwich's turn to score five goals of their own, this time against poor old Guillemard. Basilica Coxeter was given the day off, and Heather Gell duly filled her role in the meantime; scoring an impressive brace to remind Mertagne that she, too, was a player that could score goals. Clark City score themselves a rare win over Delphi to put distance between the two relegation-battling squads; with the gap at five points with five games remaining, Clark are on the verge of securing themselves a second season in the Prem. Guillemard have a seemingly-insurmountable mountain to climb of five games to safety; while Kirkby have a similarly difficult nine games to go.

With five games to go, then, Serrapince and Couno are tied on points; the only thing that separates the two of them is the fact that Serrapince have scored five more and conceded six less than the Rangers. Nantwich are one point behind the dueling duo, while City are two more back; WCU are four behind, their title chances hanging in the distance. United are nine behind WCU and seven ahead of Straton, meaning that their season's essentially over bar a catastrophe; while Straton seem to have confirmed their return to the top half of the table. The midfield battle seems to have cooled down a little, too; most of the churn seems to be happening from ninth to fourteenth, but it's an exciting — if underappreciated time there.

The focus, though, is on which of the top five (yes, WCU are still in it mathematically) will come out on top. The odds are still remarkably split.

The Last Five Matchdays

     Serrapince [76]      Couno [76]            Nantwich [75]           Lakewood City [73]       WCU [72]
34   Couno      [H]       Serrapince    [A]     Macarthur     [A]       Lakewood Utd. [H]        Straton       [A]
35   Delphi     [A]       Ridgewell     [A]     Straton       [H]       Kirkby        [A]        Sturrey       [H]
36   Ridgewell  [H]       Kingsbury     [H]     Sturrey       [A]       WCU           [H]        Lakewood City [A]
37   Guillemard [A]       Clyde         [A]     Lakewood City [H]       Nantwich      [A]        Hesham        [H]
38   Kingsbury  [H]       Lakewood Utd. [H]     Hesham        [A]       Clark         [H]        Columbia      [A]
%    38%                  32%                   16%                     11%                      2%

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5
 1 Serrapince             33   23   7   3    85   33  +52    76   -0   DWWWW
 2 Couno Rangers          33   23   7   3    80   39  +41    76   ▲2   WWWWW
 3 FC Inter Nantwich      33   23   6   4    68   39  +29    75   -0   DWWWW
 4 Lakewood City          33   22   7   4    80   38  +42    73   ▼2   WLWWD
 5 West Couno United      33   22   6   5    64   33  +31    72   -0   WDWWW
 6 Lakewood United        33   20   3  10    63   48  +15    63   -0   DWWDW
 7 Straton                33   16   8   9    63   44  +19    56   -0   LWDDW
 8 Hesham                 33   15   7  11    49   40   +9    52   -0   DWLDW
 9 Kingsbury United       33   13   8  12    46   46    0    47   ▲1   WLDLL
10 Columbia City          33   12   9  12    47   48   −1    45   ▼1   DLDLL
11 Ridgewell Rovers       33   13   6  14    41   47   −6    45   ▲1   WWLDW
12 Clyde Park             33   12   7  14    44   49   −5    43   ▼1   WLDLD
13 Macarthur City         33    9   9  15    51   68  −17    36   ▲1   LWLWL
14 Fraser Valley          33    9   8  16    29   45  −16    35   ▼1   WDLDL
15 Sturrey Athletic       33    9   3  21    32   54  −22    30   -0   LLDWL
16 Colbrook City          33    7   5  21    40   75  −35    26   -0   LLDLL
17 Clark City             33    6   7  20    34   61  −27    25   -0   LWLDW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Delphi Lionesses       33    5   5  23    23   56  −33    20   ▲1   DWLLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Kirkby Railwaymen      33    3   7  23    17   54  −37    16   ▼1   LLLLL
20 Guillemard Town        33    3   5  25    20   60  −40    14   -0   LLWLL

by **Tumbra** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 4:52 am

THE 126TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE SEMI FINAL

To everyone's shock and surprise, City and United are drawn on opposite sides of the bracket. To everyone's shock and surprise, City and United are drawn at home. Sturrey and Hesham have the deck stacked against them, even if it's not outrightly said.

To everyone's shock and surprise, City and United win. The Republic Cup final will be the third Lakewood derby of the season. The first ended in a 0-0 draw. The second is yet to be played. It'll probably be looked at as a test-run for the Republic Cup final, though if it ends in another 0-0 draw there will be questions over which way the game will go. The Final of the Republic Cup will be played in Couno (as the home of the defending champions), and will take place after the final day of the Premier Division.

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART EIGHT: MATCHDAYS 34-37

Five matchdays remain in the Premier Division. Five teams remain in contention at the top, separated by four points. The midfield remains in flux. Still though, it seems as if most of the puzzle pieces are in place; it just remains to see where they'll finally fall. Guillemard and Kirkby, meanwhile, are just waiting for the inevitable to occur. Even if, in Kirkby's case, they're still holding out for a miracle under Noted Relegation Avoider Paul Cramner.

MATCHDAY 34
Serrapince 2–2 Couno Rangers
Cahill 15', D Lawrence 78'//Conder 33', Krzanowski 49'
Colbrook City 2–2 Ridgewell Rovers
Grimley 23', Yeltsov 75'//Rouse 14', Bonucci 22'
Columbia City 2–3 Kingsbury United
Burnet 38', Coonan 49'//J Hughes 13', Perkkanen 54', 80'
Hesham 1–0 Clyde Park
Bevins 8'
Lakewood City 0–0 Lakewood United

Sturrey Athletic 3–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Ganley 4', Mercer 25', 91'
Straton 0–0 West Couno United

Macarthur City 1–3 FC Inter Nantwich
McDermott 48'//Broadhurst 36', 45' + 1', R Baker 80'
Guillemard Town 1–0 Clark City
Baldwin og. 51'
Delphi Lionesses 0–0 Fraser Valley

MD34                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg
 1 FC Inter Nantwich      34   24   6   4    71   40  +31    78   ▲2  (+3)
 2 Serrapince             34   23   8   3    87   35  +52    77   ▼1  (+1)
 3 Couno Rangers          34   23   8   3    82   41  +41    77   ▼1  (+1)
 4 Lakewood City          34   22   8   4    80   37  +43    74   -0  (+1)
 5 West Couno United      34   22   7   5    64   33  +31    73   -0  (+1)

The Lakewood derby fizzles out and dies, its chance at life strangled by City's solid defending and wayward shooting. United do the same. Both teams try to find a way through, but are ultimately frustrated on both ends; City prevent United from getting many shots off but can't seem to land a shot on goal themselves; United actively prevent City from getting their own shots off — they know how potent Vaughn, Henshaw and Bernard's shots are — but can't seem to get the ball up to their attack enough. They frustrate each other to a goalless draw, neither side being able to claim they'd played better. Spinelli drops his nice guy act at last — presumably because it's Derby Day — but John Riedweld, veteran of countless Lakewood derbies as both player and manager, reacts far more blasély than his opposite number, despite falling to four points behind the league leaders. "At this point, all I can do is move on," he says. "There are more important things for me to focus on."

There's an adage that is often brought up in this newswire, as a sort of truism that becomes self-perpetrating: that if the number of matches left is more than the points gap between two teams, then it's often difficult to catch up to the team ahead. West Couno were four points behind Serrapince and Couno with five games left; technically still in it, even if almost everyone knows they're not. Now, though, everyone accepts that they're done; a goalless draw against Straton means that they're now five points behind the Bees with four to go. Reisinger looks heartbroken after the game; but Bill Thompson strikes a hopeful note after the game, knowing that they'll be back in the future.

Unusually enough for the attack-friendly season this has been, there are three nil-nil draws today; Fraser and Delphi collectively draw a blank as they both wear each other down through relentless defending. Mark Pryor never had much of a reputation as a defensive manager; but he knows that with personnel such as Zuniga, Illaoi and Macewan, it'd be illogical not to rely on their strengths. Michael Hardwick, the master of the defensive dark arts, is inimitable; but despite Tricia Barker and Xilix-Oxolt Mal's best efforts, they're unable to break free from the rigid style Hardwick imposes on them. One reason why Hardwick hasn't reached the level of, say, Riedweld or van der Brumen is because time and again he's displayed an inability to adapt his tactics; even when the situation calls for attacking football, he's often loath to deviate from his tried-and-tested approach to football. Two points is the cost on this occasion; though future job offers may be a longer-term cost.

MATCHDAY 35
Delphi Lionesses 1–2 Serrapince
Sweeney 64'//Ritchie 17', Ness 48'
Fraser Valley 4–0 Guillemard Town
Xilix-Oxolt 11', Barker 23', 78', 82'
Clark City 3–4 Macarthur City
Nightingale 33', C Campbell 47', Turner 80'//A Morgan 12', R Morgan 39', I McDermott 64', 71'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–2 Straton
Coxeter 13', Gell 90' + 3'//Liang T 49', 57'
West Couno United 2–0 Sturrey Athletic
Reisinger 6', 64'
Kirkby Railwaymen 0–4 Lakewood City
Vaughn 11', 42', Bernard 68', Reed 79'
Lakewood United 1–3 Hesham
Horvat 38'//Mu 11', Russell 84', Deighton 89'
Clyde Park 1–1 Columbia City
McGarry 25'//Bello 22'
Kingsbury United 4–3 Colbrook City
Schwartz 11', Quinn 36', J Anderson 54', 82'//Wei og. 2', E Ferguson 38', Grimley 72'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–1 Couno Rangers
Borzoi 66'//Conder 31'

MD35                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg 
 1 Serrapince             35   24   8   3    89   36  +53    80   ▲1  (+3)
 2 FC Inter Nantwich      35   24   7   4    73   42  +31    79   ▼1  (+1)
 3 Couno Rangers          35   23   9   3    83   42  +41    78   -0  (+1)
 4 Lakewood City          35   23   8   4    84   37  +47    77   -0  (+3)
 5 West Couno United      35   23   7   5    66   33  +33    76   -0  (+3)

With ten points to safety and nine points remaining to be won, Kirkby are finally shocked out of their dream that they can survive after City knock four past them. The goals come relentlessly; the comment after the game was that four was flattering to the Railwaymen. The league seems to have come leaps and bounds since that time Couno put eight past Fraser Valley, but still. Cramner's expression is vacant as Jack Reed scores the fourth; enough damage has been done. He says he'll stay until the end of the season — "another managerial change this close to the end of the season is something this squad does not need right now" — but says he'll leave at the end of it, bar a very generous offer of time to rebuild this squad in the Second Division and return. The appeal seemingly falls on deaf ears.

The goals, which seemed to have taken a moratorium last week (three nil-nil draws!) make a triumphant return, with two 4-3 scorelines this week alone. This season has seen a remarkable uptick in goals scored; the league is currently on track to end with the highest number of goals scored in the IFCF era. Maybe it's the prevalence of such talented attacks this season; but most of the attacking units this season were present last season as well. Perhaps it's just a change in mentality from some managers — skippers like Haverhead, Riedweld, Stevenson and Giuliani have notably been more fluid in their attacking play this season — or maybe it's just that offensive players have found their groove.

The title fight sees two title challengers drop points, seemingly right on cue; Nantwich have to rescue a draw in the dying seconds of a match via Heather Gell, while Couno looked extremely impotent in the second half against a Ridgewell side that seemed determined to not let go. Serrapince, who themselves had to labour to a victory over Delphi, are still atop the league; but the title fight is still as close as ever. WCU return to form with a 2-0 victory over Sturrey — Vasya Reisinger nets a brace as she desperately tries to break ahead of her competitors in the race for the Golden Boot, but the odds of them winning the title have essentially disappeared. Samara Kaniatarii is spotted in Couno, intensifying rumours that her move to West Couno is about to be made official but because she's not a celebrity celebrity, the tabloids don't follow up on it.

MATCHDAY 36
Serrapince 2–3 Ridgewell Rovers
McGrath 65', Anggara 82'//Steele 12', Browne 28', Riester 57'
Couno Rangers 4–3 Kingsbury United
Nolan 12', Conder 38', 74', N Coleman 41'//Winter 20', Chenoweth 27', Perkkanen 62'
Colbrook City 3–4 Clyde Park
King 3', Finlay 28', 33'//Escat 24', 79', Markozy 49', T Marshall 58'
Columbia City 0–1 Lakewood United
Fontana 68'
Hesham 4–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Glover 3', 38', Russell 28', 78'
Lakewood City 1–0 West Couno United
McTavish 22'
Sturrey Athletic 2–3 FC Inter Nantwich
Evans-Jones 78', Trouvé 85'//Luo 13', Coxeter 39', 42'
Straton 0–2 Clark City
Hoskins 20', Coltrane 81'
Macarthur City 1–0 Fraser Valley
A Morgan 62'
Guillemard Town 1–0 Delphi Lionesses
Haywood 75'

MD36                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg 
 1 FC Inter Nantwich      36   25   7   4    76   44  +32    82   ▲1  (+3)
 2 Couno Rangers          36   24   9   3    87   45  +42    81   ▲1  (+3)
 3 Serrapince             36   24   8   4    91   39  +52    80   ▼2  (+0)
 4 Lakewood City          36   24   8   4    85   37  +48    80   -0  (+3)
 5 West Couno United      36   23   7   6    66   34  +32    76   -0  (+0)

Right on cue, Serrapince themselves drop points; and it's Nantwich's turn to take pride of place on top of the league. It's not even a hard-fought loss; Serrapince suffer the ignominy of going 3-0 down before they're bailed out by a couple of substitutes on the hour mark. The loss throws the title race back into flux; the Bees' odds of winning the league crater to 24%, while Nantwich assume the lead with a very confidence-inspiring 33%. Couno nearly suffer another slip-up and throw themselves out of contention by needing Natalie Coleman to bail themselves out against Kingsbury, but that's not the part that occupies the minds of Kingsbury fans.

Samara Kaniatarii confirms that she'll be leaving at the end of the season in the routing post-match press conference. She doesn't divulge why, or where she'll be headed to next; but it's all but confirmed that she'll be heading to West Couno. The /s/westcouno subseenit heads into meltdown; it finally looks like they've got their woman. Target lists including many a top tier player are created; though rumours that the Kaniatarii administration's first act may be to sign an out-of-contract Douglas Moore in the summer dampens the mood quite a bit. It now seems that Kingsbury's new owners' first task will be to look for a new manager for their squad; names floated include Columbia manager David Griffiths, a seemingly-beleaguered Joep Martens at Clyde, Ted Bayh, or even just someone from overseas.

Guillemard give themselves yet another week's stay of execution by powering through to a 1-0 victory at home against Delphi; and while they now mathematically cannot achieve survival, they can at least make it to the playoffs. They were there last season; they did good. Jordan Green will be made permanent manager if the club defy the odds and bring Guillemard to a third season in the Prem; but with their next opponents being Serrapince, hungry for a win and smarting from their loss to Ridgewell, the odds are unlikely. Observers do agree that the Carol Haywood goal was immense, however.

MATCHDAY 37
Guillemard Town 0–2 Serrapince
Sallay 38', D Lawrence 77'
Delphi Lionesses 1–0 Macarthur City
Holt 79'
Fraser Valley 2–4 Straton
Beckett 60', Eyre 77'//Carter 2', Hedberg 40', Tino 81', Woodhouse 90' + 4'
Clark City 2–0 Sturrey Athletic
D Grant 78', Cranston og. 90' + 4'
FC Inter Nantwich 0–2 Lakewood City
Henshaw 39', Bernard 79'
West Couno United 4–1 Hesham
Vette 13', Vujanovic 39', Reisinger 48', 75'//Mu 9'
Kirkby Railwaymen 1–2 Columbia City
Frist 61'//Fiallo 40', Haller 65'
Lakewood United 3–1 Colbrook City
Jepson 21', Atkinson 40', 83'//A Anderson 35'
Clyde Park 2–3 Couno Rangers
Calare 44', Bradford 57'//Hertel 8', Vaillancourt 23', Finnemore 85'
Kingsbury United 2–0 Ridgewell Rovers
Loustaunau 20', Quinn 73'

MD37                     Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg
 1 Couno Rangers          37   25   9   3    90   47  +43    84   ▲1  (+3)
 2 Serrapince             37   25   8   4    93   39  +54    83   ▲1  (+3)
 3 Lakewood City          37   25   8   4    87   37  +50    83   -0  (+3)
 4 FC Inter Nantwich      37   25   7   5    76   46  +30    82   ▼3  (+0)
 5 West Couno United      37   24   7   6    70   35  +35    79   -0  (+3)

Immediately the rumours for the soon-to-be-vacant Kingsbury job turn to Vince McCarthy. He's still (relatively) young at 48; he's guided a side quietly and efficiently to the top of the bottom half of the table; he's shown improvement when he's needed to turn things around, and it's long been known that he's been aching for a bigger job. He's unproven; but the rumoured new owners are allegedly looking to give the old dice a big old roll, and McCarthy fits the bill. Which leads us to the question of who will take on the vacant Macarthur job, and so on...

Macarthur themselves become relevant for another (less positive) reason, though; Delphi, in a desperate bid to survive in the Premier Division, score a scuffed goal in the eightieth minute and pull back for the next ten. They miraculously hold on; Vivianne Anderson's bid to round the keeper sees the ball instead fly into the side netting, and Macarthur's concentration seems to have been shot by the goal. Coincidentally, Delphi's victory, coupled with Guillemard's entirely-expected fall to Serrapince, meant that Guillemard were consigned to the Second Division. You couldn't say they hadn't tried; perhaps if they'd realised Mark Kirkham was a hipster masquerading as a football manager earlier and sacked him earlier, they'd still be in with a fighting chance of making the playoff, but Delphi's entirely-unexpected victory turned out to be the final nail in the coffin. Delphi will, however, most likely be consigned to the playoff; their last opponents are Straton, and they'll require a six-goal swing in goal difference to come secure survival.

In the title fight, the match everyone's now looking at is Nantwich versus City. If Nantwich win here, they'll take a one-point advantage into the final matchday, which will be crucial; if they drop points, then the title race is blown wide open. The match is rescheduled for television — Riedweld, seemingly playing mind games, plays down the importance of this, while Schroeder expresses a mild annoyance despite the fact that Nantwich are playing at home. But mild annoyances build up. Ian Robertson misplays a pass two minutes into the match. Jake Spekman's first shot on goal goes over. City begin taking charge of the game, forcing Klara Verlan into an uncomfortable situation where she can't have an impact on the game. Charlotte Henshaw scores in the fortieth minute. A Basilica Coxeter goal is pegged back for offside. A penalty for a Maja Olsman tackle on Luo Nanwei is not given. Robin Vaughn forces a save from Nick Barker that nearly knocks the goalkeeper out cold.

Ophelie Bernard, who came on for Charlotte Henshaw in the seventy-third minute, scores.

Nantwich's odds to win the title go from 33% to 2% in a matter of minutes.

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg*  Form5
 1 Couno Rangers          37   25   9   3    90   47  +43    84   ▲1   WDDWW
 2 Serrapince             37   25   8   4    93   39  +54    83   ▼1   WDWLW
 3 Lakewood City          37   25   8   4    87   37  +50    83   ▲1   DDWWW
 4 FC Inter Nantwich      37   25   7   5    76   46  +30    82   ▼1   WWDWL
 5 West Couno United      37   24   7   6    70   35  +35    79   -0   WDWLW   IFCF CC
 6 Lakewood United        37   22   4  11    68   52  +16    70   -0   WDLWW
 7 Straton                37   17  10  10    69   50  +19    61   -0   WDDLW
 8 Hesham                 37   18   7  12    58   45  +13    61   -0   WWWWL
 9 Kingsbury United       37   16   8  13    58   55   +3    56   -0   LWWLW
10 Ridgewell Rovers       37   14   8  15    47   54   −7    50   ▲1   WDDWL
11 Columbia City          37   13  10  14    52   54   −2    49   ▼1   LLDLW
12 Clyde Park             37   13   8  16    51   57   −6    47   -0   DLDWL
13 Macarthur City         37   11   9  17    57   75  −18    42   -0   LLWWL
14 Fraser Valley          37   10   9  18    35   50  −15    39   -0   LDWLL
15 Sturrey Athletic       37   10   3  24    37   61  −24    33   -0   LWLLL
16 Clark City             37    8   7  22    41   66  −25    31   ▲1   WLLWW
17 Colbrook City          37    7   6  24    49   88  −39    27   ▼1   LDLLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Delphi Lionesses       37    6   6  25    25   59  −34    24   -0   LDLLW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Guillemard Town        37    5   5  27    22   66  −44    20   ▲1   LWLWL   R
20 Kirkby Railwaymen      37    3   7  27    18   67  −49    16   ▼1   LLLLL   R

*Chg recorded from MD33, not MD36

MATCHDAY 38

THE OTHER TWELVE
Columbia City vs West Couno United
Straton vs Delphi Lionesses
Ridgewell Rovers vs Clyde Park
Macarthur City vs Guillemard Town
Sturrey Athletic vs Fraser Valley
Colbrook City vs Kirkby Railwaymen

THE TITLE FIGHT
Couno Rangers vs Lakewood United
Serrapince vs Kingsbury United
Lakewood City vs Clark City
Hesham vs FC Inter Nantwich

Nantwich probably have it the hardest of the title challengers; mathematically, they're still in it, but would require all of Couno, Serrapince and City to lose their matches. Draws won't cut it; Nantwich must gain 3 points and hope the other title competitors all drop points to take home the title.

City must a. win their game, b. hope Couno drop points, and c. hope that Serrapince lose. Should City and Serrapince both win their games, City must have a game-winning margin of at least 5 greater than Serrapince's in order to take the title on goal difference. Should City's game-winning margin be only 4 greater than Serrapince's, City still finish ahead, as they win the head-to-head matchup against Serrapince due to their 2-2 draw on Matchday 7 and 0-2 win on Matchday 26, meaning that City have 4 H2H points to Serrapince's 1.

Similarly to City, Serrapince must a. win their game, b. hope Couno drop points, and c. hope that City's winning margin against Clyde isn't four greater than their own winning margin against Kingsbury. As mentioned above, if the winning margin is four goals greater, City finish ahead on head-to-head points due to their similar goal difference; if it is five or above, City simply finish above on goal difference.

All Couno have to do is win. If they draw, they have to hope neither City nor Serrapince win their games. Should they lose, the title's gone even if Serrapince or City draw against Kingsbury or City, due to their superior goal difference. All Couno have to do is win. The problem is that their final-day match is against Lakewood United.

Couno fans can, however, take at least some solace in the fact that the chance of them winning the league is now pegged at 42%, compared to Serrapince at 31%, City on 25%. Reflecting how the title charge is out of Nantwich's hands, they're given odds of 2%. For those that dislike newfangled terms like "sabermetrics," "internet" and "percentages", the traditional betting markets give Couno 5/4 odds to win the title; Serrapince are on 2/1, City are on 3/1 and Nantwich are on 30/1. Yes, they're about the same when you work the maths out. No, the betting markets' odds do not add up to a hundred. How would they make money otherwise? But if it gets the elderly to part with their pensions...

by **Tumbra** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 4:59 am

SECOND DIVISION
END OF SEASON

Standings after MD38

   Second Division           Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Newark Argyle              38   28   5   5    84   34  +50    89   Champions; Promoted
 2 AFC Gillman                38   23   6   9    72   45  +27    75   Promoted
 3 Bencoolen City             38   19  13   6    74   41  +33    70   Playoff
 4 Port Marray                38   20   9   9    66   43  +23    69
 5 Dorival                    38   19  11   8    65   40  +25    68
 6 Glenmont AFC               38   19  10   9    66   45  +21    67
 7 Newton Wanderers           38   18  10  10    51   32  +19    64
 8 Trelmont Rangers           38   19   7  12    66   53  +13    64
 9 New Timbourne Knights      38   18   8  12    59   49  +10    62
10 Readale Wanderers          38   17   9  12    64   55   +9    60
11 Cobham Town                38   16  11  11    62   55   +7    59
12 Ricci Ironworkers          38   16   9  13    55   49   +6    57
13 Ashton Rovers              38   12  11  15    56   63   −7    47
14 Washington City            38   10   8  20    55   67  −12    38
15 AFC Cayalon                38    8  10  20    56   79  −23    34
16 Mackay Rovers              38    9   7  22    53   77  −24    34
-------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Tavistock Athletic         38    7   9  22    38   73  −35    30   Relegated [D3E]
18 Falmouth Athletic          38    6   7  25    46   83  −37    25   Relegated [D3E]
19 North Thornton United      38    6   6  26    32   77  −45    24   Relegated [D3W]
20 Grange United              38    2  10  26    35   95  −60    16   Relegated [D3W]**

**Placed in Division Three West due to geographical constraints; provisional

THIRD DIVISION EAST
END OF SEASON

Standings after MD42

   Third Division East    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Heath Bay Mariners      42   24   6  12    78   57  +21    78   Champions; Promoted
 2 Kelder Phoenixes        42   24   6  12    80   60  +20    78   Promoted
 3 Carter United           42   22   8  12    71   60  +11    74
 4 Windsor                 42   22   7  13    76   64  +12    73
 5 Hesham Wanderers        42   19  15   8    76   58  +18    72
 6 Gelder Creek            42   20  11  11    70   53  +17    71
 7 Hendon Cardinals        42   20   8  14    76   50  +26    68
 8 Carrington Town         42   19  10  13    63   54   +9    67
 9 Tavistock Park          42   20   7  15    58   49   +9    67
10 Dieren City             42   18  11  13    73   66   +7    65
11 Lambeth                 42   18   9  15    73   64   +9    63
12 Knapford United         42   17   8  17    59   62   −3    59
13 Straton Typhoons        42   13  15  14    52   52    0    54
14 Brades United           42   14  10  18    56   60   −4    52
15 Rosyth                  42   12  15  15    56   56    0    51
16 Harren Armada           42   13   9  20    49   63  −14    48
17 Rosenberg City          42   13   8  21    59   68   −9    47
18 Caldecott 93            42   11  11  20    53   66  −13    44
19 Pinhal Athletic         42    9  15  18    52   66  −14    42
----------------------------------------------------------------
20 Staplewood              42   11   7  24    52   77  −25    40   Relegated
21 Killiney SC             42    8  10  24    35   72  −37    34   Relegated
22 Gisbourne               42    7  10  25    61  101  −40    31   Relegated

THIRD DIVISION WEST
END OF SEASON

Standings after MD42

   Third Division West            Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Teignford Academical            42   29   7   6    82   40  +42    94   Champions; Promoted
 2 Pomeroy Mountaineers            42   28   7   7    82   37  +45    91   Promoted
 3 Readale City                    42   25   4  13    71   53  +18    79
 4 Oakton                          42   22   7  13    80   56  +24    73
 5 Nottingham City                 42   20   8  14    74   61  +13    68
 6 Ridgewell United                42   19   9  14    71   54  +17    66
 7 Fort Heatherton                 42   19   9  14    68   65   +3    66
 8 Harwick Wanderers               42   17  14  11    59   39  +20    65
 9 Millsburgh Steelers             42   16  12  14    72   64   +8    60
10 Fontwell Rovers                 42   16  12  14    65   62   +3    60
11 Tevandale Athletic              42   15  13  14    51   59   −8    58
12 Hoxford United                  42   16   9  17    66   63   +3    57
13 Shepperton Ravens               42   14  12  16    62   64   −2    54
14 Millsburgh Revolutionaries      42   15   7  20    56   78  −22    52
15 Heffron City                    42   13  11  18    42   55  −13    50
16 Colney Thorns                   42   13  10  19    57   64   −7    49
17 Caldwell City                   42   12  11  19    55   73  −18    47
18 Enfield                         42   10  14  18    62   76  −14    44
19 Southport Thunder               42   10  12  20    62   87  −25    42
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 Dunsford                        42   10   7  25    49   73  −24    37   Relegated
21 Harchester United               42    6  15  21    42   71  −29    33   Relegated
22 Cheltenham                      42    4  16  22    47   81  −34    28   Relegated

FOURTH DIVISION EAST
END OF SEASON

Standings after MD42

   Fourth Division East    Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Collett Park United      42   25  10   7    86   52  +34    85   Champions; Promoted
 2 Mayfield AFC             42   23  10   9    61   39  +22    79   Promoted
 3 Arlington Athletic       42   24   5  13    77   44  +33    77   Promoted
 4 Wilmington Town          42   22  10  10    76   47  +29    76
 5 Sherwood Town            42   20  15   7    69   55  +14    75
 6 Maxwell Arsenal          42   20  12  10    68   49  +19    72
 7 Richmond AFC             42   20  11  11    63   45  +18    71
 8 Wintborough United       42   19  13  10    69   45  +24    70
 9 Hindhede FC              42   19  10  13    70   61   +9    67
10 Blakehurst               42   17  14  11    57   48   +9    65
11 Melwood United           42   18   8  16    72   68   +4    62
12 Algoma Wanderers         42   16  10  16    71   60  +11    58
13 Coburg                   42   15  10  17    62   69   −7    55
14 Rookworth AFC            42   12  18  12    61   58   +3    54
15 Farleigh                 42   15   9  18    64   70   −6    54
16 Knapford City            42   15   9  18    61   74  −13    54
17 Chesterfield             42   14   6  22    59   82  −23    48
18 Cortlandt United         42    8  13  21    36   52  −16    37
19 Havelock City            42    8  11  23    37   61  −24    35
20 Wolskel                  42    9   5  28    40   81  −41    32
21 Thomson City             42    4  11  27    43   92  −49    23
22 Burlington AFC           42    5   8  29    40   90  −50    23

FOURTH DIVISION WEST
END OF SEASON

Standings after MD42

   Fourth Division West       Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Orpington                   42   24   9   9    78   48  +30    81   Champions; Promoted
 2 Ilstead Wanderers           42   22  12   8    77   52  +25    78   Promoted
 3 Locomotive Harper           42   23   8  11    77   50  +27    77   Promoted
 4 Langley United              42   24   4  14    78   55  +23    76
 5 Clifton                     42   21  11  10    89   61  +28    74
 6 Dynamo Denhelm              42   20  13   9    67   41  +26    73
 7 FC Montrose                 42   22   6  14    74   57  +17    72
 8 Haversham City              42   20  11  11    73   53  +20    71
 9 Othaven                     42   19   9  14    70   55  +15    66
10 Moresby United              42   19   8  15    79   75   +4    65
11 Franport                    42   17  12  13    66   61   +5    63
12 Dover                       42   15  15  12    66   67   −1    60
13 Ruislip and Ipswich FC      42   17   8  17    64   69   −5    59
14 Johnstone Athletic          42   13  11  18    41   53  −12    50
15 Brensley                    42   13  10  19    68   72   −4    49
16 Greenford City              42   12  10  20    69   82  −13    46
17 Prinsip Street              42   12  10  20    52   70  −18    46
18 Kellsthorpe                 42   10  12  20    57   84  −27    42
19 Denhelm Trinity             42    9  12  21    51   79  −28    39
20 Monroe Quakes               42   11   6  25    69  103  −34    39
21 Blenheim                    42    7   9  26    51   84  −33    30
22 Dunman Bay                  42    6   6  30    40   85  −45    24

by **Tumbra** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:05 am

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
PART NINE: MATCHDAY 38

Premier Division, Season Eight

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5
 1 Couno Rangers          37   25   9   3    90   47  +43    84   ▲1   WDDWW
 2 Serrapince             37   25   8   4    93   39  +54    83   ▼1   WDWLW
 3 Lakewood City          37   25   8   4    87   37  +50    83   ▲1   DDWWW
 4 FC Inter Nantwich      37   25   7   5    76   46  +30    82   ▼1   WWDWL
 5 West Couno United      37   24   7   6    70   35  +35    79   -0   WDWLW   IFCF CC
 6 Lakewood United        37   22   4  11    68   52  +16    70   -0   WDLWW
 7 Straton                37   17  10  10    69   50  +19    61   -0   WDDLW
 8 Hesham                 37   18   7  12    58   45  +13    61   -0   WWWWL
 9 Kingsbury United       37   16   8  13    58   55   +3    56   -0   LWWLW
10 Ridgewell Rovers       37   14   8  15    47   54   −7    50   ▲1   WDDWL
11 Columbia City          37   13  10  14    52   54   −2    49   ▼1   LLDLW
12 Clyde Park             37   13   8  16    51   57   −6    47   -0   DLDWL
13 Macarthur City         37   11   9  17    57   75  −18    42   -0   LLWWL
14 Fraser Valley          37   10   9  18    35   50  −15    39   -0   LDWLL
15 Sturrey Athletic       37   10   3  24    37   61  −24    33   -0   LWLLL
16 Clark City             37    8   7  22    41   66  −25    31   ▲1   WLLWW
17 Colbrook City          37    7   6  24    49   88  −39    27   ▼1   LDLLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Delphi Lionesses       37    6   6  25    25   59  −34    24   -0   LDLLW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Guillemard Town        37    5   5  27    22   66  −44    20   ▲1   LWLWL   R
20 Kirkby Railwaymen      37    3   7  27    18   67  −49    16   ▼1   LLLLL   R

To say that this season was one of the most exciting in recent memory would be an understatement. Four teams still mathematically in with a chance of winning the Premier Division coming into the final day — few leagues can boast this level of excitement. The permutations have been endlessly talked about; the week leading up to the game seems to be the slowest on record; and unlike the previous year, when it was just half of Couno and Nantwich essentially grinding to a halt, this time we get the whole of Couno, Lakewood, Nantwich and Serrapince grinding to a halt. Football is serious business in this country; there is no other way of putting it.

All matches, as is tradition, started at the same time on the final day.

MATCHDAY 38

Colbrook City 2–0 Kirkby Railwaymen
Grimley 24', Gillingham 87'

For Colbrook, seventeenth and eighty-eight goals conceded masked how good their season had really been. They'd never looked in much trouble of dropping down the order; guided by new signings like Lucas McCormick and familiar faces like Cynthia Grimley, Edith Ferguson and Andrew Gillingham, they managed to get all the way to the rather impressive measure of fifty-one goals scored. There were rumours that all four of them were being looked at by teams higher up in the league as the league geared up for another season; losing even one of them would probably put Colbrook's long-term survival in jeopardy. But they would persist; after all, they were the Northerners.

It had started in a wobbly fashion, somewhat recovered near the end before the wheels all came falling apart. Nobody could say that Kirkby's shambles of a season wasn't on the cards, but twentieth was a little harsh for the plucky team that'd tried their hardest. Harry Frist's six goals would be the highlight of a team that failed to hit the twenty mark all season; there were rumours that Christian Ermine was about to invoke a clause in his contract to annul it entirely and move back onto the transfer market, while Rilan-Paliv Abe was considering doing the same. The young stars on the team from the Under-18 World Cup — Penelope Gorostieta, Lynette Frecklington and Caleb Hoffman — were already rumoured to be in transfer talks with teams both locally and overseas. Paul Cramner, meanwhile, announced his time with the team had come to an end with the relegation; he'd not been offered the chance to stay on, despite he himself offering his services to the club.

Macarthur City 4–0 Guillemard Town
I McDermott 23', Huxley 39', S Wilson 77', Kralj 90' + 2'

It increasingly looked like this match would be Vince McCarthy's last in charge of the Blackbirds as he confirmed that he was in negotiations with Kingsbury to take over at the upper midtable team. McCarthy, who'd been at the Blackbirds for ten years and manager for eight of those, was the driving force behind Macarthur's return to the Premier Division as quickly as it had fallen down in the season before IFCF football. He'd steadily built a squad of players deemed too old or too expensive for the upper echleons of Tumbran football; Gordon Jennings, Alan Morgan, Ryan Morgan, Savatije Kralj, Graham Lloyd, and climbed the league before changing course, signing Tom Kinzinger and Ian McDermott after a season with less than impressive results. The jump to Kingsbury may have been deemed a bit too late for someone of his undoubted potential; but he still had twenty more years in the field. He leaves the Blackbirds in thirteenth, following the somewhat humourous trend of the team slowly advancing up the table, one spot per year. He'll have a new challenge awaiting him; but who will fill McCarthy's shoes?

Mark Kirkham may have kept this team up for one year, but it increasingly looked like a fish out of water in his second season. He'd also begun wearing increasingly thick spectacles, began wearing a brown coat everywhere and was faintly followed by the sounds of 70s synthpop wherever he went. By the end of his tenure he'd looked more like a hipster than a football manager; and perhaps Guillemard's failure to recognise this was what had killed them. Jordan Green had stepped in admirably, but he couldn't help save the Engineers; nineteenth felt more like a reward for Green for his hard effort more than anything the footballers on this squad had done to deserve it. He'd get the job permanently, but faced a mountain in getting them back up in the first attempt; after all, the Second Division didn't get its reputation for being the most difficult league in Tumbra for a reason...

Straton 2–0 Delphi Lionesses
Tino 68', C Baker 82'

The wheels were finally beginning to turn at Straton, as Mark Stevenson's smart spending had led the Senators to seventh, their best result in a while. Four seasons, in fact. The team since then had undergone a near-complete facelift; a new stadium, a wholly new playing squad, even, as the club had been forced to take evasive financial manoeuvers. Now with a home they could finally call their own and a young, peppy squad that had only been bolstered with the arrival of players like Charlie Baker and Chris Carter, the trajectory at Straton was definitely on the upswing. It was rumoured at the start of the season that Stevenson was under pressure to deliver; and deliver he duly well had.

Delphi's fate would be consigned to the playoff as eighteenth was where they'd land up. It had been a dismal season, and to say that the club's on-pitch escapades weren't influenced by what was going on in the boardroom would be a lie. Mark Pryor had already made clear he would leave if the club lost in the play-off; something that would leave the new board with a mountain to climb if they were ever going to return to the Prem quickly — for a huge clear-out was on the cards if the team went down, just to keep the club afloat. The match against Straton was really just them showing up and going through the motions; they knew their most important game — the playoff against Bencoolen — was still ahead. There were many regrets, many if-s and but-s, but most fans sorely remembered that the sacking of Michael Hardwick after he'd led the club to fourteenth in their debut season might have been where things started to go wrong.

Sturrey Athletic 0–1 Fraser Valley
Pilta-Blonz 34'

Fifteenth for Sturrey by this time was par for the course; if anything, it was the highest they'd ever finished. Questions would circulate, as always; was this the highest that Sturrey Athletic could ever hope to achieve? Was there any chance of Sturrey doing a West Couno and putting in a title challenge one day, if they'd made the right signings? Well, the answer was likely no; Sturrey, as ever, were skint. And, as older fans were keen to tell younger fans, being in the Premiership was a reward in and of itself. So long as they stayed in the Prem, the Southwest would always have a standard-bearer; and so long as Bencoolen kept getting promoted into the Prem, they'd always have something to feel smug about. So yes, Sturrey fans would always hope to achieve higher; but sometimes, treading water was about the best they could do.

Michael Hardwick was promised investment; investment was delivered, and the team improved as a result. The team is no closer to getting back to its heady days under the days of Marco Hemmings, but thirteenth certainly represents an uptick in fortunes from the time they were suddenly involved in a relegation fight after being used to tangling with those in the upper half of the league. Hardwick had been at the helm of the club for five seasons now; and while they might have been five relatively unexciting seasons when taken in isolation, when taken together there was definitely a steady trend of progress. Things were looking up for the Master of Dark Defensive Arts; but was there a ceiling to this entire endeavour?

Ridgewell Rovers 0–0 Clyde Park

The Rovers' first season under Chris Haines had brought with it a lot of instability; but it ended up bringing them their joint-best ever finish in the league, as they jumped up two spots to finish tenth. Much of the jump was laid on the goalscoring efforts of Heidi Canavan and the rest of the Ridgewell offense. While there were some slip-ups; like that 5-0 loss to Lakewood City, the squad had a young core making its way up. Haines had proven to be a steady hand, too; bringing an end to the years of insecurity marked by frequent managerial changes. Hopefully this one would last.

Twelfth, lest Joep Martens forget, was one position above where he finished in his first season at Clyde Park. It was also two positions above when Brian Devzies was sacked as manager of Clyde Park. He'd keep his job for now, but the pressure was mounting. The losses of Natalie Coleman and Lucas McCormick had a palpable effect on the squad; and there were rumours he was just in the job for as long as Clyde Park could find a suitable replacement manager. He was, however, keen to downplay all rumours; things were going fine under his watch. Just fine.

Columbia City 2–2 West Couno United
Thesselborg 17', Liang W 75'//Vette 29', Vujanovic 34'

Columbia's offensive revolution had somehow seen them fall down two more spots; finishing eleventh was not what David Griffiths had expected. Maybe it was time to move on; perhaps it was time for a new approach at the club. After all, too much time with a single manager could turn out to be a long-term bane rather than a boon. But for now, Griffiths was still the man for Columbia; Victoria Thesselborg and Liang Wei had scored almost half of the Fishermen's goals between them. Maybe a bigger revamp of the squad was in order; but Columbia was a squad hanging in the balance.

The era of the Triple V had arrived; fifth, promised Bill Thompson, was but the beginning of good times to come for West Couno. Samara Kaniatarii was announced as the next manager of West Couno soon after the final match; Bill Thompson was given a spot on the board as thanks for rescuing the team from the brink. They'd certainly come a long way from the days of Martin Costello; Thompson, through shrewd spending and smart acquisition, had turned this team into a force that was ready to fight for the title in a few years. Now the onus was on Samara to continue the good work he'd begun; but there was a lot of optimism all around.

Hesham 0–1 FC Inter Nantwich
Gell 85'

Hesham would have a taste of international football; the emphasis William Wight placed on playing fairly led to a Vilitan Cove International berth, based atop the league's fair play table. Apart from that, they'd also come through strongly to finish eighth; while it wasn't the dizzying heights of seventh, eighth was a secure enough position in the league. It was also essentially the same place that they'd finished last season; and finishing atop the midtable was always welcome. William Wight had inherited a squad that was strong; but he'd added his own strong management to it, tweaked it a little and added just a little bit of strength and the X-factor to it; and now they were ready to challenge. If they'd had a Vasya Reisinger of their own...

Fourth for Nantwich had essentially become a foregone conclusion once they'd dropped the points to City. It had been a forgettable season for Nantwich overall; yes, they were challenging for the title up till the last day, but they'd dropped one too many point here and there and suddenly an all-certain title challenge had become a desperate scrabble to keep up. Rachael Schroeder would probably keep the day that Nantwich lost against City locked away in her mind somewhere; but Nantwich would be back. They still had a supremely strong squad on their hands.

Premier Division, Season Eight
                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
 1 Serrapince             38   26   8   4    97   40  +57    86   Champions; IFCF CL; CEdC
 2 Lakewood City          38   26   8   4    90   37  +53    86   IFCF CL; CEdC
 3 Couno Rangers          38   25  10   3    91   48  +43    85   IFCF CC
 4 FC Inter Nantwich      38   26   7   5    77   46  +31    85   IFCF CC
 5 West Couno United      38   24   8   6    72   37  +35    80   IFCF CC
 6 Lakewood United        38   22   5  11    69   53  +16    71
 7 Straton                38   18  10  10    71   50  +21    64
 8 Hesham                 38   18   7  13    58   46  +12    61   VCIAPP Candidates; Fair Play Table
 9 Kingsbury United       38   16   8  14    59   59    0    56
10 Ridgewell Rovers       38   14   9  15    47   54   −7    51
11 Columbia City          38   13  11  14    54   56   −2    50
12 Clyde Park             38   13   9  16    51   57   −6    48
13 Macarthur City         38   12   9  17    61   75  −14    45
14 Fraser Valley          38   11   9  18    36   50  −14    42
15 Sturrey Athletic       38   10   3  25    37   62  −25    33
16 Clark City             38    8   7  23    41   69  −28    31
17 Colbrook City          38    8   6  24    51   88  −37    30
---------------------------------------------------------------
18 Delphi Lionesses       38    6   6  26    25   61  −36    24   Play-off
---------------------------------------------------------------
19 Guillemard Town        38    5   5  28    22   70  −48    20   Relegation
20 Kirkby Railwaymen      38    3   7  28    18   69  −51    16   Relegation

But there was still one more match to play.

RELEGATION PLAYOFF
Bencoolen City 1–0 Delphi Lionesses
Halse 75'

Delphi would go down to the Second Division after six seasons in the Prem; Mark Pryor submitted his resignation the very same day. After a break of two seasons, in which they made it to the playoffs in both seasons they were in the Second Division, they were back in the Prem. They'd be joined by Second Division champions Newark Argyle, who'd made it back-to-back promotions with Chromatik money; and AFC Gillman, who were in the Prem for the first time this century.

THE 126TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP — THE FINAL

Another Lakewood derby. The first two of the season had ended in goalless fizzlebangs; surely this one had to produce, right? Riedweld and Spinelli were full of mind-games in the lead-up to the match; but all that counted was the ninety, hundred and twenty, or ten spot kicks that would determine the next champion of Tumbra's premier knockout competition.

Andrea Spinelli had brought another Republic Cup to the red half of Lakewood; and the corresponding half of Lakewood cheered. The result was a great way to end off the first half-year of Spinelli's managership; and great things, Lakewood United fans convinced themselves, were in store. They just needed patience...

And that really was that for yet another season of Tumbran football.

by **Tumbra** » Tue Oct 04, 2022 10:42 am

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 8
POST-SEASON AWARDS

With the dust settling on the Premier Division season and the priorities of the clubs — IFCF football, another season in midtable, straggling for survival, or gearing up for an entry into the Premier Division — it was only fair to look back upon the season that had just passed, and hand due recognition to those who had just gone that little bit more than the rest of the pack.

Player of the Year

This award is open to every player from every club who have made at least one appearance, though it's fairly evident that the player must have contributed to the team and done some individual business to separate themselves from the rest of the pack to be worthy of this award.

Bronze Ball: Laura Ness (SCT/TMB, Serrapince)
Silver Ball: Robin Vaughn (TMB, Lakewood City)
Golden Ball: Vasya Reisinger (NPH, West Couno United)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR - NOMINEES
Andrew Fisher       FC Inter Nantwich
Arwen van As        Couno Rangers
Bruce Nolan         Couno Rangers
Corinne Fontana     Lakewood United
George Hilton       Serrapince
Ian Ashburn         Lakewood City
Jake Spekman        FC Inter Nantwich
J-P Vaillancourt    Couno Rangers
Laura Ness          Serrapince
Kendra Considine    Lakewood United
Kirsten Desmond     Lakewood United
Ophelie Bernard     Lakewood City
Raymond Perry       Serrapince
Robin Vaughn        Lakewood City
Tino                Straton
Vasya Reisinger     West Couno United
Victoria Jones      Lakewood City
Vázsony Sallay      Serrapince
Walter Thomas       FC Inter Nantwich

Young Player of the Year

This award is open to players below 23 years of age who haven't already won an award for Player of the Year. Traditionally, breakout seasons are recognised a bit more than playing brilliantly at a consistent level from a young age, to recognise the effort needed to even break through into the first teams of these clubs in the first place.

Bronze Award: Heidi Canavan (TMB, Ridgewell Rovers)
Silver Award: Charlotte Henshaw (TMB, Lakewood City)
Golden Award: Luka Vujanovic (TMB/MYT, West Couno United)

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR - NOMINEES
Alan McDermott      Hesham
Anne Beckett        Fraser Valley
Bede Cheschon       Kingsbury United
Charlotte Henshaw   Lakewood City
Cheryl Nightingale  Clark City
Cyrus Vette         West Couno United
Dagur Lawrence      Serrapince
Desmond Sartain     Straton
Felicity Woodhouse  Straton
Gerard Deighton     Hesham
Harriet Bevins      Hesham
Heidi Canavan       Ridgewell Rovers
Ian McDermott       Macarthur City
Jake Spekman        FC Inter Nantwich
Luka Vujanovic      West Couno United
Lydia Gomboult      Clyde Park
Mathias Schärer     Lakewood City
N Hercule-McKinley  Columbia City
Natalie Coleman     Couno Rangers
Tobi Krzanowski     Couno Rangers
Tom Kinzinger       Macarthur City
Tricia Barker       Fraser Valley
Vivianne Anderson   Macarthur City

Golden Glove

The Golden Glove is measured by the number of clean sheets kept, with the overall number of goals conceded as a tiebreaker. This award serves to recognise goalkeepers, who traditionally have been under-represented in awards ceremonies.

Bronze Glove: Alan McDermott (TMB, Hesham)
- 15 clean sheets, 46 conceded (tiebreaker: goals conceded, next in line: Tom Sterling, TMB, Kingsbury United, 59 conceded)
Silver Glove: Mike Hancy (TMB, West Couno United)
- 16 clean sheets, 37 conceded
Silver Glove: Victoria Jones (TMB, Lakewood City)
- 17 clean sheets, 37 conceded

Golden Boot

The Golden Boot is measured by the number of goals scored, with tiebreakers being decided by minutes played. The player with the lesser amount of minutes played takes precedence, but this season there hasn't been any need for that. With 1127 goals being scored over 380 matches (an average of 2.97 per match), it's been the most historically attacking season on record.

Goals per season
S	Goals
1	974   (2.56/game)
2	1045  (2.75/game)
3	847   (2.29/game)
4	1015  (2.67/game)
5	962   (2.53/game)
6       948   (2.49/game)
7       1035  (2.72/game)
8	1127  (2.97/game)

Bronze Boot: Robin Vaughn (TMB, Lakewood City)
- 23 goals
Silver Boot: Vázsony Sallay (PAS, Serrapince)
- 23 goals (tiebreaker on minutes played)
Golden Boot: Vasya Reisinger (NPH, West Couno United)
- 25 goals

25       Vasya Reisinger           West Couno United
23       Vázsony Sallay            Serrapince
         Robin Vaughn              Lakewood City
22       Bruce Nolan               Couno Rangers
17       Tino                      Straton
16       Victoria Thesselborg      Columbia City
         Corinne Fontana           Lakewood United
15       Ophelie Bernard           Lakewood City
         James Anderson            Kingsbury United
         George Hilton             Serrapince
14       Basilica Coxeter          FC Inter Nantwich
         Heidi Canavan             Ridgewell Rovers
13       Charlotte Henshaw         Lakewood City
         Vivianne Anderson         Macarthur City
         Gedeó Escat               Clyde Park
12       Dimitra Conder            Couno Rangers
         Kendra Considine          Lakewood United
         Josip Horvat              Lakewood United
11       Tricia Barker             Fraser Valley
         Harvey Osbourne           Straton
         Jake Spekman              FC Inter Nantwich
10       Gerard Deighton           Hesham
         Liang Wei                 Columbia City
         Dagur Lawrence            Serrapince
         Elaine Calare             Clyde Park
         Antti Perkkanen           Kingsbury United
         Charlie Baker             Straton
         Lucas Russell             Hesham
         Andrew Gillingham         Colbrook City
         Cyrus Vette               West Couno United
         Luka Vujanovic            West Couno United
         Ian McDermott             Macarthur City
         Natalie Coleman           Couno Rangers
         Charlotte Ritchie         Serrapince
         Frederick Prost           Couno Rangers
 9       Joe Mercer                Sturrey Athletic
         Heather Gell              FC Inter Nantwich
         Luo Nanwei                FC Inter Nantwich
         Kirsten Desmond           Lakewood United
         Edith Ferguson            Colbrook City
 8       Mick Coltrane             Clark City
         Andrew Fisher             FC Inter Nantwich
         J-P Vaillancourt          Couno Rangers
         Joyce Hughes              Kingsbury United
         Helene-Anne Rivard        Straton
         Alexander Anderson        Colbrook City
         Michelle Broadhurst       FC Inter Nantwich
         Kingsley-Roger Hertel     Couno Rangers
 7       Sheena Glover             Hesham
         Cynthia Grimley           Colbrook City
         Samuel McTavish           Lakewood City
         Tom Kinzinger             Macarthur City
         Ryan Morgan               Macarthur City
         Christian Borzoi          Ridgewell Rovers
         Craig McGrath             Serrapince
 6       Marc Evans-Jones          Sturrey Athletic
         Eden Wright               West Couno United
         Harry Frist               Kirkby Railwaymen
         Laura Ness                Serrapince
         Alan Morgan               Macarthur City
         Halyos le Gall            Guillemard Town
         Luciano Bello             Columbia City
         Kim Kearnes               Clyde Park
         Neil Fraser               Lakewood City
         Cameron Keyes             Lakewood United
         Jack Reed                 Lakewood City
         Mathias Schärer           Lakewood City
         Harriet Bevins            Hesham
 5-1     (189 others)

Manager of the Year

Of course, the brains behind the entire footballing operation must be recognised, too. Three managers were the obvious choices for this award; the only question was what was the order in which the three would finish. Unusually, this award takes into account performances in both the Republic Cup and the League proper; unlike the awards for players, who are judged based solely on performances in the league.

Third - Mark Stevenson (TLI, Straton)
- Guided Straton to a seventh-placed finish with a very young squad, putting club's previous troubles behind it.
Second - Danny Haverhead (TKT, Serrapince)
- Won the title despite being rank underdogs and being played off at the start of the season.
First - Bill Thompson (TMB, West Couno United)
- Brought a long-underperforming West Couno to fifth in the league, and sustained a title challenge that stretched all the way until the thirty-sixth matchday. Also doubles up as a Lifetime Achievement Award, due to impending retirement.

Teams of the Season

Two teams of the season were named; with one being the first XI and the second XI. The TFF cited the general standard of play as the reason why two sets of elevens were needed. Both elevens were in a 4-3-3 shape.

First XI

Position    Player
Goalkeeper  Victoria Jones (TMB, Lakewood City)
Defender    Twilight Mixon (CMT, Lakewood City)
Defender    Raymond Perry (TMB, Serrapince)
Defender    Ian Ashburn (TMB, Lakewood City)
Defender    Luca Cambiaso (SVG, Couno Rangers)
Midfielder  Andrew Fisher (TMB, FC Inter Nantwich)
Midfielder  Samuel McTavish (QUE, Lakewood City)
Midfielder  Jean-Phillipe Vaillancourt (QUE, Couno Rangers)
Attacker    George Hilton (TMB, Serrapince)
Attacker    Vasya Reisinger (NPH, West Couno United)
Attacker    Robin Vaughn (TMB, Lakewood City)

Second XI

Position    Player
Goalkeeper  Alan McDermott (TMB, Hesham)
Defender    Chris Finney (TMB, Serrapince)
Defender    Walter Thomas (TKT, FC Inter Nantwich)
Defender    Arwen van As (TLI, Couno Rangers)
Defender    Klara Verlan (QUE, FC Inter Nantwich)
Midfielder  Laura Ness (SCT/TMB, Serrapince)
Midfielder  Mathias Schärer (TJL, Lakewood City)
Midfielder  Mark Finnemore (TMB, Couno Rangers)
Attacker    Jake Spekman (TLI/CMT, FC Inter Nantwich)
Attacker    Vázsony Sallay (PAS, Serrapince)
Attacker    Dimitra Conder (NPH, Lakewood United)

by **Tumbra** » Mon Dec 19, 2022 10:39 pm

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 9
TRANSFER WINDOW ROUND-UP

The transfer window for incoming transfers to Tumbra closed at the stroke of midnight; here is a summary of the transfers that took place within Tumbra.

Retirements

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club
Joe Bonner          29      LW      TMB     Hesham                  Retired
Tim Rowland         34      ST      TMB     AFC Gillman             Retired
Charles Allams      34      CB      TMB     Bencoolen City          Retired
Harry Hoskins       34      RW      TMB     Clark City              Retired
Sean Cushing        35      CM      TMB     Kingsbury United        Retired
Henry Butler        34      CB      TMB     Macarthur City          Retired
Tom Stansfield      34      CM      TMB     Serrapince              Retired
Sam Cooper          34      CM      TMB     AFC Cayalon             Retired
Ed Stafford         34      CB      TMB     AFC Cayalon             Retired
Daniel Newman       34      RW      TMB     Mackay Robins           Retired
Ian McConnell       34      CM      TMB     Newton Wanderers        Retired
Oliver Proctor      34      CAM     TMB     Port Marray             Retired
Lyle Terry          34      CB      TMB     Readale Wanderers       Retired
Danny Sanders       34      RW      TMB     Readale Wanderers       Retired
George McEwen       34      LW      TMB     Ricci Ironworkers       Retired
Drew Morton         34      CM      TMB     Ridgewell United        Retired
Yu Dawei            35      CB      XHA     Washington City         Retired
David Weir          34      LM      TMB     Falmouth Athletic       Retired

Released

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club
Devon Daniels       34      CB      CDG     FC Inter Nantwich       Released
Holly Parker        34      LB      BRE     Bencoolen City          Released
Shyanna Garrock     33      ST      BRE     Bencoolen City          Released
Betti Trevelyan     31      CB      BRE     Bencoolen City          Released
Linnie Huxley       33      ST      BOL     Macarthur City          Released
Tony Fernandes      29      CDM     TMB     Macarthur City          Released
Ivan Bader          29      CM      NPH     Macarthur City          Released
Sandy Rowling       32      CM      BRE     Macarthur City          Released
Julia Garland       26      CM      NPH     Macarthur City          Released
Slavomir Malik      32      CM      STL     West Couno United       Released
Bill Allison        30      LW      TMB     West Couno United       Released
Dominic Clyne       31      ST      TMB     West Couno United       Released
Rhyan Carson        30      CAM     BRE     West Couno United       Released
Dei Kaparros        30      CB      ASG     West Couno United       Released
June Orenthal       29      RB      NPH     Clyde Park              Released
Levi Beckton        26      RB      NPH     Colbrook City           Released
Olenna Bruune       26      CAM     NPH     Colbrook City           Released
Rhys Vanney         28      LB      NPH     Columbia City           Released
Tomas Hull          31      CB      BRE     Columbia City           Released
Bob Allison         30      GK      TMB     Colbrook City           Released
Maksimilian Trukhin 31      RB      PYA     Couno Rangers           Released
Matrona Croxteth    30      CB      NPH     Fraser Valley           Released
Matilda Kerry       30      LM      BRE     Fraser Valley           Released
Carlos Wolfe        33      CB      TMB     Fraser Valley           Released
Lucas Courtney      32      CM      TMB     Fraser Valley           Released
Nicholas Kinsella   32      RM      TMB     Fraser Valley           Released
Sheena Glover       29      ST      BRE     Hesham                  Released
Tania Layton        28      CAM     NPH     Kingsbury United        Released
Kalene Chenoweth    29      CAM     NPH     Kingsbury United        Released
Erika Steinlein     31      CM      NPH     Lakewood City           Released
Bram Levin          29      CB      NPH     Straton                 Released
Yuri Ghislane       32      CDM     NPH     Sturrey Athletic        Released
Valerie Campbell    29      CAM     NPH     Sturrey Athletic        Released
Lee Byong-jun       29      LB      CMT     Glenmont AFC            Released
Reinhard Wettin     27      CB      NPH     Glenmont AFC            Released
Tom Spencer         31      LM      TKT     Glenmont AFC            Released
Makoto Honda        32      CDM     HIN     Glenmont AFC            Released
Grimson Hoskins     32      CDM     TKT     Glenmont AFC            Released
Emma Gary           28      CB      GTK     Guillemard Town         Released
Traci Lachmann      25      CAM     NPH     Guillemard Town         Released
Christian Ermine    26      CM      NPH     Kirkby Railwaymen       Released
Rook Bolton         31      CB      NPH     Newton Wanderers        Released
Gerhard Exter       28      LW      NPH     Port Marray             Released
Claretta Lawlor     30      CB      NPH     Ricci Ironworkers       Released
Amelie Vivienne     28      RB      CMT     Ricci Ironworkers       Released
Amanda Bader        32      CDM     NPH     Delphi Lionesses        Released
Ashling Brooks      31      CAM     BRE     Delphi Lionesses        Released
Kate Stepford       31      LM      BRE     Delphi Lionesses        Released
Christian Borzoi    30      ST      NPH     Ridgewell Rovers        Released
Andrew Walsh        30      CAM     TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        Released
Stephen Read        32      CB      TMB     AFC Gillman             Released 
Stephen Williams    25      CM      TMB     AFC Gillman             Released 
Mark Turner         33      RB      TMB     Bencoolen City          Released
Nathan Hinds        33      CM      TMB     Bencoolen City          Released
Carleton Young      32      LM      TMB     Bencoolen City          Released
Patrick Sanders     33      CB      TMB     Clark City              Released
Oliver Gibbs        31      CDM     TMB     Clark City              Released
David Clarkson      31      LW      TMB     Clark City              Released
Louis Newton        32      LW      TMB     Colbrook City           Released
Edward King         29      LW      TMB     Colbrook City           Released

Departures

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club                    Fee
Neil Fraser         30      LW      TMB     Lakewood City           Chamberley City [SYL]       6.0m
Karina Holt         28      RM      SVJ     Delphi Lionesses        Partisan Sjoedrhavn [SVJ]   3.5m
Maja Olsman         29      CB      KOR     Lakewood City           Northbury FC [CDG]          3.0m
Maryam Rowbury      28      LB      NPH     Delphi Lionesses        Urrhed FC [CMT]             3.0m
Julie Phehlukwayo   26      RB      QUE     Delphi Lionesses        Wansan Noksaekjeonsa [QUE]  2.5m
Mary McGrath        21      CB      GGU     Delphi Lionesses        Montreal Koreana [QUE]      2.5m
Sandra Illaoi       28      CB      CMT     Delphi Lionesses        Ajax Carloburgo Women [VLD] 2.5m
Mathilde Barthet    23      CM      CMT     Delphi Lionesses        Newrook City [NPH]          2.0m
Jacklyn Chung       26      LM      CMT     Delphi Lionesses        AFC Droves [SYL]            2.0m
Amelia Laurent      30      RB      SVG     Lakewood United         Villeneuve NSC [SVG]        2.0m
Bernard Martin      30      RB      SVG     Kingsbury United        Stade-Ferre Trinité [SVG]   2.0m
Christophe Ghislain 30      RW      SVG     Ridgewell Rovers        FC Trinité 1912 [SVG]       2.0m
Maxim Knezevic      31      ST      SVG     Serrapince              Komunemos Calcio [SVG]      2.0m
Nicola Rinaldi      32      RB      SVG     West Couno United       Castiglione [SVG]           2.0m
Lai Sinyue          23      CB      CMT     Delphi Lionesses        Saltburn Wanderers [TLI]    2.0m
Ottavio Bonucci     26      CAM     SVG     Ridgewell Rovers        Komunemos Calcio [SVG]      2.0m
Ophelia Haywood     31      LB      BRE     Lakewood United         Rozelle [BRE]               2.0m
Rilan-Paliv Abe     23      CB      QUS     Kirkby Railwaymen       Dalaris City [PFA]          2.0m
Flo Eschborn        32      CB      NPH     Serrapince              Leichhardt [NPH]            2.0m
Ashleigh Sweeney    30      ST      TKT     Delphi Lionesses        Guillarim Blades FC [TKT]   1.3m
Kateryna Zuniga     32      CDM     CMT     Delphi Lionesses        North Sabrefell [NPH]       2.0m
Kimberly Doyle      32      CDM     CMT     Delphi Lionesses        FK Shakhter Z'ai'ai [CMT]   1.0m
Sile Macewan        29      CB      TLI     Delphi Lionesses

Internal Transfers

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club                    Fee
Michael Toussaint   27      CB      SVG     Straton                 Serrapince                  7.0m
N-H McKinley        23      CB      QUE     Columbia City           West Couno United           5.5m
Joey Sterling       23      RB      TLI/CMT FC Inter Nantwich       West Couno United           4.2m
Andrew Gillingham   25      ST      TMB     Colbrook City           Lakewood United             3.8m
Elaine Calare       27      ST      NPH     Clyde Park              Colbrook City               3.5m
Moussa Wague        24      ST      BRO     Lakewood City           Clyde Park                  3.4m
Douglas Moore       32      CB      TMB     Lakewood United         Straton                     3.2m
Baptiste Ndosi      30      RB      TEQ/TMB Serrapince              Bencoolen City              3.0m
Stuart Murdoch      28      CB      TMB     Clyde Park              Clark City                  2.8m
Ashley Crittenden   23      RB      TMB     Columbia City           Couno Rangers               2.6m
Nigel Harris        32      RB      TMB     Lakewood United         Newark Argyle               2.5m
Fiona Harcourt      25      CB      TMB     Colbrook City           Columbia City               2.4m
Michelle Broadhurst 24      ST      TMB     FC Inter Nantwich       West Couno United           2.2m
August Haller       24      ST      TMB     Columbia City           Serrapince                  2.0m
Joanna Bradford     24      ST      TMB     Clyde Park              FC Inter Nantwich           2.0m
Laurel Hilling      27      LB      TMB     Colbrook City           Ridgewell Rovers            1.9m
Judith Houghton     25      CB      TMB     Delphi Lionesses        West Couno United           1.9m
Malcolm Winter      29      ST      TMB     Kingsbury United        Columbia City               1.8m
Mike Coonan         30      LW      TMB     Columbia City           Fraser Valley               1.8m
Richard Adams       30      ST      TMB     Lakewood United         AFC Gillman                 1.8m
Francis Evers       31      LW      TMB     Couno Rangers           West Couno United           1.7m
Thomas Krabb        28      CB      TMB     Kingsbury United        Fraser Valley               1.7m
James Kent          27      GK      TMB     Macarthur City          Bencoolen City              1.6m
John Turnbull       26      CB      TMB     Sturrey Athletic        Straton                     1.6m
Jane Palmer         23      CB      TMB     Newton Wanderers        Bencoolen City              1.6m
Hazel Kennedy       21      LB      TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        Couno Rangers               1.5m
Penelope Gorostieta 19      CB      TMB/MRT Kirkby Railwaymen       Clyde Park                  1.5m
James Hunter        31      CAM     TMB     Lakewood United         Macarthur City              1.5m
Natasha Caroline    23      ST      TMB     Delphi Lionesses        Kingsbury United            1.5m
Fiona Morrison      25      CDM     TMB     Guillemard Town         Sturrey Athletic            1.5m
Dean Perkins        27      CB      TMB     Glenmont AFC            Macarthur City              1.4m
Bryan Parker        29      LB      TMB     Couno Rangers           AFC Gillman                 1.4m
Alistair McGarry    25      LW      TMB     Clyde Park              Colbrook City               1.4m
Charles Lyon        23      CAM     TMB     Guillemard Town         Ridgewell Rovers            1.3m
Alastair Moynihan   21      CM      TMB     Glenmont AFC            Fraser Valley               1.3m
Erica Illsley       24      LW      TMB     Guillemard Town         Clark City                  1.2m
Andrew Parker       22      CB      TMB     Guillemard Town         Sturrey Athletic            1.2m
Jilian Griffiths    21      RB      TMB     Delphi Lionesses        Newark Argyle               1.1m
Paul Harding        27      ST      TMB     Glenmont AFC            Bencoolen City              1.1m
Peter Bassett       29      CB      TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        Bencoolen City              1.0m
Lyn. Frecklington   18      LW      TMB     Kirkby Railwaymen       Clyde Park                  1.0m
Caleb Hoffman       18      RW      TMB     Kirkby Railwaymen       Columbia City               1.0m
Ed Wright           21      RB      TMB     Port Marray             Serrapince                  1.0m
Jennifer Murray     21      RB      TMB     West Couno United       Colbrook City               1.0m
Carol Haywood       24      RW      TMB     Guillemard Town         Clark City                  1.0m
Mariana Budi-Dursun 20      LB      QUE     Delphi Lionesses        Columbia City               1.0m
Bruno Powell        30      RW      TMB     Columbia City           AFC Gillman                 1.0m
Philip Chamberlain  24      CB      TMB     Kirkby Railwaymen       Colbrook City               0.9m
Mark Ryton          32      RB      TMB     Fraser Valley           AFC Gillman                 0.8m
Adam Stanton        25      GK      TMB     West Couno United       Colbrook City               0.8m
Laura Fisher        22      GK      TMB     Delphi Lionesses        Columbia City               0.7m
Jack Bishop         22      GK      TMB     Glenmont AFC            West Couno United           0.6m
Susan Moran         24      GK      TMB     Kingsbury United        AFC Gillman                 0.6m
Darcy Lewis         25      GK      TMB     West Couno United       Newark Argyle               0.5m
Mike Hahn           24      GK      TMB     Couno Rangers           Ridgewell Rovers            0.5m
Farzana Patel       22      GK      TMB     Columbia City           Couno Rangers               0.5m
David Ager          25      GK      TMB     Lakewood City           Macarthur City              0.3m
Nigel Philips       35      GK      TMB     Ridgewell Rovers        Lakewood City               0.0m

Transfers into the league

Name                Age     Pos     Nat     Former Club             New Club                    Fee
Kira Dormann        23      CB      QUE     Mazinaw Vanorian [KSK]  Kingsbury United            6.0m
Muharem Hajdarpasic 20      CAM     MYT     Tekstil [MYT]           West Couno United           5.0m
Simon Oliveira      25      RM/RF   JUE     AC Cutti [OSC]          Newark Argyle               5.0m
Goron Sauber        24      RB      SRS     Golgafrincham [SRS]     Kingsbury United            5.0m
Luuk Vennema        24      CB      CNR     Draiewikum Boys [CNR]   Columbia City               4.0m
Rose Fleetwood      29      ST      SYL     Raven River [NPH]       Newark Argyle               3.0m
Steinar Clemensson  26      CAM     GRF     Blades ex Magneus [EOT] Ridgewell Rovers            3.0m
Park Jeong-soo      22      CM      QUE     FK Ogr. Vanguardi [ZRH] Macarthur City              3.0m
Mike Sheppard       31      RB      TMB     Kingston FC [QUE]       Lakewood United             2.8m
Rachel McNamara     22      ST      EXT     Grand Beach [EXT]       Bencoolen City              2.0m
Jack Ryland         21      LW      SYL     Chamberley City [SYL]   Colbrook City               2.0m
Cedomir Vladmirovic 19      LM      QUE/MYT Leaside Lions [QUE]     Lakewood City               2.0m
Joanna Harding      24      CM      TMB     Korsbach [GRÆ]          Newark Argyle               2.0m
Deng Daiyu          25      CB      YZH     Jiangdong Tycoons [YZH] Newark Argyle               2.0m
Caointiorn Duncan   22      RB      TLI     Glenmount AFC [TLI]     Lakewood United             2.0m
Toshikuni Nakagome  23      CM      KOR     Katashi Azula [KOR]     AFC Gillman                 0.0m
Kenneth Barsham     29      CM      QUE     Swangard Athletic [QUE] AFC Gillman                 0.0m
Haradin Moss        22      CM      CMT     Staramara Tech [CMT]    Kingsbury United            0.0m

Transfer Records and Stats

Highest fee paid by a Tumbran club: 10m for 4 transfers
- Hermaeus Mora [CMT], Lhor [CMT] to Serrapince FC, TW32
- Anna Korniloff-Kouyaté [QUE], Perce Town [QUE] to Lakewood United, TW34
- Kendra Considine Ramsey [NPH], AFC Treason [NPH] to Lakewood United, TW36
- Samuel McTavish [QUE], St. John's Arsenal [QUE] to Lakewood City, TW37

Highest domestic fee paid: 7.5m for 1 transfer
- Vázsony Sallay [PAS] from Straton FC to Serrapince FC, TW35

Highest outgoing fee: 20.0m for Nick Riordan, Serrapince FC to Sabrefell Moths [NPH], TW35

Total Amount Spent by Tumbran Clubs (External transfers into Tumbra only)
TW31: 21.9m
TW32: 54.754m
TW33: 32.354m
TW34: 43m
TW35: 25m
TW36: 46.6m
TW37: 53m
TW38: 45m

by **Tumbra** » Tue Dec 20, 2022 7:37 am

PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON 9
PREVIEW

Players in bold indicate new arrivals.

AFC Gillman

Quick Facts

City and State: Gillman, Napier
Last season: 2nd, Second Division, 75 points
Stadium: Gillman Barracks, 40,000
Nickname: the Peafowls
Manager: Christopher Tolliver, 46, Tumbra
Style of Play: High-pressing, quick football
Prediction: Relegation contenders
Key Player: ST Richard Adams
Captain: CB David Cairns

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Susan Moran         24  F   Tumbra
2   LB  Bryan Parker        29  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Toshikuni Nakagome  23  M   Ko-oren
5   CB  David Cairns        28  M   Tumbra
19  RB  Greg Bailey         19  M   Tumbra
6   CDM Alex Chapman        30  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Kenneth Barsham     29  M   Quebec
14  CM  Hillary Vallance    26  F   Tumbra
12  LW  Gerald Steinback    22  M   Tumbra
9   RW  Bruno Powell        30  M   Tumbra
10  ST  Richard Adams       30  M   Tumbra

13  GK  Michael Horton      29  M   Tumbra
18  GK  Elisabeth Davis     20  F   Tumbra
15  LB  Phil Grant          27  M   Tumbra
23  CB  Gary Lewis          32  M   Tumbra
21  CB  Melanie Dawson      24  F   Tumbra
16  CB  Jamie Carruthers    26  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Mark Ryton          32  M   Tumbra
22  CDM Jeremy Martel       26  M   Tumbra
20  CM  Lynne Richardson    25  F   Tumbra
17  CM  Bernice Watkins     25  F   Tumbra
24  CAM Raul Pearson        27  M   Tumbra
7   LW  Ross Chalmers       28  M   Tumbra
25  RW  John Fan            20  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Vicki Slade         21  F   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Richard Adams from Lakewood United, 1.8m
Bryan Parker from Couno Rangers, 1.4m
Bruno Powell from Columbia City, 1.0m
Mark Ryton from Fraser Valley, 0.8m
Susan Moran from Kingsbury United, 0.6m
Toshikuni Nakagome from Katashi Azula, 0.0m
Kenneth Barsham from Swangard Athletic, 0.0m
Outgoing:
Tim Rowland, retired
Stephen Read, released
Stephen Williams, released
Promoted:

Someone has to be unfancied — but they've been reinforced with proven Prem quality.

Last season: The Second Division is known for being an absolute murder-fest at the best of times, with some calling it an exceptionally underrated league which needs more international attention, so Gillman rising above the fray — somewhat — is, and remains, an exceptional achievement. A lot of this can be put down to manager Christopher Tolliver, 46, who eschews the typical suit and tie combination observed by most managers for a polo t-shirt and jeans on the sidelines. Casual, yet intense; cold, yet passionate; Tolliver prefers the “pure craft” that is offensive football, though he admits that pragmatism might force him to go with a defensively-oriented option as they attempt to only be the seventh team to not be immediately relegated following their promotion.

New Arrivals: They’ve done well on this front to try and avoid this fate, to be fair. New arrivals like Bryan Parker, Bruno Powell and Mark Ryton are all proven Premiership quality, even if they’re unfancied. Susan Moran, who’s been aching to start in goal for a club, any club, will get her chance here. The real coup here is Richard Adams, who, after being deemed surplus to requirements at United, has travelled back down the ranks of the league to try and help Gillman survive their relegation tiff. It’s a move that others have done but never really worked out — Harry Frist last year tried, and ended up scoring a full third of Kirkby’s goals, but they still went down. Toshikuni Nakagome and Kenneth Barsham ended up being relatively late arrivals to the party, but add that little bit of foreign flair to a team that’s remained largely local in its approach to the league.

Key Players: Most of Gillman’s new arrivals will be the key players. For players here before the summer spending bash, however, look no further than captain David Cairns, a defender in the traditional Tumbran hard-man mould. Physically imposing, yet also inspirational at the back, the tattooed titan will be looking to marshal Gillman’s finest to keep them up. Every team also needs a young, flashy wonderkid to pin too many hopes on; that role is fulfilled by Gerald Steinback, a twenty-two left-winger who managed to shine through as a technically adept player in a league that’s more known for ankle-breaking play.

Prediction: Despite the attempts made to toughen up this squad, they know they’ll be in a relegation scrap throughout the season. The bevy of transfers they’ve made does place them in a great spot for the relegation battle, but they’ll be high up on many pundits’ lists of teams that will be relegated.

Bencoolen City

Quick Facts

City and State: Bencoolen, Bencoolen
Last season: 3rd, Second Division, 70 points
Stadium: Bencoolen City Stadium, 55,000
Nickname: the Merchants
Manager: George Lascelles, 57, Tumbra
Style of Play: Route one football
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: CB Peter Bassett
Captain: CM Miller West

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  James Kent          27  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Craig Anderton      22  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Peter Bassett       29  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Jane Palmer         23  F   Tumbra
3   RB  Baptiste Ndosi      30  M   Tequilo
7   LM  Pearline Doyle      24  F   Tumbra
6   CM  Miller West         31  M   Brenecia
8   CM  Rita Ingwood        28  F   Tumbra
9   RM  Dave Yannick        28  M   Tumbra
10  ST  Rachel McNamara     22  F   Saint Eleanor
11  ST  Sarah Matthews      26  F   Tumbra

13  GK  Peter Dryden        31  M   Tumbra
24  GK  Ewan McCann         22  M   Tumbra
18  LB  Lesley North        24  M   Tumbra
19  CB  James McClellan     29  M   Tumbra
21  CB  Damian Fong         19  M   Tumbra
22  RB  Richard Evans       29  M   Tumbra
12  LM  Neville Marriot     32  M   Tumbra
25  CDM Hugo Lofthouse      23  M   Tumbra
20  CM  Christine Halse     27  F   Tumbra
15  CAM Vincent Schiff      25  M   Tumbra
14  CM  Adam Woodcock       20  M   Tumbra
16  RM  Paul Collins        31  M   Tumbra
17  ST  Ben Dixon           28  M   Tumbra
23  ST  Paul Harding        27  M   Tumbra

*Second Tumbran nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Baptiste Ndosi from Serrapince, 3.0m
Rachel McNamara from Grand Beach, 2.0m
James Kent from Macarthur City, 1.6m
Jane Palmer from Newton Wanderers, 1.6m
Paul Harding from Glenmont AFC, 1.1m
Peter Bassett from Ridgewell Rovers, 1.0m
Outgoing:
Charles Allams, retired
Holly Parker, released
Shyanna Garrock, released
Betti Trevelyan, released
Mark Turner, released
Nathan Hinds, released
Carleton Young, released
Promoted:

George Lascelles has guided the Merchants up for a second go at the Premiership. Will he succeed where Russell Lock failed?

Last season: Now this is where the true spirit of the Second Division came into play. Bencoolen eased themselves onto the top of a playoff scrap on the final day of last season, with four teams still looking to claim that playoff position left open. In the end, Bencoolen held their nerve — and did so again in the playoff, when Christine Halse scored a goal deep into the second half against Delphi to confirm their promotion. George Lascelles, who will become one of a rare group of managers — only one of the few Black Tumbrans to manage in the Prem — has a strong task on his hands.

New Arrivals: The good thing about having a billionaire shipping line owner owning your club is that you typically get a lot of money to spend. Kotzellachian billionaire Helmuth Kerner has, accordingly, shelled out — Baptiste Ndosi arrives after a solitary season at Serrapince, where he hadn’t impressed despite his Tequiloa pedigree. Jane Palmer arrives, being fished out of the Second Division (Newton finished seventh in the Second Division) to showcase her skills on the Prem level once more. It’s expected that she’ll start alongside Peter Bassett, who has indeed heard it all before about how he’s a little short for a defender. James Kent arrives in goal, displacing Peter Dryden, after himself being pushed out of Macarthur in favour of David Ager. But the most exciting signing of them all is Eleanorian Rachel McNamara. A diminutive, agile supporting striker, the Eleanorian is looking to kick-start her career after it stagnated with Grand Beach in the tiny Anaian city-state. She’ll have to start contributing almost immediately, as Bencoolen start the season already with their backs up against the wall.

Key Players: Craig Anderton is a perhaps underrated part of this team’s defensive set-up, having largely been ignored by Prem teams even with his pedigree of one of those Under-18 World Cup appearances that Tumbra seems to enjoy appearing in ever so often. Miller West, the only Brenecian remaining from that frenzy of Brenecian-buying Bencoolen engaged in the last time they were in the Prem, is a calm, if unspectacular, presence from the Northwest Esportivan nation in the squad.

Prediction: Overall, this squad looks almost guaranteed to be in a relegation fight — it’ll be up to McNamara and her strike partner Sarah Matthews, alongside Lascelles' famed tactical guile, to try and untangle this sticky situation the club have found themselves in even before the first ball has been kicked. It’s looking to be a long, if gloomy, season for Bencoolen — but to count them out before the season has begun would be a veritable mistake.

Clark City

Quick Facts

City and State: Clark, Finnley
Last season: 16th, 31 points
Stadium: Clark City Arena, 63,000
Nickname: the Red-and-Black; the Red Devils
Manager: Robert Brent, 51, Tumbra
Style of Play: Low block leading into a fast counterattack
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: CB Stuart Murdoch
Captain: GK James Clinton

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  James Clinton       30  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Marcus Bradley      29  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Charles Walsh       25  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Stuart Murdoch      28  M   Tumbra
19  RB  Sophie Randall      32  F   Sylestone
6   CDM David Millar        27  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Findlay Tran        29  M   Tikariot
15  CM  Brian Murphy        27  M   Tumbra
7   LW  Mason Clark         30  M   Sanford
9   RW  Cheryl Nightingale  23  F   Tumbra
22  ST  Mick Coltrane       26  M   Tumbra

12  GK  Dirk McDonald       24  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Joanne Hawkins      19  F   Tumbra
14  LB  Jeanine Vincent     23  F   Tumbra
16  CB  Peramjot Singh      19  M   Tumbra
17  CB  Daniel Grant        32  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Carlene Barnard     25  F   Tumbra
23  CM  Casper Hovhannisyan 19  M   Tumbra
24  CM  Miles Horgan        26  M   Tumbra
13  CDM Alex Howard         17  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Colin Campbell      19  M   Tumbra
18  LW  Erica Illsley       24  F   Tumbra
20  RW  Carol Haywood       24  F   Tumbra
11  ST  James Turner        26  M   Tumbra
21  ST  Sarah Walker        22  F   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Stuart Murdoch from Clyde Park, 2.8m
Erica Illsley from Guillemard Town, 1.2m
Carol Haywood from Guillemard Town, 1.0m
Outgoing:
Harry Hoskins, retired
Patrick Sanders, released
Oliver Gibbs, released
David Clarkson, released
Promoted:
Alex Howard, CDM

Blending experience with youth worked last time out — but is there a chance Clark have become complacent?

Last season: It ended up being a surprisingly competent season from Clark City — competent compared to the relatively anarchic nature of Delphi, Kirkby and Guillemard’s drops to the second tier of Tumbran football — and a relatively quiet one, too. No big drama, nothing during the season itself; but what happened after ended up dominating the Tumbran offseason. Four key players left the club, but immediately after they did so, it transpired that essentially none of those departures were consensual — Hoskins had been encouraged to retire, while Sanders, Gibbs and Clarkson had allegedly been brusquely informed that their contracts would not be renewed by manager Robert Brent. The news was particularly controversial in Sanders’ case, as he’d just won the team’s Player of the Year award. The club’s pre-season was dominated by fan chants telling Robert Brent to step down as manager, but so far he’s refused to acknowledge the leaks, or even the protests.

New Arrivals: When looking at who’s come in for the departed players, there’s a little bit of solace, though the fans have predictably reacted negatively to their arrivals. Stuart Murdoch arrives from Clyde Park, the defender arguably just entering his prime; it’s surprising how similar he is to Patrick Sanders, just much, much taller. Erica Illsley and Carol Haywood both arrived from the relegated Guillemard Town, with both looking to become rotation options. It’s a relatively small transfer window for a team that really should be looking at spending a bit more — which led to another criticism of Brent that appeared during the offseason, which was that he had become too complacent in assuming that there would be another three meltdowns at other clubs.

Key Players: The new captain James Clinton is, as ever, a stable presence at the back; while Mason Clark on the left remains one of the few Sanfordians outside his native country after the landlocked Rushmore country did an abrupt about-turn after the arrest of its unofficial bankroller. Mick Coltrane scored eight goals last season, a tally which some would call disappointing; but he’s a deft striker with a sporting right foot, and one that fits perfectly into how Brent wishes to set up his side.

Prediction: Clark are an unknown. Some say they’ve got enough quality to hold out for another year; some say they’re doomed for relegation, and there are markings for a season of horror with how the pre-season has gone down. Make no mistake, they’ll be in that fight for sure, but they can’t be counted out of it immediately.

Clyde Park

Quick Facts

City and State: Clyde, Clearmont
Last season: 12th, 48 points
Stadium: Clyde Park, 38,500
Nickname: the Clarets; the Lions
Manager: Joep Martens, 45, the Licentian Isles
Style of Play: Attacking, short passing plays, fast forwards
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Gedeo Escat
Captain: LB Jacob Keene

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
12  GK  Raphael Brennan     25  M   Tumbra
15  LB  Holly Willoughby    24  F   Tumbra
5   CB  Trevor Marshall     29  M   Tikariot
4   CB  Belinda Proudfoot   23  F   Tumbra
6   RB  Juul de Bruin       24  F   The Licentian Isles
7   LW  Brendan May         26  M   Tumbra
13  CM  Lydia Gomboult      23  F   Mertagne
10  CAM Edwin Markozy       27  M   Zeta Reka & Hugeltaldom
11  RW  Kim Kearnes         26  F   Sylestone
9   ST  Moussa Wague        24  M   Brookstation
17  ST  Gedeó Escat         29  M   Tequilo*

1   GK  Mederick Brown      22  M   Quebec
25  GK  Mark Leader         21  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Jacob Keene         30  M   Tumbra
14  CB  Ricardo Wyatt       24  M   Tumbra
19  CB  Penelope Gorostieta 19  F   Tumbra**
3   RB  Isabel Ashcroft     17  F   Tumbra
22  CM  Monica Searle       18  F   Tumbra***
8   CM  Martin Humphreys    29  M   Tumbra
16  CM  Shirley Gillard     19  F   Tumbra
23  CAM Mickey Lynch        29  M   Tumbra
18  LW  Lyn. Frecklington   18  F   Tumbra
21  RW  Daryl Ferguson      25  M   Tumbra
20  ST  Bernard Brown       31  M   Tumbra
24  ST  Timothy Haller      21  M   Tumbra

*Second Tumbran nationality
**Second Mertagnian nationality
***Second Nepharan nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Moussa Wague from Lakewood City, 3.4m
Penelope Gorostieta from Kirkby Railwaymen, 1.5m
Lynette Frecklington from Kirkby Railwaymen, 1.0m
Outgoing:
Elaine Calare to Colbrook City, 3.5m
Stuart Murdoch to Clark City, 2.8m
Joanna Bradford to FC Inter Nantwich, 2.0m
Alistair McGarry to Colbrook City, 1.4m
June Orenthal, released
Promoted:
Isabel Ashcroft, RB
Timothy Haller, ST

The magic’s gone somewhere — will it be Martens restoring it or will someone have to step in?

Last season: Joep Martens’ arrival was heralded as the return of stability after Brian Devzies’ torrid run left them hanging by a thread. It’s been five years, however, since Martens took over at Clyde, and despite high promises of an up-and-coming managerial talent, he hasn’t been able to repeat Clyde’s pair of sixth places won at the very start of the IFCF era. He got them to seventh once, but slipped back to eleventh the season after. Twelfth represents his worst finish to a season since his first, incomplete one; and there’s a perception that time is running out on his project. On the field, Clyde were thoroughly unremarkable; Gedeo Escat’s exploits saving the club time and time again from further embarrassment. There’s a general sense that this season is make-or-break for the Licentian; who not so long ago was in contention for the St. Thomas’ job back home but is rarely an afterthought for plum jobs now. How quickly the tables turn.

New Arrivals: Is it a desperate bid to shake up the way things are being done in Clyde? Not quite, once you delve into the signings; arguably only Moussa Wague is a nailed-on starter, brought in from Lakewood City with the caveat of a buyback option being present; the Brook striker has unbridled potential but faces too much competition for regular starting minutes at the moment. Penelope Gorostieta and Lynette Frecklington have both been lifted from the relegated Kirkby side, and are likely to be almost entirely backups. Stuart Murdoch, Elaine Calare, Joanna Bradford and Alistair McGarry have all left the club; all of whom were important players, but whose time had gradually run out — McGarry in particular a remnant from the last half season Devzies had at the club, where he had to try and unsuccessfully replace Neil Fraser.

Key Players: Gedeo Escat has slowly become something of an attacking talisman for the club, his runs at speed always having the potential to turn into a goal. Kim Kearnes is a star on the right wing, possibly being the only player who can keep up with him; while at the back, Belinda Proudfoot has slowly grown into being the main centre-back, so much so that the club felt safe selling homegrown player Stuart Murdoch to Clark. There are rumours that Mederick Brown is looking for a move away from the club, because he just hasn’t been able to dispel Raphael Brennan from the starting goalkeeper’s spot; but Brennan’s undisputed qualities in goal have effectively prevented Brown from usurping him.

Prediction: Most see Clyde sacking Martens before the end of the season if things are going badly. Even if things do go somewhat well, Martens’ time in the job is likely limited; the only thing that has prevented the club from firing him, allegedly, is the paucity of replacements on the table. Either way, this club has mid-table written all over it; Wague’s entry likely won’t be the rejuvenation the club needs to re-capture the spirit of the first two seasons. Then again, nobody really knows how to re-capture that spirit.

Colbrook City

Quick Facts

City and State: Colbrook, Grantfeldt
Last season: 17th, 30 points
Stadium: Colbrook Stadium, 30,000
Nickname: the Northerners; the Canners
Manager: Matthew Reeves, 66, Tumbra
Style of Play: An emphasis on quick transition from defensive to attacking play; guided by an unorthodox formation which allows for numerical superiority in all aspects of the game
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: CAM Edith Ferguson
Captain: CB Rupert Kirkwood

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Adam Stanton        25  M   Tumbra
13  CB  Claire Steadman     27  F   Tumbra
4   CB  Rupert Kirkwood     32  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Sarah Robson        26  F   Tumbra
3   LWB George Calvert      26  M   Tumbra
19  CDM Lucas McCormick     24  M   Tumbra
2   RWB Mira Foster         27  F   Tumbra
7   LW  Jack Ryland         21  M   Sylestone
22  CAM Edith Ferguson      25  F   Tumbra
9   RW  Cynthia Grimley     25  F   Tumbra
20  ST  Elaine Calare       27  F   Nephara

12  GK  Aidan James         25  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Gilian Bryce        22  F   Tumbra
14  LB  Gilian Allison      17  F   Tumbra
6   CB  Sonja Connolly      19  F   Tumbra
15  CB  Philip Chamberlain  24  M   Tumbra
16  RB  Jennifer Murray     21  F   Tumbra
8   CDM Christian Gallagher 29  M   Tumbra
17  CM  Faye de Vries       19  F   Tumbra*
18  CM  John Hyland         21  M   Tumbra
21  LW  Alistair McGarry    25  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Louise Kelly        18  F   Tumbra
23  RW  Alexander Anderson  32  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Fedya Yeltsov       19  M   Tumbra**
24  ST  Alex Finlay         22  M   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Elaine Calare from Clyde Park, 3.5m
Jack Ryland from Chamberley City, 2.0m
Alistair McGarry from Clyde Park, 1.4m
Jennifer Murray from West Couno United, 1.0m
Philip Chamberlain from Kirkby Railwaymen, 0.9m
Adam Stanton from West Couno United, 0.8m
Outgoing:
Andrew Gillingham to Lakewood United, 3.8m
Fiona Harcourt to Columbia City, 2.4m
Laurel Hilling to Ridgewell Rovers, 1.9m
Levi Beckton, released
Oleanna Bruune, released
Bob Allison, released
Louis Newton, released
Edward King, released
Promoted:
Gilian Allison, LB
Louise Kelly, CAM

A radical squad shakeup reflects a need — a want, even — to try and get Colbrook up the ranks.

Last season: Eight-eight goals conceded. That was not a good number. The most goals conceded in the Prem by quite some margin, but the Northerners managed to score forty-nine goals — an island of competence in a sea of wayward attacking — vindicating manager Matthew Reeves’ strategies once more. By now, Colbrook have seemingly become most neutrals’ favourite club; there are talks for an entire documentary series focused on it, though that prospect has been received much more chillingly by fans. “You can’t turn our club’s struggles into a marketable documentary,” they say, seemingly blind to almost every other bit of the game that they pay thirty dollars a week to watch.

New Arrivals: This season’s transfers have shown that Reeves is displaying ambition to not have Colbrook finish seventeenth for the third season in a row. There were a lot of exits — most notably, Andrew Gillingham left when Lakewood United came calling — but most of the key players have stayed. Elaine Calare comes in from Clyde Park, the striker excited by the prospect of being able to be the main star of the show for once. Alistair McGarry, Jennifer Murray, and Philip Chamberlain are all expected to be rotation players in Colbrook’s eternal bids to stay up, but they’re also seen as something more than that — McGarry in particular, despite his disappointing spell with Clyde Park, is seen as someone who might be an important part of any midtable rush that Colbrook put up. Most exciting, however, is Jack Ryland; the young Sylestonean player is expected to be a big part of Colbrook’s efforts on the left. The last signing of the window, and one that went considerably under the radar, ended up being the new starting goalkeeper Adam Stanton from West Couno; who, while quiet and understated, has shown glimpses of his undoubted quality in the past.

Key Players: Captain Rupert Kirkwood remains one of the key pieces in Colbrook’s squad; there’s a lot to be said about how Tumbran captains seem to constantly be cut from the same cloth, but he remains a calming presence in a back three that has to be extremely active at all times on the pitch. Lucas McCormick’s move from Clyde Park a season prior seems to have paid off handsomely; the on-pitch conductor of Colbrook’s affairs, the skill at which he dictates the tempo and redistributes possession gives him the air of someone who’s been playing for a lot longer than six years. Edith Ferguson is the club’s ace in the hole; the team’s main creative outlet remains a force to be reckoned with, even as it’s predicted she’ll make a slower start to the season with an injury she picked up in pre-season.

Prediction: There are exciting things being bandied about this club; Colbrook are one of the sides that have always been said to have great potential, but have been held back by a lack of investment. Well, the investment is here, to the tune of six new signings; now it’s time to deliver. Most project at least a struggle for the midtable.

Columbia City

Quick Facts

City and State: Columbia, Alexandria
Last season: 11th, 50 points
Stadium: Columbus Field, 49,000
Nickname: the Southerners, the Fishermen
Manager: David Griffiths, 56, Tumbra
Style of Play: Moderately attacking, heavy on side passing play
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Victoria Thesselborg
Captain: CM David Burnet

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  George Danvers      25  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Jolanda MacPierce   29  F   Zwangzug
4   CB  Torcado Fiallo      28  M   Tequilo*
5   CB  Luuk Vennema        24  M   Cap Nord
3   RB  Finlay Hall         27  M   Tikariot
7   LW  Peter Hurst         22  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Enis Crnogorčević   25  M   Mytanija
6   CM  David Burnet        29  M   Tumbra
10  RW  Luciano Bello       28  M   Savigliane
9   ST  Vic. Thesselborg    25  F   Tikariot
11  ST  Liang Wei           27  M   Yuezhou

13  GK  Laura Fisher        22  F   Tumbra
25  GK  Reed Woodward       21  M   Tumbra
16  LB  Mariana Budi-Dursun 20  F   Quebec
15  CB  Fiona Harcourt      25  F   Tumbra
19  CB  Linda Marshall      23  F   Tumbra
20  RB  Alessandro Baraldi  21  M   Tumbra**
18  CDM Henry Morgan        22  M   Tumbra
23  CM  Susan Ramsden       20  F   Tumbra
14  CM  Kálmán Sásk         24  M   Szoirsia
24  CAM Manuel Vaquilar     21  M   Tumbra***
21  LW  Vanessa Harding     18  M   Tumbra
17  RW  Caleb Hoffman       18  M   Tumbra
22  ST  Jean Starling       18  F   Tumbra
12  ST  Malcolm Winter      29  M   Tumbra

*Second Tumbran nationality
**Second Juven nationality
***Second Faroleran nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Luuk Vennema from Draiewikum Boys, 4.0m
Fiona Harcourt from Colbrook City, 2.4m
Malcolm Winter from Kingsbury United, 1.8m
Caleb Hoffman from Kirkby Railwaymen, 1.0m
Mariana Budi-Dursun from Delphi Lionesses, 1.0m
Laura Fisher from Delphi Lionesses, 0.7m
Outgoing:
Noel Hercule-McKinley to West Couno United, 5.5m
Ashley Crittenden to Couno Rangers, 2.6m
August Haller to Serrapince, 2.0m
Mike Coonan to Fraser Valley, 1.8m
Bruno Powell to AFC Gillman, 1.0m
Farzana Patel to Couno Rangers, 0.5m
Rhys Vanney, released
Tomas Hull, released
Promoted:
Alessandro Baraldi, RB

Columbia’s transfer dealings reflect a club’s desire to not get stuck in a quagmire — but is it enough?

Last season: “Quite rarely has a politician gone from rising hope to elder statesman without any intervening period whatsoever” is a quote attributed to one of the many parliamentarians that have passed through the great halls of the Tumbran parliament; but that quote feels just as applicable to Columbia manager David Griffiths. Columbia’s slip down the table ever since they got 5th a few seasons ago has been somewhat worrying, and has triggered somewhat of an exodus as the club tries to shake off the malaise brought about by slipping into the bottom half of the table. Columbia last season were wholly unexciting, and questions have been raised about whether it’s time for a shake-up further up the chain…by changing the manager. Griffiths has done enough to hold on to his job for now, but there’s a growing perception he’s closer to the end of his long tenure at Columbia than the start of it.

New Arrivals: Outgoings have been coupled with incomings, in what feels like the most active transfer window for every club in Tumbra for decades; Noel Hercule-McKinley being poached by Samara Kaniatarii was swiftly followed up by Luuk Vennema becoming the first Capnordic player to join the Premiership, he’ll be expected to fit into the ball-playing style that Griffiths has impressed upon Columbia since his early days at the club. Fiona Harcourt joins too, just to shore up the defence that little bit more; the promising centreback has already been capped by the Black Eagles, and is looking to move up the ranks with this transfer. The rest of the signings — Winter, Hoffman, Budi-Dursun, and Fisher — have all been signed largely as back-up; but all of them bar Winter are young, up-and-coming talents who have lots of promise in them.

Key Players: The strongest part of this team is the midfield. Enis Crnogorcevic, the Mytanar workhorse, forms one half of a partnership with David Burnet, the more technically adept creative partner in the equation. Up front is not to be sniffed at, either; Victoria Thesselborg is slowly maturing into a striker that can deal with the best defenders in the league, as her sixteen league goals will attest to; while Peter Hurst is slowly gaining admiration and fame for his exploits on the left. With Mike Coonan leaving for Fraser Valley, he’ll be expected to step up accordingly.

Prediction: Columbia are a mystery. On paper, they’ve got a squad solid enough for an IFCF challenge; yet, the optimism about them has somewhat faded away, and not many expect that they’ll realistically challenge. Football certainly has a short memory; it hasn’t even been five years since Columbia were on the cusp of making the group stages of the Challengers’ Cup. Of course, things could change in very short order; a run of form here, a few defeats there, and everything could look very different for the Southerners. But for now: cloudy, with little chance of happiness.

Couno Rangers

Quick Facts

City and State: Couno, Napier
Last season: 3rd, 85 points
Stadium: Couno Port Stadium, 54,500
Nickname: the Rams; the Reds
Manager: Marco Giuliani, 54, Savigliane
Style of Play: Short, quick-passing play
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: ST Bruce Nolan
Captain: CB Joel Tyler

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Andrew Taylor       31  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Seren Thomson       28  F   The Licentian Isles
14  CB  Arwen van As        26  F   The Licentian Isles
4   CB  Joel Tyler          31  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Luca Cambiaso       27  M   Savigliane
18  CDM Mark Finnemore      25  M   Tumbra
5   CM  J-P Vaillancourt    26  M   Quebec
8   CAM Tobi Krzanowski     23  M   Tjorl
9   LW  K-R Hertel          23  M   Quebec
12  RW  Dimitra Conder      27  F   Nephara
11  ST  Bruce Nolan         27  M   Tumbra

23  GK  Farzana Patel       22  F   Tumbra
25  GK  Cyril Anderton      20  M   Tumbra
16  LB  Hazel Kennedy       21  F   Tumbra
17  CB  Welar-Ovolk Gep     25  X   Qusmo
6   CB  Lomar Wellingsley   26  M   Tikariot
20  RB  Ashley Crittenden   23  F   Tumbra
21  CM  Pertz-Evela Vet     25  X   Qusmo
13  CM  Marvella Hargrove   27  F   Chromatika
19  CM  Colin Kearney       25  M   Tumbra
15  CAM Natalie Coleman     23  F   Tumbra
7   LW  Erin Robertson      21  F   Tumbra
22  RW  Lilith Kendall      20  F   Tumbra*
10  ST  Frederick Prost     28  M   Mertagne
24  ST  Sylvaine Fortier    21  F   Tumbra**

*Second Nepharan nationality
**Second Chromatik nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Ashley Crittenden from Columbia City, 2.6m
Hazel Kennedy from Ridgewell Rovers, 1.5m
Farzana Patel from Columbia City, 0.5m
Outgoing:
Francis Evers to West Couno United, 1.7m
Bryan Parker to AFC Gillman, 1.4m
Mike Hahn to Ridgewell Rovers, 0.5m
Maksimilian Trukhin, released
Promoted:
Erin Robertson, LW

After heartbreak, comes a chance for redemption.

Last season: They had the lead of the league up until the final day, wresting it away from Nantwich to only lose it themselves as they failed to find a winner against hated rivals Lakewood United. They sank down to third in the standings, out of the IFCF Champions’ League spots, behind Lakewood City and eventual champions Serrapince — who ended up being able to win their respective matches. It was heartbreaking, it was disappointing; but that’s just how football is on some days. Some questioned the impact of such a loss on team morale; but an utterly dominant pre-season seems to have put those questions to rest. There’s a fire in the bellies of the Rams. They just have to make good on it.

New Arrivals: There hasn’t been much change in the way that Couno is operating. Some stalwarts, like Francis Evers, Bryan Parker, and Maks Trukhin, have left; in comes more bench-fillers than anything. But don’t sleep on the qualities of players like Ashley Crittenden or Hazel Kennedy; they’re full-backs with the exact qualities that Marco Giuliani wants from his fullbacks, and they’re still relative youngsters starting out in their careers. There hasn’t been much of a chop-and-change, unlike other clubs that have seemingly rotated their entire benches and starting elevens around; this is a club that knows what they’re doing, and are willing to wait just that little bit more for that second title of the IFCF era.

Key Players: Couno’s back four is possibly one of the strongest in the league; you have Seren Thomson and Luca Cambiaso making attacking runs up the pitch, while Joel Tyler and Arwen van As hold the fort behind, the former being the team’s understated captain. In midfield, there’s a power trio; Mark Finnemore, Jean-Philippe Vaillancourt, and one of Tobi Krzanowski or Natalie Coleman provide the ever-beating heart of the team, redistributing, chasing, and creating alike. Up front, Bruce Nolan is the team’s top scorer; though sometimes goes off on worrying droughts, fans can — and are! — convinced that he’ll always come through when it matters. And he does.

Prediction: This is a squad of warriors, led by a man with years of experience under his belt. Their draw to United last season was a solitary ink blot on an otherwise wonderful season; but they are still the early favourites alongside City. And why shouldn’t they be? They play like champions. They act like champions. Their fans, perhaps annoyingly, also act like champions. It’s only a matter of time before they take the Premiership trophy back to Couno.

FC Inter Nantwich

Quick Facts

City and State: Nantwich, Finnley
Last season: 4th, 85 points
Stadium: Nantwich Stadium, 64,000
Nickname: the Black-and-Blues; the Bulls
Manager: Rachel Schroeder, 57, Nephara
Style of Play: Balanced; Counterattacking
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: ST Basilica Coexter
Captain: CDM Aventurine Kolar

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Nick Barker         31  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Aimée Laurent       29  F   Savigliane
4   CB  Vilovalu Wakajama   27  M   Ko-oren
5   CB  Walter Thomas       26  M   Tikariot
3   RB  Klara Verlan        22  F   Quebec
6   CDM Aventurine Kolar    30  F   Nephara
8   CM  Andrew Fisher       29  M   Tumbra
16  CM  Julie Dufour        27  F   Kelssek
9   LW  Jake Spekman        24  M   The Licentian Isles*
7   RW  Luo Nanwei          26  M   Yuezhou
11  ST  Basilica Coxeter    28  F   Nephara

12  GK  Jan Murray          24  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Ferdinand Halliwell 20  M   Tumbra
14  LB  Martin Hawthorn     23  M   Tumbra
13  CB  Lionel Cooper       17  M   Tumbra
23  CB  Joaquin Santo       25  M   Juvencus
22  RB  Sean Black          18  M   Tumbra
20  CM  Ian Robertson       25  M   Tumbra
19  CM  Zheng Haidong       27  M   Yuezhou
10  CM  Esekíel Sváfnisson  18  M   Tumbra**
21  CDM Robert Anselm       24  M   Tumbra
15  LW  Rebecca Haines      22  F   Tumbra
18  RW  Richard Baker       27  M   Tumbra
17  ST  Joanna Bradford     24  F   Tumbra
24  ST  Heather Gell        27  F   Mertagne

*Second Chromatik nationality
**Second Graentfjaller nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming:
Joanna Bradford from Clyde Park, 2.0m
Outgoing:
Joey Sterling to West Couno United, 4.2m
Michelle Broadhurst to West Couno United, 2.2m
Devon Daniels, released
Promoted:
Lionel Cooper, CB
Sean Black, RB

They’ve gone from overrated to underrated in the span of a few months. Is an underdog challenge on?

Last season: Nantwich flew largely under the radar last season, but they were confident in their play — which has been impressed on them by Nepharan manager Rachael Schroeder, of course — and that led to a surprise title charge late on in the season. Well, it was a surprise title charge, until the team collectively dropped a clanger against Lakewood City and saw a position of strength turn into a position of weakness within seconds. Finishing one point behind eventual title winners Serrapince was a bit of consolation, but the fact that a gap of just one point led to them finishing fourth remained a bit of a sore point for Nantwich fans. Throughout the summer break, as the season continued to be hyped up, Nantwich seemed to fly under the radar; this despite the main spine of their team managing to win the title just two seasons ago. Funny sport, football.

New Arrivals: The transfer window was a relatively light one for Nantwich, with two promotions from the youth team instead forming the majority of squad movement. Joanna Bradford joins from Clyde as Basilica Coxeter’s back-up; but by and large, the core of this team remains the same as last season. Or, for that matter, the title-winning team of two years ago. Schroeder maintains a confidence in her players that quite a few managers can match; and why wouldn’t she? This squad, on paper, at least, is one of the best in the country.

Key Players: Nick Barker, who for a bit could possibly lay claim to being the best goalkeeper in the world, marshals the defensive line; though he’s the player with the longest tenure at the club, he’s not been given the captain’s armband for the reason that some people think he’s actually just a bit batty. In front of him, Walter Thomas, Tikariotian stalwart, has managed to embed and endear himself to the fans; the hard-tackling, hard-charging defender has reminded some of Josep Ros, the Audioslavian striker who used to ply his trade at the club for a few seasons during the league’s wild-west era of foreign players. In the midfield, Aventurine Kolar, despite her lack of pace, controls and tackles like nobody’s business; her positioning has freed her two more offensive counterparts, Julie Dufour and Andrew Fisher, to run wild. And up top, the front three of Jake Spekman, Luo Nanwei and Basilica Coxeter remain one of the scariest in the league.

Prediction: Underestimate them at your peril. Sure, they didn’t exactly have the nicest of ends to their league season, but that in no way means they won’t be challenging again for the title this year. Nantwich are one of the strongest clubs in Tumbra still, and they will be up there with the rest of the top five clubs, fighting it out for the title.

Fraser Valley

Quick Facts

City and State: (the outskirts of) Serrapince, Bechor
Last season: 14th, 42 points
Stadium: Valley Park, 45,000
Nickname: the Stallions; the Denizens
Manager: Michael Hardwick, 58, Tumbra
Style of Play: Defensive first; attacking last
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Tricia Barker
Captain: LB Xu Xuanliang

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Azeld-Kresp Tla     26  X   Qusmo
17  LB  Xu Xuanliang        31  M   Yuezhou
5   CB  Frances Sinclair    23  F   Tumbra
14  CB  Thomas Krabb        28  M   Tumbra
2   RB  Don Blather         27  M   Tumbra
9   LM  Leigh Eyre          22  F   Mertagne
8   CM  Cole Pearlman       25  M   Tikariot
21  CM  Pilta-Blonz Yol     26  X   Qusmo
20  RM  Anne Beckett        24  F   Tumbra
10  ST  Tricia Barker       23  F   Tumbra
11  ST  Xilix-Oxolt Mal     25  X   Qusmo

12  GK  Cayden Gillespie    19  M   Tumbra*
25  GK  Michael Kennan      21  M   Tumbra
3   LB  Clarence Tate       19  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Philip Gonzalez     29  M   Tumbra
22  CB  Gordon Donnelly     18  M   Tumbra
18  RB  Casper Baumgartner  21  M   Tumbra
13  CM  John Bush           33  M   Tumbra
24  CDM Jonathan Hwang      20  M   Tumbra**
6   CM  Alastair Moynihan   21  M   Tumbra
19  CAM John Batten         25  M   Tumbra
15  LM  Mike Coonan         30  M   Tumbra
7   RM  Keith Palmer        18  M   Tumbra
16  ST  David Greer         26  M   Tumbra
23  ST  Gianluca Cardini    30  M   Tumbra

*Second Licentian nationality
**Second Quebecois nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Mike Coonan from Columbia City, 1.8m
Thomas Krabb from Kingsbury United, 1.7m
Alastair Moynihan from Glenmont AFC, 1.3m
Outgoing:
Mark Ryton to AFC Gillman, 0.8m
Matrona Croxteth, released
Matilda Kerry, released
Carlos Wolfe, released
Lucas Courtney, released
Nicholas Kinsella, released
Promoted:
Gordon Donnelly, CB
Casper Baumgartner, RB
Keith Palmer, RM

After years of floundering, the last two years have seen Fraser move up. Will this continue?

Last season: Defensive football isn’t supposed to be exciting. Yet time after time, Michael Hardwick’s side did the seemingly impossible and made defensive football fun to watch again. Whether it was his well-drilled side shutting off the half-spaces, making most modern, possession-focused play difficult against the Stallions, or whether it was watching them strike quickly on the counter, Fraser were actually a good side to follow for once. Which made it all the more puzzling that they only managed to finish fourteenth last season. No matter, Hardwick says, though it feels like he may be falling out of love with this job; there will be other opportunities.

New Arrivals: The offseason saw most of the team’s deadweight moved on, with six squad members leaving. In came names as famous as Mike Coonan and Thomas Krabb, with Krabb expected to make an immediate contribution to the team’s defence. Alastair Moynihan, on the other hand, is earmarked as a talent for future development; while Coonan seems to be desperately trying to restart his career after his few years at Columbia failed to get him back into the national team.

Key Players: The wingers are the main creative parts of this team; the centre midfielders largely are responsible for shutting down play. Thankfully, Leigh Eyre and Anne Beckett are exactly the people you want out there; the two are the most creative players on the team by far, and are key to the pace of the Fraser Valley counterattack that has so far been employed to moderate success. Tricia Barker, however, has become something of a talisman in her own right up front; a pure, out-and-out finisher, her specialty comes from making curved runs behind the opposition to score goals. She’s pretty good at that.

Prediction: Fraser has become That Team where you could put them anywhere from eighth to fifteenth and a vast majority of people would nod and say “mm, yeah, that makes sense.” They’ve got quality in droves to try and make a concerted run up the field; and yet it feels like they’re missing something, just something, to make that final surge. Could it be the manager, who’s come under criticism sometimes for not being able to make good substitutions? Or could it be something else?

Hesham FC

Quick Facts

City and State: Hesham, Clearmont
Last season: 8th, 61 points
Stadium: George Bowen Stadium, 40,000
Nickname: the Greens; the Ploughmen
Manager: William Wight, 44, Tumbra
Style of Play: Steady, patient build-up
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Lucas Russell
Captain: CM Min Song-hwan

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Alan McDermott      24  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Hugo Mornington     27  M   Sylestone
14  CB  Mu Weihai           29  M   Yuezhou
3   CB  Nexev-Kresp Val     26  X   Qusmo
6   RB  Elsie Houston       24  F   The Licentian Isles*
15  LM  Kurosh Rostami      26  M   SRS
8   CM  Alisha Thompson     28  F   The Licentian Isles
16  CM  Min Song-Hwan       29  M   Chromatika
7   RM  Harriet Bevins      23  F   Tumbra
9   ST  Gerard Deighton     22  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Lucas Russell       28  M   The Licentian Isles

12  GK  Alan Tate           22  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Daphne Cross        20  F   Tumbra
24  LB  Miranda Dahlberg    20  M   Tumbra**
17  CB  Jack Denham         22  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Nathaniel Edmonds   19  M   Tumbra
5   RB  Vic Nelson          32  M   Tumbra
18  CM  Paul Fletcher       29  M   Tumbra
10  CM  Richard Driver      29  M   Tumbra
13  CDM Andrew Hutton       22  M   Tumbra
19  CM  Matthew Noble       31  M   Tumbra
20  LW  Trevor Stewart      17  M   Tumbra
21  RW  James Halliday      19  M   Tumbra
22  ST  Tom Elliot          18  M   Tumbra
23  ST  Alessio Gagliardini 21  M   Tumbra***

*Second Chromatik nationality
**Second Tikariotian nationality
***Second Juven nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Outgoing:
Joe Bonner, retired
Sheena Glover, released
Promoted:
Trevor Stewart, LW
Alessio Gagliardini, ST

‘Why fix what isn’t broken?’ seems to be the dominant mantra going around Hesham. It seems to be working, but for how long?

Last season: Defying all expectations of a dip in fortunes, Hesham kept to whatever they were doing and secured a second consecutive top ten finish. It was impressive football from a squad that wasn’t really much fancied to pull off the magic that they’ve done for a while now, but a run of consistent form (and fair play — which gave them the opportunity to play international club football) meant that they punched above expectations. The defining mantra of the club seems to be to not fix what isn’t broken, but the club now runs the risk of falling behind other clubs that have spent big — like Kingsbury or Ridgewell.

New Arrivals: William Wight has come under fire for not dreaming big enough. His dealings in the transfer window have, to be fair, not been extremely imaginative. This season, though, he has sparked some concern by being the only team in the Premier Division to have not spent any money on new players to replace Sheena Glover and Joe Bonner, who was forced to retire due to a previously undiscovered heart condition early into the summer. Instead, it’s promotions from the youth squads, with Trevor Stewart and Alessio Gagliardini, a Tumbran-Juven, stepping up to take their place.

Key Players: Alan McDermott has quickly established himself as one of the best young keepers in the league, while Hugo Mornington in front of him has displayed an elite sense of versatility, being able to slot in at either left or centre-back, though Wight deploys him as more of a left-back. Min Song-hwan, the team’s captain, is a calm, commanding presence in the midfield; while up front, the established strike duo of Lucas Russell and Gerard Deighton are happy to trade places, play fluidly and support each other up front.

Prediction: This squad certainly has the quality to finish in the top half once more. But there remain questions over whether this squad, which has remained relatively stagnant in terms of turnover, has the gall to do it once more. There are also questions of the ability of the squad to commit to two competitions at once; though, if Columbia’s VCIAPP sojourn is to be seen, a quick exit from that competition might just put paid to that idea anyway. Either way, most are predicting another midtable run; the less positive amongst the pundits are pegging them for a lower-half (but still eminently respectable!) midtable finish.

by **Tumbra** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:00 am

Kingsbury United

Quick Facts

City and State: Kingsbury, Georgia
Last season: 9th, 56 points
Stadium: Fletcher Park, 45,000
Nickname: the Princelings, the Royals
Manager: Vince McCarthy, 49, Tumbra
Style of Play: Heavy, aggressive pressing with one-touch dynamics
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: RW Antti Perkkanen
Captain: GK Tom Sterling

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Tom Sterling        35  M   Tumbra
3   LB  Wei Haifeng         26  M   Yuezhou
15  CB  Nathan Quinn        27  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Kira Dormann        23  F   Quebec
2   RB  Goron Sauber        24  M   SRS
6   CDM Coco                25  M   Montana Verde
21  CM  Haradin Moss        25  M   Chromatika
8   CM  Bede Cheschon       23  M   Brenecia
22  LW  Joyce Hughes        25  F   Tumbra
9   RW  Antti Perkkanen     29  M   Tikariot
11  ST  James Anderson      33  M   Tumbra

12  GK  Thomas Faulkner     18  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Hugh Williams       20  M   Tumbra
13  LB  Mátyás Boullogne    18  M   Tumbra*
4   CB  Louis Paterson      32  M   Tumbra
19  CB  Desimir Gavrilovic  25  M   Kruviš
18  RB  Jude McReary        18  M   Tumbra
20  CM  David Blair         18  M   Tumbra
16  CM  V. Loustaunau       27  M   Farolera
14  CDM Dominic Gray        18  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Haydn Schwartz      25  M   Zeta Reka & Hugeltaldom
7   LW  Xaime Medal         32  M   Tequilo**
23  RW  Kim Chae-yeong      19  F   Quebec
17  ST  Natasha Caroline    23  F   Tumbra
24  ST  Dannon Larr         28  M   Mertagne

*Second Szorisian nationality
**Second Tumbran nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Kira Dormann from Mazinaw Vanorian, 6.0m
Goron Sauber from Golgafrincham, 5.0m
Natasha Caroline from Delphi Lionesses, 1.5m
Haradin Moss from Staramara Tech, 0.0m
Outgoing:
Bernard Martin to Stade-Ferre Trinité, 2.0m
Malcolm Winter to Columbia City, 1.8m
Thomas Krabb to Fraser Valley, 1.7m
Susan Moran to AFC Gillman, 0.6m
Sean Cushing, retired
Tania Layton, released
Kalene Chenoweth, released
Promoted:
Thomas Faulkner, GK
David Blair, CM
Dominic Gray, CDM

New owners, new manager — and he’s wasted zero time in shaking up the squad.

Last season: Might as well be a blank slate as far as this season is confirmed; since there’s been a shake-up in almost every bit of the club; there are new owners (Tikariotian, and rich, very rich), and there’s a new manager (the old one was poached by West Couno as they seek to cement their steady rise up the table). Meet Vince McCarthy, who’s biggest job so far has been bringing Macarthur City from a midtable side in the second tier of Tumbran football to being a midtable side in the first tier of Tumbran football. Having this amount of resources at his disposal must feel, to him, like being a kid in a candy shop at Christmas and being told that he’s free to buy whatever.

New Arrivals: And buy he has. Two of the most expensive transfers of the window —Kira Dormann and Goron Sauber — were both by Kingsbury, from Kelssek and the Squornshelan Remnant States respectively. The two defensive signings are expected to rejuvenate a sometimes tired, sometimes unenthusiastic back four, and are expected to immediately become important players in McCarthy’s new-look Kingsbury. The rest of the squad has gone through a similarly thorough cleaning — Haradin Moss joins from Chromatika to add to an already-stacked midfield, while Natasha Caroline jumps ship from Delphi to add to Kingsbury’s attacking talent. There’s also a renewed emphasis on the future; three members of Kingsbury’s under-age squads join the senior team, with a hope that they’ll become fully-fledged team members sooner rather than later.

Key Players: The two oldest members of this squad — Tom Sterling and James Anderson — just so happen to also be two of the team’s most important members. Goalkeeper and striker respectively, the two have rubbished the idea that players tend to cross a hill after the age of 32; after all, Anderson did score 15 league goals last season, and Sterling found himself very high up on the Golden Glove tally. Neither of the two have expressed a wish to stop any time soon; the former’s decision having contributed directly to Susan Moran’s transfer out of the club. Apart from them, Marcos Fernan, or Coco, as he’s become known, in midfield is a renowned battler; while Antti Perkkanen on the right is a long-serving, yet still exciting player who is a calming presence on the wing.

Prediction: Most expect this to be an upper-midtable side. A lot of how this team performs will depend on how well McCarthy can get used to working at a club with a lot more expectations, and a lot larger, than his former one. Get it right, and this could very well be one of the surprise packages of the season. Get it wrong, and there could be a very quick trip to the unemployment office for McCarthy; though the new owners have already made it very clear that they’re going to be more lenient on McCarthy as they themselves get to grips with the minutiae of Tumbran football.

Lakewood City

Quick Facts

City and State: Lakewood, Severn
Last season: 2nd, 86 points
Stadium: Lakewood City Stadium, 58,000
Nickname: the Skyblues; the Skylarks
Manager: John Riedweld, 55, Tumbra
Style of Play: Possessive, attacking
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: RW Robin Vaughn
Captain: RW Robin Vaughn

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Victoria Jones      25  F   Tumbra
12  LB  Twilight Mixon      24  F   Chromatika
4   CB  Ian Ashburn         29  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Txomin Huon         23  M   Mertagne
3   RB  Leah Robbins        22  F   Tikariot
8   CDM Eli Apt             30  M   Chromatika
23  CM  Mathias Schärer     22  M   Tjorl
10  CM  Samuel McTavish     25  M   Quebec
18  LW  Jack Reed           26  M   Tumbra
9   RW  Robin Vaughn        33  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Ophelie Bernard     28  F   Savigliane

13  GK  Nigel Philips       35  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Graham Henderson    20  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Ryan Hughes         34  M   Tumbra
17  CB  Tom Lawrence        28  M   Tumbra
14  CB  Benjamin Byrne      18  M   Tumbra
19  RB  Komang T. Kurniawan 20  M   Pemecutan
6   CM  Victor Leighton     21  M   Tumbra
15  CM  Hazel Hills         21  F   Tumbra
16  CM  Valerie Morris      24  F   Tumbra
20  CDM Lewis McCabe        25  M   Tumbra
7   LW  Cedomir Vladmirovic 19  M   Quebec*
21  RW  Emmanuel Appleby    23  M   Tumbra
22  ST  Charlotte Henshaw   23  F   Tumbra
24  ST  Yvonne Reynolds     17  F   Tumbra

*Second Mytanar nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Cedomir Vladimirovic from Leaside Lions, 2.0m
Nigel Philips from Ridgewell Rovers, 0.0m
Outgoing:
Neil Fraser to Chamberley City, 6.0m
Moussa Wague to Clyde Park, 3.4m
Maja Olsman to Northbury City, 3.0m
David Ager to Macarthur City, 0.3m
Erika Steinlein, released
Promoted:
Benjamin Byrne, CB
Victor Leighton, CM
Yvonne Reynolds, ST

Perennially the bridesmaids but never the brides — have City lost their title-fight edge?

Last season: Lakewood City have become the definition of a dangerous side. This, of course, does sound more like an obvious observation than anything. City have Tumbra’s best-ever player; City have challenged for the title for what feels like nine of the last nine seasons; City were only pipped to the title by one point, and look ready to go again. John Riedweld is one of the division’s best tacticians; owner John Ashburn is the richest man in Tumbra. They’ll be raring to go again, of course; and they’ll be raring to go for as long as the two Johns are together at the club.

New Arrivals: It’s interesting, however, that since the end of the previous transfer window there’s been a change in tack from the high-spending days of the past. Benjamin Byrne, Victor Leighton, and Yvonne Reynolds are all local footballers, from a youth system that’s become one of the best in Tumbra at scouting for talent in the Lakewood-Hesham conurbation. Whisper it quietly, too, but City have become quietly more attractive than United for young kids looking to make their start in the sport. But that’s not all — Quebecois-Mytanar Cedomir Vladimirovic joins from Leaside, as Riedweld jumpstarts the team’s transition into a new age; while in possibly the most bizarre signing of the summer, Nigel Philips becomes City’s third-choice goalkeeper. There are already memes about how he will be the best goalkeeper in the club’s — nay, in the world’s history — to play.

Key Players: Robin Vaughn, as ever, leads the line; fearless, empathetic, taciturn, he quietly yet confidently springs attacks, scores from his free position on the wing, and carries the ball everywhere. He’s already thirty-three, but hasn’t let that slow him down; just look at the 20+ goals he’s been scoring almost every season for the Skylarks. Behind him, Samuel McTavish has eased himself into a dominant role in midfield, serving as yet another creative spark for the team; Ian Ashburn continues to be one of the best defenders in Tumbran football, while Victoria Jones’ career seems to be finally leaping off to a fast start after a few years in Brenecia.

Prediction: City will be up there, as ever; though some are questioning the overall stability of the team simply because so many have been let go, and the rapid promotion of so many youngsters. Riedweld himself, however, has always been in favour of promoting youth players, and quickly; and he’s proven time and time again he’s able to deftly switch strategies. Discount them at your own risk.

Lakewood United

Quick Facts

City and State: Lakewood, Severn
Last season: 6th, 71 points
Stadium: Trenton Park, 74,500
Nickname: the Reds, the Red Storm
Manager: Andrea Spinelli, 58, Savigliane
Style of Play: Fast-paced pressing, attacking play
Prediction: IFCF contenders
Key Player: LW Kendra Considine
Captain: CM Nicky Atkinson

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Richard Russell     25  M   Tumbra
6   LB  Paul Marlin         26  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Ochoa Abril         29  M   Tequilo*
5   CB  Spencer Jepson      29  M   Tikariot
3   RB  Mike Sheppard       31  M   Tumbra
23  CDM Michael Browne      26  M   Tumbra
13  CM  Nicky Atkinson      29  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Kirsten Desmond     26  F   Nephara
14  LW  Kendra Considine R. 30  F   Nephara**
7   RW  Josip Horvat        29  M   Savigliane***
9   ST  Corinne Fontana     29  F   Savigliane

12  GK  David Knight        21  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Gary Shepard        20  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Melvin Skidmore     18  M   Tumbra
16  CB  Georgina Byrne      17  F   Tumbra
21  CB  Almar Hussein       28  M   Tumbra
20  RB  Caointiorn Duncan   22  F   The Licentian Isles
11  CM  Travis Dolan        25  M   Tikariot
8   CM  Matthew Ukrop       31  M   Tikariot
19  CDM Serena Philips      23  F   Tumbra
15  CAM Nicolas Pellegrini  21  M   Tumbra****
24  LM  Max Mycroft         27  M   Tumbra
18  RW  Penny Wilson        22  F   Tumbra
22  ST  Cameron Keyes       29  M   Sylestone
17  ST  Andrew Gillingham   25  M   Tumbra

*Second Tumbran nationality
**Second Schottic nationality
***Second Varanajan nationality
****Second Juven nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Andrew Gillingham from Colbrook City, 3.8m
Mike Sheppard from Kingston FC, 2.8m
Caointiorn Duncan from Glenmount AFC, 2.0m
Outgoing:
Douglas Moore to Straton, 3.2m
Nigel Harris to Newark Argyle, 2.5m
Amelia Laurent to Villeneuve NSC, 2.0m
Ophelia Haywood to Rozelle, 2.0m
Richard Adams to AFC Gillman, 1.8m
James Hunter to Macarthur City, 1.5m
Promoted:
Melvin Skidmore, LB
Georgina Byrne, CB
Nicolas Pellegrini, CAM

Spinelli’s had six months to assess the squad and make changes. The real work begins now.

Last season: An early-season floundering cost Ted Bayh the job he’d spent two years waiting on the sidelines for after just three months into the season. Searching for a replacement, the implosion of Sanford’s league meant that Savigliano manager Andrea Spinelli — the last in a long-running, long-suffering managerial carousel that came to define PREMIER — was hurriedly ushered into the job. And, with a cup under his belt after just five months in the job, winning him praise and confidence from the fans, he’s been given the unenviable task of winning United’s first title in nine years.

New Arrivals: The arrival of a new manager also heralded a wholesale change in playing staff; out went old hands like Douglas Moore, Nigel Harris, Amelia Laurent, Ophelia Haywood and James Hunter; in comes Andrew Gillingham, Colbrook’s best striker who practically leaped at the chance to join United; Caointorn Duncan, a young, energetic right-back with seemingly limitless potential; and, uh. Mike Sheppard. That one caught most observers off guard, particularly since they’d already dumped one over-30 right-back (Harris) for another who was just one year younger. He’ll likely bring some defensive stability to the side, however. Spinelli has also gone ahead and put a ton of faith in the youth, with Melvin Skidmore, Georgina Byrne, and Nicolas Pellegrini all promoted to the first team squad.

Key Players: The obvious name here — and she, despite all predictions, has settled in very nicely into the United squad — is Kendra Considine. A hard worker, she’s made her presence known on the left for United multiple times already; and she is still the main offensive threat for a sometimes-underrated Lakewood United side that’s still attempting to string things together for a title challenge. In a sea of tumult, she is a rock of consistency. Spencer Jepson is another similarly underrated player at the back of the field for the Red Storm; he’s grown into the role of defensive leader very neatly, and marshalls the defence with aplomb.

Prediction: United aren’t expected to make many waves or do many big splashes, though Spinelli (and the squad) will be hoping to prove everyone wrong. They will, however, likely be closer to the front (and IFCF contention) than last year. Most expect them to finish fourth or fifth; privately, however, there are rumours Spinelli thinks a title challenge is possible.

Macarthur City

Quick Facts

City and State: Macarthur, Georgia
Last season: 13th, 45 points
Stadium: FisherArena, 40,000
Nickname: the Blackbirds; the Greybeards
Manager: Graham Lloyd, 37, Tumbra
Style of Play: Patient counterattack
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: ST Vivienne Anderson
Captain: RB Kilarul Dhaundhen

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  David Ager          25  M   Tumbra
16  LB  Savatije Kralj      27  M   Kruviš
4   CB  Brian Marsden       27  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Carole Bond         23  F   Tumbra
3   RB  Kilarul Dhaundhen   32  M   Ko-oren
8   CM  Alan Morgan         31  M   Tumbra
18  CM  Park Jeong-soo      22  M   Quebec
7   LW  Ian McDermott       25  M   Tumbra
10  CAM James Hunter        31  M   Tumbra
9   RW  Tom Kinzinger       25  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Vivienne Anderson   23  F   Tumbra

13  GK  Oliver Scott        19  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Julie Pereira       20  F   Tumbra
2   LB  Sean McDonald       32  M   Tumbra
19  CB  Duncan Freeman      21  M   Tumbra
14  CB  Dean Perkins        27  M   Tumbra
24  CB  Harish Shah         21  M   Tumbra
15  RB  Tom Jones           28  M   Tumbra
23  CDM Tanya Hughes        21  F   Tumbra
6   CM  Ryan Morgan         31  M   Tumbra
22  CM  Erin Crawford       18  F   Tumbra
20  LW  Gordon Jennings     33  M   Tumbra
21  RW  Scott Wilson        20  M   Tumbra
12  ST  Jason Pearce        26  M   Tumbra
17  ST  Helen Shawcross     18  F   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Park Jeong-soo from FK Ogroven Vanguardi, 2.2m
James Hunter from Lakewood United, 1.5m
Dean Perkins from Glenmont AFC, 1.4m
David Ager from Lakewood City, 0.3m
Outgoing:
James Kent to Bencoolen City, 1.6m
Henry Butler, retired
Linnie Huxley, released
Tony Fernandes, released
Ivan Bader, released
Sandy Rowling, released
Julia Garland, released
Promoted:
Tanya Hughes, CDM
Erin Crawford, CM
Helen Shawcross, ST

Macarthur are starting over with a brand new manager. Time will tell whether it’s too soon for Graham Lloyd.

Last season: Macarthur were largely invisible last season, with midtable mediocrity being about right for the way they were playing. It was a disappointment, and there were rumours the club was about to give Vince McCarthy the sack — but then he jumped over to Kingsbury before he could be pushed. Rumours swirled around the club for almost the entirety of the off-season over who would take over; but no foreign manager seemed willing to take on the job at the northern Georgian side. Near the end of pre-season, Graham Lloyd was shoved into a chair with a suit and tie and announced as the new manager of Macarthur City. Not exactly the most convincing of job search processes.

New Arrivals: Lloyd was left with precious little time to make any signings of his own — Park Jeong-soo, a hard-working midfielder, was the only one that could reliably be identified as truly Lloyd-led — but there were some who others. A massive exodus of ended contracts meant that some replacements were due, and while the club did dip into the youth academy for promotions, there were still some remnants of the old “buy whomever the Big Six don’t want” transfer strategy that had James Hunter end up at the club. The departure of James Kent meant that Macarthur dipped into the market and ended up with City backup David Ager; while Dean Perkins was fished from the second tier to shore up the defence.

Key Players: The front three of Vivienne Anderson, Ian McDermott and Tom Kinzinger are just about the most inspiring players this team has. Vivi, as she’s called, is slated for a national team cap (or transfer to a big six team) sometime in the future; McDermott’s successfully left United behind and proven that regular starts are actually good to show people how good you are, and Kinzinger, while somewhat injury-prone, is still quality when he plays. In the defence, Carole Bond is the standout here; she’s maturing rapidly, and displays a reading of the game far beyond her years when she starts at centre-back for the Blackbirds.

Prediction: In a league where managerial quality seems to stand out more than others, Lloyd sticks out like a sore thumb with his relative lack of experience and rushed pre-season. Most are expecting another midtable finish as he’ll be forced to learn on the job; the more pessimistic say he’ll be sacked within the season. The paucity of quality Tumbran managers, however, willing to take on the job, means he’s somewhat safe; but Macarthur supporters are braced for a disappointing season.

Newark Argyle

Quick Facts

City and State: Newark, Severn
Last season: 1st, Second Division, 89 points
Stadium: Newark Henza Arena, 19,000*
Nickname: the Pilgrims; Argyle
Manager: Desmond Clarke, 64, Tumbra
Style of Play: Defensively solid; uncompromising
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: RM Simon Oliviera
Captain: RB Nigel Harris

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Darcy Lewis         25  M   Tumbra
12  LB  Felix Rooney        27  M   Tumbra
14  CB  Deng Daiyu          25  F   Yuezhou
5   CB  Jamie Cooper        24  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Nigel Harris        32  M   Tumbra
16  LM  June Johnson        23  F   Tumbra
4   CM  Joanna Harding      24  F   Tumbra
24  CM  Gavin Butler        25  M   Tumbra
11  RM  Simon Oliveira      25  M   Juvencus
7   ST  Rose Fleetwood      29  F   Sylestone
9   ST  Charles Carr        26  M   Tumbra

17  GK  Alan Thorley        18  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Richard Hughes      35  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Amanda Andrews      24  F   Tumbra
18  CB  David Eldridge      32  M   Tumbra
13  CB  M. Hanson-Hartridge 25  M   Tumbra
20  CB  Nicole Tindall      20  F   Tumbra
15  RB  Jilian Griffiths    21  F   Tumbra
6   CDM Timothy Decker      25  M   Tumbra
8   CM  Ted Banfield        27  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Zachary Campbell    29  M   Tumbra
21  LM  Roy Wheeler         22  M   Tumbra
23  RM  Lisa Hayes          22  F   Tumbra
22  ST  Anne Fox            25  F   Tumbra
19  ST  Maurice Moore       24  M   Tumbra

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Simon Oliveira from AC Cutti, 5.0m
Rose Fleetwood from Raven River, 3.0m
Nigel Harris from Lakewood United, 2.5m
Joanna Harding from Korsbach, 2.0m
Deng Daiyu from Jiangdong Tycoons, 2.0m
Jilian Griffiths from Delphi Lionesses, 1.1m
Darcy Lewis from West Couno United, 0.5m
Outgoing:
Promoted:
Alan Thorley, GK

Flush with cash and having convinced a top Juven talent to make the jump, Newark are looking to make a splash.

Last season: The Second Division is often known as an unforgiving league with physical play and a tendency for teams to never really be able to get into form. So when a team wins the league by an eye-watering margin of fourteen points, you know that something is up. And with Newark, it definitely is. Bought by Chromatik a few years ago in their bid to go global, the amount of cash pumped into the club has brought them now to the Premier Division at only the second time of asking. Led by veteran manager Desmond Clarke, who’s essentially been given free reign to sign players and make use of the vast resources at his disposal, Henza Architecture are here for the long run — and have already invested in a wholesale renewal of the team’s stadium. Newark are here to play, and they’re here to stay.

New Arrivals: In a move reminiscent of the spending spree Delphi went on when they first entered the Premiership, Newark have embarked on a spending spree of their own. Nigel Harris was the first to make the jump, being given the captain’s armband and a hefty paycheck in return for stewarding the team out of the lower midtable; Rose Fleetwood, a powerful Sylestonean striker, makes the jump from Nephara; Deng Daiyu, whom some say is earmarked for a spot on the Yue national team in the future. The biggest coup, however, is Juven superstar Simon Oliveira, who’s been made the focal point of the team. The curly-haired winger has been likened to a lightning bruiser by fans, whose dribbling and passing left many in the dust back in Juvencus. He’s in a bigger league now, though, and will have a very short runway to prove himself.

Key Players: The abovementioned players are all expected to be key players, but of players here during Newark’s title charge, Charles Carr probably deserves a special mention. The workmanlike striker, who’s been shuttled around lower league clubs, finally managed to make it stick in Newark, scoring twenty-three goals as Argyle ran away with the league. He’s finally in the Prem now, and will be doing everything in his power to avoid becoming a second Malcolm Pocklington — who, quite infamously, was never very good in the Prem even though he regularly topped the scoring charts in the Second Division — and will be hoping his footwork will be able to net him some goals.

Prediction: Nobody is really expecting Newark to go down. Most pundits have them in mid-table; but it’s a new squad, and new squads always take some time to gel together. Once they get things going, however, most expect them to start rocketing away. Could a race up the table be in order in the future?

Ridgewell Rovers

Quick Facts

City and State: Ridgewell, Westmond
Last season: 10th, 51 points
Stadium: Kensington Stadium, 48,000
Nickname: the Blues; the Rovers; the Club o’the North
Manager: Chris Haines, 48, Tumbra
Style of Play: Slightly defensive; long passes
Prediction: Midtable
Key Player: CM Malachite Riester
Captain: CM Malachite Riester

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Mike Hahn           24  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Carl Norton         26  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Romain Coutard      24  M   Szoirsia
15  CB  John Rouse          26  M   Tumbra
20  RB  Clay van der Hout   30  M   The Licentian Isles
10  CM  Malachite Riester   30  F   Nephara
22  CM  Julian Stance       31  M   Nephara
8   CAM Steinar Clemensson  26  M   Graentfjall
7   LW  Alex Kristensen     31  M   Tumbra
11  RW  Christopher Steele  25  M   Tumbra
16  ST  Heidi Canavan       23  F   Tumbra

13  GK  Mark McDonald       24  M   Tumbra
24  GK  Daniel Meredith     20  M   Tumbra
19  LB  Laurel Hilling      27  F   Tumbra
3   CB  Denise Hopkirk      17  F   Tumbra
18  CB  Donovan Cox         20  M   Tumbra
25  CB  Edmün Îmiév         21  M   Tumbra*
4   RB  Parminder Kaur      20  F   Tumbra
21  CM  Angela Makeba       19  F   Tumbra**
6   CM  Ian Harris          22  M   Kelssek
12  CAM Charles Lyon        23  M   Tumbra
17  LW  Amanda Browne       22  F   Tumbra
9   RW  Vikram Chatterjee   17  M   Tumbra
23  ST  Duncan Hall         22  M   Tumbra
14  ST  Oliver Penn         18  M   Tumbra

*Second Rulandean nationality
**Second Osarian nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Steinar Clemensson from Blades ex Magneus, 3.0m
Laurel Hilling from Colbrook City, 1.9m
Charles Lyon from Guillemard Town, 1.3m
Mike Hahn from Couno Rangers, 0.5m
Outgoing:
Christophe Ghislain to FC Trinite 1912, 2.0m
Ottavio Bonucci to Koumnenos Calcio, 2.0m
Hazel Kennedy to Couno Rangers, 1.5m
Peter Bassett to Bencoolen City, 1.0m
Nigel Philips to Lakewood City, 0.0m
Christian Borzoi, released
Andrew Walsh, released
Promoted:
Denise Hopkirk, CB
Vikram Chatterjee, RW
Oliver Penn, ST

Whisper it quietly, but Ridgewell could be a big surprise package this season.

Last season: After a few years in which they were really quite unable to find their footing, the hiring of Chris Haines proved to be a masterstroke for the Club of the North. Tenth felt a tad surprising — it was their highest finish since Season 1 — but after looking back on their performances, much more plaudits came in. Numerous members of that squad have departed the team, in particular Christophe Ghislain and Ottavio Bonucci choosing to return to Savigliane — but the core of the club has stayed. Crucially, they’ve held on to Heidi Canavan too.

New Arrivals: What makes this season exciting is the arrival of many new faces, though only one is truly new to the league. Nigel Philips’ departure meant that Mike Hahn was brought in from Couno for cheap. Steinar Clemensson, in a bid to restart his career, has arrived from Eura (or their seventh star, at least); while Laurel Hilling arrives to fill in the gap created by the departure of Hazel Kennedy to Couno. Lastly, Charles Lyon is saved from having his ankles kicked to dust in the Second Division as Ridgewell swooped in to pick him up from Guillemard. There’s also a fair bit of faith placed in the youth; three players are promoted to fill in gaps on the squad, a relative bumper crop for the Ridgewell academy.

Key Players: Captain Malachite Riester continues to serve as the beating heart of the squad, as the loud Nepharan acts as the on-field conductor (and enforcer) of Haines’ tactics. Up front, Heidi Canavan is a striker seemingly set for greatness, yet faces much competition from others in her age group; she has, however, remained steadfastly loyal to Ridgewell and has declared that she will stay as such for the time being. Christopher Steele, who originally arrived from Bencoolen as an unfancied right-midfielder, has become a key part of Haines’ football, holding up the ball on the right. His fitness is also to be envied; several times he’s been seen taking tackles that would have injured other players, yet he’s been able to shrug most of them off.

Prediction: Most think that there hasn’t been enough of a change from last season’s squads nor tactics for the club to seriously challenge for a top-half finish beyond tenth; but that’s what most fans would be satisfied by. More of the same is, and should be, welcomed — particularly after the relative tumult of the previous few seasons.

Serrapince FC

Quick Facts

City and State: Serrapince, Bechor
Last season: 1st, 86 points
Stadium: Serrapince Park, 74,000
Nickname: the Bees; the Black-And-Golds
Manager: Danny Haverhead, 54, Tikariot
Style of Play: Attack, attack and attack again
Prediction: Title challenge
Key Player: ST Vazsony Sallay
Captain: CDM Laura Ness

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Mick Key            30  M   Eura
2   LB  Chris Finney        25  M   Tumbra
5   CB  Michael Toussaint   27  M   Savigliane
4   CB  Raymond Perry       31  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Andrija Hrvatin     30  F   Pasarga
23  CDM Vince Cahill        25  M   Tumbra
6   CDM Laura Ness          31  F   Schottia*
7   LW  George Hilton       30  M   Tumbra
18  CAM Dagur Lawrence      24  M   Poafmersia
22  RW  Charlotte Ritchie   25  F   The Licentian Isles
9   ST  Vázsony Sallay      29  M   Pasarga

12  GK  Tom Harper          24  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Branko Cvitkovic    20  M   Tumbra**
13  LB  Fiona Jones         21  F   Tumbra
14  CB  Bob Trimble         28  M   Tumbra
20  CB  Martin Barker       25  M   Tumbra
24  CB  Faas Bosman         20  M   Tumbra***
19  RB  Ed Wright           21  M   Tumbra
15  CM  Luciano Matteucci   21  M   Tumbra****
8   CM  Craig McGrath       32  M   Tumbra
21  CDM Brendan Rowling     22  M   Tumbra
10  CAM Mark Coulson        24  M   Tumbra
17  LW  Paul Tucker         21  M   Tumbra
11  RW  Bayu Anggara        20  M   Pemecutan
16  ST  August Haller       24  F   Tumbra

*Second Tumbran nationality
**Second Mytanar nationality
***Second Licentian nationality
****Second Juven nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Michael Toussaint from Straton, 7.0m
August Haller from Columbia City, 3.0m
Ed Wright from Port Marray, 1.0m
Outgoing:
Baptiste Ndosi to Bencoolen City, 3.0m
Maxim Knezevic to Koumnenos Calcio, 2.0m
Flo Eschborn to Leichhardt, 2.0m
Tom Stansfield, retired
Promoted:
Luciano Matteucci, CM

They were underrated; they won. Three months later, it feels like everyone’s forgotten it already.

Last season: Not many people rated them; most thought they were past their best, quite a few more thought they were about to drop out of Champions’ League contention. A third title in eight years — matching Lakewood City’s tally in the IFCF era — was a due reward for a side that had remained exceptionally consistent all throughout the season, and had brought that consistency home to roost when sides like Nantwich just couldn’t keep up at key moments. In the off-season, however, it somehow seemed that everyone had forgotten that title — City are considered favourites for the title, with Couno not far behind. Serrapince are often languishing in third, or even fourth, in most pundits’ predictions; and rumours that the Danny Haverhead era may be ending sooner rather than later haven’t helped matters that this is a team that might soon be going through an age of transition.

New Arrivals: The main signing this window turned out to be Savigliano defender Michael Toussaint, whose arrival may feel a bit delayed due to the numerous plaudits he’s won over the past half decade with Serrapince. Having matured into an exceptional player, Toussaint is expected to anchor the defence, and slowly take on Raymond Perry’s job as the leader in defence as the experienced defender grows older. August Haller arrives as a back-up striking option, while Ed Wright arrives to replace Baptiste Ndosi, who was shipped out after just a single season with the Bees — Ndosi ended up not really fitting the style of play that Haverhead demands from his Serrapince side.

Key Players: This side is chock-full of them; to name but two, Laura Ness, the Schottic-Tumbran midfielder, is possibly up there in one of the three best signings Danny Haverhead has made in his time at the club. Tireless and showing a willingness to always go on, Ness has declared her intention to see out her career with the club, signing a new five-year contract in the offseason to ensure she’ll remain at the club for the foreseeable future. Striker and main man Vazsony Sallay is the other; he burst onto the scene seven years ago, scoring thirty-six goals in his debut season for Straton, and hasn’t stopped since. He’s Serrapince’s main attacking threat, and will continue to be so; most matches in which Serrapince have either drawn or lost have been when he’s not on the field, or when he’s been substituted off. A true game-changer in every sense of the word.

Prediction: Do not believe the pundits. Do not believe them. Serrapince can, are able, and will challenge for the title. Discount them at your own risk; another title challenge is on the cards unless things go horrendously wrong. The core of this squad are definitely still the same; there hasn’t been much upheaval, and the atmosphere of the squad is still excellent.

Straton FC

Quick Facts

City and State: Straton, Straton
Last season: 7th, 64 points
Stadium: Straton Olympic Stadium, 63,000
Nickname: the Senators; the Capitals
Manager: Mark Stevenson, 59, the Licentian Isles
Style of Play: Wide wing play; attacking, generally
Prediction: In the hunt
Key Player: LW Harvey Osbourne
Captain: GK Graham Dodds

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Graham Dodds        34  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Gethin Stewart      27  M   Tikariot
3   CB  Douglas Moore       32  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Ashley Asanta       28  F   Tikariot
13  RB  Chris Carter        29  M   Tumbra
18  CDM Vlart Hedberg       27  M   SRS
10  CM  Liang Tao           25  M   Yuezhou
8   CDM Amund Freyrsson     25  M   Kaldtfjell
9   RW  Charlie Baker       25  M   Tumbra
7   LW  Harvey Osbourne     25  M   Tumbra
11  ST  Tino                25  M   Montana Verde

23  GK  Joe Bonner          25  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Douglas Campbell    21  M   Tumbra
12  LB  Kirsten McDonald    22  F   Tumbra
17  CB  Barry Hamilton      25  M   Tumbra
5   CB  John Turnbull       26  M   Tumbra
24  CB  Abigail Paterson    21  F   Tumbra
16  RB  Hans Ferdinand      20  M   Tumbra
6   CDM Hannah Harwood      22  F   Tumbra
19  CM  John Lawrence       25  M   Tumbra
22  CM  Kevin Dunstan       25  M   Tumbra
20  CAM Desmond Sartain     22  M   Tumbra
14  LM  Simon Cole          31  M   Tumbra
21  RW  Felicity Woodhouse  22  F   Tumbra
15  ST  Helene-Anne Rivard  26  F   Quebec

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Douglas Moore from Lakewood United, 3.2m
John Turnbull from Sturrey Athletic, 1.6m
Outgoing:
Michael Toussaint to Serrapince, 7.0m
Bram Levin, released
Promoted:

Mark Stevenson had his doubters, but he’s steadied a shaky ship and is well on the road to challenging again.

Last season: In all that happened last season, Straton finishing seventh in the league seemed to fly under the radar. Guided by stars like Gethin Stewart, Vlart Hedberg, Charlie Baker, Harvey Osbourne, and Tino, Straton slowly re-established themselves as a club that had come out of the worst of their mid-decade flounder and might actually challenge again in the near future. They’ve got a strong squad, further bolstered by two defensive additions this season to replace departing players; and have good reason to be positive for the future.

New Arrivals: The loss of Michael Toussaint over the off-season was shocking (and somewhat damaging), as he became the second player in less than a decade to swap the red and blue for yellow and black. To replace him, in came a much-vilified Douglas Moore from Lakewood United arrived. To some, he’s damaged goods — some point to his litany of errors in his last season at United to prove this point — but the defender has a chip on his shoulder and an impressive pre-season means that he’s one to watch out for in the upcoming season. John Turnbull of Sturrey makes the leap, too; he’ll be not much more than a rotation option, but he’s a quality rotation option — and that’s what really matters.

Key Players: Harvey Osbourne is easily the focal point of this team; the left winger has grown steadily into a team leader, and he’s already been made vice-captain. A skilful dribbler and playmaker, his linkup with Charlie Baker on the right wing has been a sight to behold. So, too, has been Tino up top; the slippery, diminutive Verdean striker has a often-underlooked powerful left foot which he uses to devastating effect. In the midfield, the base two of Vlart Hedberg and Amund Freyrsson anchor it, allowing Liang Tao to roam free; it’s a combination that has been used to devastating effect.

Prediction: The steady recovery is expected to continue. Most expect a seventh-placed finish, but some are hoping they’ll be able to push beyond that and begin challenging for IFCF places again. They certainly have the squads to do so.

Sturrey Athletic

Quick Facts

City and State: Sturrey, Thornton
Last season: 15th, 33 points
Stadium: Coldfield Lane, 35,000
Nickname: the Maroons; the Lactics
Manager: Colin Barrendale, 53, Tumbra
Style of Play: Defence, route one football, whatever you call it.
Prediction: Relegation candidates
Key Player: CB Ian Coleman
Captain: CB Pat Philips

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Joseph Cranston     25  M   Tumbra
2   LB  Marcus Ganley       27  M   Tumbra
3   CB  Pat Philips         32  M   Tumbra
4   CB  Ian Coleman         29  M   Tumbra
5   RB  Roger Turnbull      29  M   Tikariot
14  CDM Fiona Morrison      25  F   Tumbra
8   LW  Marc Evans-Jones    29  M   Tumbra
19  CM  Ákos Trouvé         23  M   Szoirsia
16  CM  Fried Rossum        28  M   The Cordian Isles
9   RW  Thore Grönholm      28  M   Norrhem
7   ST  Joe Mercer          29  M   Tumbra

23  GK  Colin Kirby         21  M   Tumbra
25  GK  Kathleen Phelps     20  F   Tumbra
12  LB  Frankie Valentino   29  M   Tumbra
21  CB  Andrew Parker       22  M   Tumbra
15  CB  Chris Vowles        24  M   Tumbra
18  CB  Kevin Renshaw       28  M   Tumbra
13  RB  Ivar Halgorsen      24  M   Gatchingerrak Union
6   CAM Joseph Burgess      18  M   Tumbra
20  CM  Alison Foster       21  F   Tumbra
10  CM  Asa Anderson        27  M   Tumbra
22  LW  Clarissa Nunnaro    19  F   Tumbra*
17  RW  Robert Vatnarsson   19  M   Graentfjall
11  ST  Gareth Roberts      31  M   Tumbra
24  ST  Debbie Burrows      20  F   Tumbra

*Second Osarian nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Fiona Morrison from Guillemard Town, 1.5m
Andrew Parker from Guillemard Town, 1.2m
Outgoing:
John Turnbull to Straton, 1.6m
Yuri Ghislane, released
Valerie Campbell, released
Promoted:
Joseph Burgess, CAM

Less than impressive performances mean that Barrendale’s job is more in danger than some think.

Last season: Another season, another placid fifteenth-placed finish. Colin Barrendale may be keeping to his predecessor Tom Watson’s record of keeping the entirely unfancied team up in the Prem, but he’s done frustratingly little else; and the noose of the relegation zone is always lurking. Rather uncomfortably, for fans of the plucky Thornton-based side; and their cries for Barrendale to start doing something about it have seemingly fallen on deaf ears. His pre-season, however, did feel like he was under a lot of stress, and not the good kind — and rumours have circulated that he’s closer to the end of his tenure at Sturrey than he is the start of it.

New Arrivals: There was scant cause for celebration in Sturrey, as the perpetually cash-strapped club had to make do with two incomings to replace John Turnbull, who’d been picked up by Straton after he refused to sign a new contract. Both Fiona Morrison and Andrew Parker are decent players who were bright spots in an otherwise terrible season for Guillemard; but they’re not exactly the players of quality that will push Sturrey upwards.

Key Players: A large part of why John Turnbull decided to head to pastures new is because the continuing partnership between Pat Philips and Ian Coleman at centre-back remains one of the tightest in the league. The two grew up on the same street in the post-industrial city, and progressed through the academy together. They’re basically brothers — each served as the other’s best man at their respective weddings — and are a large part of why Sturrey are still in the Prem. Up top, Joe Mercer remains a perpetually underrated striker in the Prem; he’s not the best nor the flashiest, but he gets the job done.

Prediction: More of the same is the dominant prediction. It’s not hard to see why supporters are so melancholic on the whole deal. Season after season, it seems that Sturrey are doomed to hanging in there, being able to be in the Prem but not much else. It’s a placid experience, though one with doom continually lurking around the corner should they lose a few too many games. For a while, when the gap between the Prem and Second Division seemed to be getting wider, and a few supporters became more comfortable; but with Newark, Bencoolen (hated local rivals) and, to a lesser extent, Gillman, bringing stronger and stronger squads to the table, survival is no longer always assured.

West Couno United

Quick Facts

City and State: Couno, Napier
Last season: 5th, 80 points
Stadium: Wrenchwelt Stadium, 42,000
Nickname: the Pilots; the Chocolatiers
Manager: Samara Kaniatarii, 48, Quebec and Shingoryeo
Style of Play: Quick-passing, pleasing play
Prediction: IFCF contenders
Key Player: ST Vasya Reisinger
Captain: GK Mike Hancy

Roster

No Pos  Name                Age     Natl.
1   GK  Mike Hancy          31  M   Tumbra
2   LB  A. Charron-Becker   29  F   Quebec
4   CB  N-H McKinley        23  M   Quebec
5   CB  George Steel        26  M   Tumbra
3   RB  Joey Sterling       23  M   The Licentian Isles*
15  CM  Rajmund Sitko       25  M   Brenecia
6   CM  Eden Wright         27  F   Tikariot
8   CAM Muharem Hajdarpasic 20  M   Mytanija
9   LW  Luka Vujanovic      20  M   Mytanija**
7   RW  Cyrus Vette         24  M   Chromatika
11  ST  Vasya Reisinger     28  F   Nephara

12  GK  Elaine Xu           19  F   Yuezhou**
23  GK  Jack Bishop         22  M   Tumbra
19  LB  Christopher Morgan  23  M   Tumbra
16  CB  Sarah Sears         18  F   Tumbra
17  CB  Ben Morgan          30  M   Tumbra
25  CB  Judith Houghton     25  F   Tumbra
13  RB  Shim Seo-yeon       21  F   Tumbra*
20  CDM Stephen Goodman     23  M   Tumbra
14  CM  Remont Thomas       26  M   Gouvanarch
18  CM  Joscelin Cable      18  F   Tumbra
21  LW  Francis Evers       31  M   Tumbra
10  RW  Scott McIntyre      33  M   The Licentian Isles
22  ST  Michelle Broadhurst 24  F   Tumbra
24  ST  Hazel Garlick       24  F   Tumbra

*Second Chromatik nationality
**Second Tumbran nationality

Transfer Activity

Incoming: 
Noel-Herucle McKinley from Columbia City, 5.5m
Muharem Hajdarpasic from Tekstil, 5.0m
Joey Sterling from FC Inter Nantwich, 4.2m
Michelle Broadhurst from FC Inter Nantwich, 2.2m
Judith Houghton from Delphi Lionesses, 1.9m
Francis Evers from Couno Rangers, 1.7m
Jack Bishop from Glenmont AFC, 0.6m
Outgoing:
Nicola Rinaldi to Castiglione, 2.0m
Jennifer Murray to Colbrook City, 1.0m
Adam Stanton to Colbrook City, 0.8m
Darcy Lewis to Newark Argyle, 0.5m
Slavomir Malik, released
Bill Allison, released
Dominic Clyne, released
Rhyan Carson, released
Dei Kaparros, released
Promoted:
Elaine Xu, GK
Joscelin Cable, CM

A title challenge is on the cards. Will Sama K be able to keep the momentum going?

Last season: A title challenge — something some expected, something most didn’t — may have fluttered away near the end of the season, but IFCF football was a reward in itself. A five million dollar gamble on a striker from Nephara’s second division has paid back dividends many times over, and now West Couno are standing on the edge of another, real, title challenge this time. They’ve tasted the thrill of it once; and they’re back for more.

New Arrivals: Football’s worst-kept secret unraveled itself before the end of last season when it was announced that Samara Kaniatarii, one of the world’s most in-demand managers, would be making the leap over from Kingsbury United to replace retired manager Bill Thompson. And she brought along a tide of change. Allaying fears that they would sign Douglas Moore, Noel Hercule-McKinley became the window’s big signing; while other names like Joey Sterling, Michelle Broadhurst and Judith Houghton flew through the windows too; all title-challengers. Perhaps most controversially, Francis Evers made the jump from across town; some responded by burning his shirt over in the red half of Couno, but by and large the transfer was amicable. That rivalry’s lost a lot of its bite since the 1970s, after all. By far the most exciting signing, however, ended up being Tekstil’s Muharem Hajdarpasic; who arrived in Tumbra’s biggest city with possibly the biggest doubters already making themselves known. He’s too young, he’s too flashy, he’s too much of a luxury player, he made the jump too soon; those are the narratives circulating themselves on football twii.tur, and likely will continue to circulate until he shuts them up.

Key Players: There really is only one name for this — Vasya Reisinger, who found herself in Tumbra a few years ago and just began scoring. And never stopped. Her attacking talent has been backed up in recent years by Mytanar-Tumbran dual national Luka Vujanovic, who burst onto the scene last season and hasn’t looked back since; and Cyrus Vette, one of Chromatika’s best attacking talents. The Triple Vs, as the fans have called them, are an absolutely lethal combination of speed, finishing and technicality; and any team looking to stop United will have to focus on stopping that front three.

Prediction: It’ll be a second title challenge, most expect; Kaniatarii has been coy, eager as ever to temper expectations as she moves up into possibly the most-watched job in the entire league. But there’s a quiet sense of confidence running through this squad; they’ve got the personnel, they’ve got the momentum, and, most fans suspect, they’ve got the manager to turn their dreams into reality.

by **Tumbra** » Mon Jan 02, 2023 10:03 am

80TH RUNNING OF THE TUMBRAN SUPERCUP
PREMIER DIVISION, SEASON NINE
128TH RUNNING OF THE REPUBLIC CUP

It's been a long, long offseason, but football was bound to return regardless. As the second week of August got closer and closer, and the fixture computer began spitting out the order in which the twenty Premier Division teams would face each other, and the half-and-half scarves slowly began being knit together by some sweatshop in some faraway country, a palpable sense of excitement began to sweep the country. The transfer window had closed a week earlier; and while the season had unofficially began a few weeks earlier for those partaking in IFCF competition, football really hadn't started until the familiar chants of "Lakewood United, they're a bunch of c*nts" and other such musical delights began wafting over the stadiums of Tumbra.

Good times.

The traditional season opener, however, the Supercup, still had to be sat through. This season, the two teams fighting it out for the honour of bringing the 'vaunted' trophy home would be Serrapince and Lakewood United, the champions of last season's league and Republic Cup respectively. The Supercup would return to its rightful place in the national stadium of Tumbra; this time, the 88,000-capacity Eagles' Club would host the game.

TFF SUPERCUP
Serrapince 0–2 Lakewood United
K Considine 80', C Keyes 86'

Typically a match in which teams rotate their squads and allow more of their players to come on as a pre-season game, this season's Supercup wasn't that different. Until, of course Andrea Spinelli set the ball rolling and ramped up the intensity of the game by substituting on Kendra Considine at half-time. United dominated the game from that moment on, and eventually the pressure had to give; she would score with ten minutes to go. Cameron Keyes, by now a long-time stalwart of the club, would come on in the seventy-fifth minute of the game; and finish it off with a well-placed goal for United to bring their second trophy home that year. It was good, fluid football; and one that boded well for the upcoming season.

PREMIER DIVISION

MATCHDAY 1
Bencoolen City 1–0 Clark City
R McNamara 66'
Couno Rangers 0–1 Fraser Valley
C Pearlman 14'
Macarthur City 2–3 Hesham
V Anderson 12', 55'//Min S-H 40', G Deighton 75', H Bevins 90' + 6'
West Couno United 1–3 Lakewood City
V Reisinger 34'//R Vaughn 10', 58', C Henshaw 83'
Clyde Park 1–2 Colbrook City
G Escat 40'//E Calare 12', E Ferguson 63'
Newark Argyle 2–0 Sturrey Athletic
R Fleetwood 83', C Carr 90' + 5'
Straton 0–1 Serrapince
V Sallay 71'
AFC Gillman 0–4 Kingsbury United
J Hughes 12', A Perkkanen 29', J Anderson 49', 77'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–2 Ridgewell Rovers
Luo N 38', A Fisher 75'//H Canavan 6', C Steele 82'
Lakewood United 4–1 Columbia City
K Considine 19', S Jepson 35', C Fontana 42', M Mycroft 83'//L Bello 59'

United's good form doesn't seem to be a fluke. They get three past Columbia before half time, a dominant performance as they end the first half with 73% possession and six shots on target. They ease off in the second half, but Luciano Bello breaks Richard Russell's clean sheet at the hour mark. Max Mycroft, however, gets United's fourth to seemingly put them on top of the league table as the first day comes to a close. Then, of course, Kingsbury had to give Gillman their welcome to the Prem; this time, four goals were fired with zero response from the hosts. Bede Cheschon, who's been given a bigger role with the Princelings, was heavily involved in two of the four goals scored — boding well for life in the Prem under Vince McCarthy.

Elsewhere, Bencoolen managed to get an extremely early leg up in the relegation scrap after Rachel McNamara hit the target on her debut against Clark City, who themselves seemed devoid of much creative impetus or much of a wish to play football. West Couno fell to Lakewood City, with Robin Vaughn back to his blazing best, while somewhat surprisingly, Fraser Valley eked out the win against Couno, with Cole Pearlman's curved shot bringing the Rams down. At home, no less.

The match of the week, most neutrals argued, ended up being Macarthur's loss against Hesham, where Harriet Bevins' last-gasp winner against the Blackbirds ended up making the headlines of the back pages. Otherwise, it was a regular week of football; and most were just glad that football was back.

MATCHDAY 2
Clark City 1–3 Columbia City
M Coltrane 88'//E Crnogorčević 12', P Hurst 75', J Clinton o.g. 83'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–3 Lakewood United
A Kristensen 60'//K Desmond 33', 78', C Fontana 45' + 8'
Kingsbury United 0–2 FC Inter Nantwich
B Coxeter 25', 61'
Serrapince 1–0 AFC Gillman
D Lawrence 83'
Sturrey Athletic 2–1 Straton
J Mercer 12', A Trouvé 41'//H Osbourne 20'
Colbrook City 2–0 Newark Argyle
A Finlay 36', 71'
Lakewood City 2–0 Clyde Park
R Vaughn 12', O Bernard 55'
Hesham 1–3 West Couno United
L Russell 39'//V Reisinger 12', 58', C Vette 88'
Fraser Valley 0–1 Macarthur City
T Kinzinger 62'
Bencoolen City 1–4 Couno Rangers
S Matthews 78'//B Nolan 13', 64', L Wellingsley 30', D Conder 56'

Last week's loss against Lakewood City saw Joep Martens' Clyde Park begin the desperate search for a win to kickstart their season into gear. Unfortunately, their opponents this week just so happen to be Lakewood City, who themselves are on a mission of their own to start the season as strongly as possible. And they deliver — City score two, with Clyde unable to respond. Martens is visibly under pressure in the post-match press conference; his next game is against Hesham, and should be winnable on paper. But, somehow, even with his dream signing of Moussa Wague in the squad, he's been unable to make it work; Wague was largely played out of the game and rendered ineffective for most of the time he was on the pitch.

Couno strike back, and strike back hard; four is the number of goals scored before Bencoolen's Sarah Matthews is afforded a consolation goal, the result of tawdry defending as the match reaches its end. The loss is somewhat expected — this is Couno, after all — but the way that Bencoolen crumpled under pressure isn't exactly a good sign for the upcoming season. Still, though, the travelling fans reason with themselves as they make the long trip home from Couno. It's the Rams.

Straton's season has quietly been getting off to a bad start, with an opening day loss to Serrapince in which a late goal by Tino was controversially ruled offside being followed up by a game in which they're slowly ground down by Sturrey, of all things. Harvey Osbourne scores a late consolation goal, but it's too late as Straton's season gets off to a less-than-ideal start. One team getting off to a more-than-ideal start, however, is Colbrook, who have won two games in a row — meaning that after United, who comfortably put themselves past Ridgewell, and City, they're third in the table. Local youngster Alex Finlay delivers the Northerners the win against Newark Argyle; two expertly hit goals mean that Andrew Gillingham's departure isn't much missed. Yet, at least.

MATCHDAY 3
Couno Rangers 3–0 Clark City
B Nolan 11', J-P Vaillancourt 40' + 7', N Coleman 83'
Macarthur City 2–1 Bencoolen City
V Anderson 24', I McDermott 39'//R Ingwood 79'
West Couno United 2–1 Fraser Valley
L Vujanovic 33', N-H McKinley 68'//Xilix-Oxolt M 21'
Clyde Park 1–2 Hesham
K Kearnes 30'//A Gagliardini 16', L Russell 50'
Newark Argyle 0–2 Lakewood City
C Henshaw 21', I Ashburn 83'
Straton 0–3 Colbrook City
A Finlay 16', J Ryland 39', E Calare 90' + 4'
AFC Gillman 1–2 Sturrey Athletic
R Adams 39'//T Grönholm 59', F Valentino 62'
FC Inter Nantwich 1–1 Serrapince
J Spekman 86'//C Ritchie 25'
Lakewood United 2–1 Kingsbury United
P Wilson 32', A Gillingham 59'//Kim C-Y 22'
Columbia City 0–0 Ridgewell Rovers

Nantwich's start to the season hasn't exactly been ideal. An opening day draw to Ridgewell was followed up by a win against Kingsbury, sure, but the latest match was a little insipid from the Bulls, who haven't looked their best since the start of the season. An torrid draw was perhaps undeserved; Andrew Fisher's in-swinging corner being met by Jake Spekman's blond hair saving them from the ignominy of winning none of their first three games of the season. That fate awaits Straton, who offered no response to having two goals scored by Colbrook — Colbrook, of all teams! — in the first half, before Elaine Calare confidently puts one away in extra time. On show has been Graham Dodds' less-than-stellar performances, while Douglas Moore has also been taking a while to warm up for the team desperately in search for a leader at the back.

In more entertaining news for Colbrook fans, their exploits mean that they're now joint top of the table. Alongside City and United, of course, but by virtue of the letter C coming before the letter L, they top the Premiership table for the first time in their history. City encounter little resistance as the Robin Vaughn Machine rolls on, while United have to give their supporters a characteristic scare as Kim Chae-young scores her first goal of the season in the twenty-second minute. It takes just ten minutes before Penny Wilson — who's finally been deemed good enough to start on the right sometimes, having essentially stewed on the bench for what has felt like forever — scores for United to bring them level. Andrew Gillingham, in his first start for United, scores the game-winning goal.

Clyde Park's troubles don't get any better as they fall to a well-drilled, well-placed Hesham side. Alessio Gagliardini, the dual Juven national, scores his first ever top flight goal less than twenty minutes in. Kim Kearnes equalises, of course, but the team essentially falls apart in the second half — a missed pass from Trevor Marshall gives Hesham all they need to start a counterattack and for Lucas Russell, that deep-lying forward, to score Hesham's second. It's not a good time to be a Licentian manager in the Prem — both Mark Stevenson and Joep Martens' sides are rooted to the bottom of the table. Clyde at least have a chance to finally pick themselves off the ground with a win against Fraser, but things aren't looking good for Straton as they play City next...

MATCHDAY 4
Clark City 2–1 Ridgewell Rovers
S Walker 66', 82'//H Canavan 14'
Kingsbury United 2–1 Columbia City
J Anderson 25', A Perkkanen 56'//M Winter 35'
Serrapince 4–1 Lakewood United
V Sallay 12', 36', 84', M Coulson 58'//C Fontana 39'
Sturrey Athletic 0–1 FC Inter Nantwich
J Spekman 45'
Colbrook City 2–2 AFC Gillman
L McCormick 12', A McGarry 83'//A Stanton o.g. 4', G Steinback 23'
Lakewood City 3–1 Straton
O Bernard 29', S McTavish 35', R Vaughn 66'//C Baker 78'
Hesham 2–0 Newark Argyle
K Rostami 90' + 3', G Deighton 90' + 8'
Fraser Valley 1–1 Clyde Park
A Beckett 89'//G Escat 20'
Bencoolen City 3–1 West Couno United
R McNamara 8', 90' + 2', D Yannick 79'//S McIntyre 22'
Couno Rangers 4–0 Macarthur City
T Krzanowski 30', K-R Hertel 38', B Nolan 71', 82'

It takes just four weeks for there to be four undefeated teams remaining in the Prem — City, who sweep past a distraught Straton; Colbrook, who come back after an unfortunate own goal by Adam Stanton to rescue a solitary point ("I am not in the business of blaming my goalkeepers or defensive players for own goals — these things happen," says Matt Reeves), Nantwich, who are bailed out once again by a solitary goal from Jake Spekman, and Serrapince, who puts United to the sword. With usual names Ochoa Abril and Spencer Jepson out due to injury, and Georgina Byrne deemed too inexperienced to merit a starting berth in an important game like this, Almar Hussein is thrust into an unorthodox three-man defence alongside Paul Marlin and Caointiorn Duncan. None of them look particularly comfortable in the role; none of them are particularly up to the task of stopping Vazsony Sallay, who seems intent on reclaiming his Golden Boot. Perhaps humiliatingly, he scores a brace before half-time; Mike Sheppard is brought on and shoved into centre-back, which sort of stops the leak of goals. Sort of, because he grabs his third to cap off United's misery, and shake their confidence.

Hesham, meanwhile, grab victory from the jaws of defeat against Newark, with two goals in injury time — a real long period of injury time, too — giving Ploughmen fans a veritable heart attack as Gerard Deighton nets Hesham's second with the very last kick of the game. The amount of injury time given so far this season has become a topic of discussion amongst fans, as injury time on average has been perceived as growing longer and longer. It's particularly rampant in games where there hasn't been a lot of effective game time, giving rise to a theory that referees have explicitly been instructed to come down hard on the practice by giving higher amounts of said time.

Clark City get their campaign off to a belated start thanks to a late brace from Sarah Walker, meaning that the only team without any points after four games is, uh, Straton. That's not really the score many were expecting from this start of the season, especially after Colbrook drop points to Gillman, allowing the latter to score their first-ever Premiership points. It's an ugly draw, but at least they've got something on the board. Ridgewell isn't having such a strong start to their season — just two points from four games and no wins, but it can be forgiven — their schedule has seen them start off with Nantwich, United, Columbia and Clark. Those last two matches should have been winnable, particularly the Clark game, but Haines doesn't much see it as a cause for concern — after all, they're just four weeks into the season.

MATCHDAY 5
Macarthur City 0–1 Clark City
M Clark 22'
West Couno United 2–2 Couno Rangers
L Vujanovic 13', M Hajdarpasic 39'//B Nolan 18', 42'
Clyde Park 1–2 Bencoolen City
B May 29'//R McNamara 3', V Schiff 39'
Newark Argyle 0–2 Fraser Valley
T Barker 12', 29'
Straton 1–0 Hesham
Tino 83'
AFC Gillman 0–2 Lakewood City
C Henshaw 9', 82'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–0 Colbrook City
R Haines 35', J Bradford 90' + 8'
Lakewood United 2–1 Sturrey Athletic
S Jepson 48', C Vowles o.g. 58'//F Rossum 3'
Columbia City 1–3 Serrapince
Liang W 29'//G Hilton 5', A Haller 35', 62'
Ridgewell Rovers 2–1 Kingsbury United
J Rouse 20', Steinar C 85'//J Hughes 37'

Haines is proved right, as Ridgewell put in a great performance against Kingsbury to give themselves their first win of the season. Steinar, the team's new Graentfjaller attacking mid, is put on with half an hour to go — but what a half hour it proves to be. He instantly becomes the team's most dangerous player on the pitch, while ending up on the end of an inch-perfect pass provided by Christopher Steele. "A portent of greater things to come," he says, even though Steinar is reportedly still struggling with fitness issues.

The number of undefeated teams drops to three, as Colbrook fall to Nantwich; they've performed a decent recovery, overtaking Couno in the standings. Nantwich have never been the most offensively viable of the teams in the top level of Tumbran football, partly due to Rachael Schroeder never being the most given to playing offensive football; but their lack of goals has been worrying somewhat this term. They do sit in a fairly comfortable position, though there are questions over whether this squad has the real drive to challenge for another title.

Straton end their early season of horror by finally beating Hesham after eighty-three minutes; the result lifts them out of the relegation zone, but they're still joint seventeenth. The pressure is placed back on Clyde Park, which put up a bit of resistance as Eleanorian striker Rachel McNamara scores within the first five minutes; but look lifeless for the rest of the game. Martens' name shoots to the top of the list of managers who may be let go soon.

Five matchdays in, and City are in the driving seat; pursued by Serrapince, who did take a bit of time to get going but are once again hot on the heels of their long-time nemesis. United have gotten off to a strong start to the season, too, even if a bit of a dent was put in their aspirations by that Serrapince game; while Colbrook are an unfamiliar name to see this high up the table. Samara Kaniatarii's term at West Couno has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start, with an admirable draw in the Couno derby being tempered by losses to Bencoolen, of all clubs, and an opening-day loss to City.

It's a long season, however; and everyone's attentions are understandably drawn to the first round of the Republic Cup.

Premier Division, Season Nine

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts   Form5
 1 Lakewood City           5    5   0   0    12    2  +10    15   WWWWW
 2 Serrapince              5    4   1   0    10    3   +7    13   WWDWW
 3 Lakewood United         5    4   0   1    12    8   +4    12   WWWLW
 4 FC Inter Nantwich       5    3   2   0     8    3   +5    11   DWDWW
 5 Couno Rangers           5    3   1   1    13    4   +9    10   LWWWD
 6 Colbrook City           5    3   1   1     9    5   +4    10   WWWDL
 7 Hesham                  5    3   0   2     8    7   +1     9   WLWWL
 8 Bencoolen City          5    3   0   2     8    8    0     9   WLLWW
 9 Fraser Valley           5    2   1   2     5    4   +1     7   WLLDW
10 West Couno United       5    2   1   2     9   10   −1     7   LWWLD
11 Kingsbury United        5    2   0   3     8    7   +1     6   WLDWL
12 Sturrey Athletic        5    2   0   3     5    7   −2     6   LWWLL
13 Clark City              5    2   0   3     4    8   −4     6   LLLWW
14 Macarthur City          5    2   0   3     5    9   −4     6   LWWLL
15 Ridgewell Rovers        5    1   2   2     6    8   −2     5   DLDLW
16 Columbia City           5    1   1   3     6   10   −4     4   LWDLL
17 Newark Argyle           5    1   0   4     2    8   −6     3   WLLLL
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Straton                 5    1   0   4     3    9   −6     3   LLLLW
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Clyde Park              5    0   1   4     4    9   −5     1   LLLDL
20 AFC Gillman             5    0   1   4     3   11   −8     1   LLLDL

by **Tumbra** » Tue Jan 03, 2023 6:14 am

REPUBLIC CUP, FIRST ROUND

128th Republic Cup, First Round

(D3E)                      Rosyth   0-2   Couno Rangers               (D1 )
( D1)            Ridgewell Rovers   5-1   Dieren City                 (D3E)
(D3E)             Knapford United   3-2   Millsburgh Revolutionaries  (D3W)
(D3W)             Fontwell Rovers   1-0   Shepperton Ravens           (D3W)
( D2)            Delphi Lionesses   1-0   Brensley                    (D4W)
(D4W)              Dynamo Denhelm   0-1 e Colney Thorns               (D3W)
(D3E)              Tavistock Park   2-1   Rookworth AFC               (D4E)
(D3W)                      Oakton   3-0   Blenheim                    (D4W)
( D2)           Ricci Ironworkers   0-0 p Millsburgh Steelers         (D3W)
(D3W)                Heffron City   2-1   Sherwood Town               (D4E)
( D1)             Lakewood United   5-0   Tavistock Athletic          (D3E)
(D4W)              Haversham City   3-1   Carter United               (D3E)
( D1)            Kingsbury United   0-1   Ashton Rovers               (D2 )
( D1)               Columbia City   1-0   Langley United              (D4W)
( D2)             Guillemard Town   1-1 p Clyde Park                  (D1 )
(D4E)              Burlington AFC   1-2 e Harwick Wanderers           (D3W)
( D2)             Washington City   4-0   Carrington Town             (D3E)
(D4E)                 Hindhede FC   1-1 p Dunsford                    (D4W)
(D3E)                Caldecott 93   0-1 e Staplewood                  (D4E)
(D3W)          Tevandale Athletic   0-2   Othaven                     (D4W)
(D4E)              Melwood United   2-1   Harchester United           (D4W)
( D1)               Colbrook City   2-1   Collett Park United         (D3E)
( D1)            Sturrey Athletic   2-0   Ruislip and Ipswich FC      (D4W)
(D4W)                 Kellsthorpe   0-1   Fort Heatherton             (D3W)
(D4W)             Denhelm Trinity   0-1   Heath Bay Mariners          (D2 )
(D3W)       North Thornton United   1-2   Hesham                      (D1 )
( D1)                  Serrapince   4-0   Cobham Town                 (D2 )
( D2)                     Dorival   2-0   Farleigh                    (D4E)
(D3W)           Ilstead Wanderers   2-0   Algoma Wanderers            (D4E)
(D3W)           Locomotive Harper   0-4   Straton                     (D1 )
( D2)            Trelmont Rangers   0-0 p Kelder Phoenixes            (D2 )
( D1)               Newark Argyle   4-0   Enfield                     (D3E)
(D4E)                 Killiney SC   1-2   Brades United               (D3W)
(D4E)                  Blakehurst   1-2   Newton Wanderers            (D2 )
( D1)              Macarthur City   8-0   Cheltenham                  (D4W)
(D4E)          Wintborough United   0-3   Mayfield AFC                (D3E)
( D2)                 AFC Cayalon   1-3   FC Inter Nantwich           (D1 )
(D4W)                    Franport   1-2   Clark City                  (D1 )
(D4E)                      Coburg   2-1   Straton Typhoons            (D3E)
(D3E)          Arlington Athletic   2-3   Gisbourne                   (D4E)
(D4E)                Thomson City   1-2 e FC Montrose                 (D4W)
(D3E)             Pinhal Athletic   3-2   Mackay Rovers               (D2 )
( D2)       New Timbourne Knights   2-1   Grange United               (D3E)
(D4W)              Moresby United   0-0 p Knapford City               (D4E)
(D4E)               Havelock City   0-2   Nottingham City             (D3W)
(D4E)                Chesterfield   3-2   Lambeth                     (D3E)
(D3W)               Caldwell City   1-0   Greenford City              (D4W)
(D4W)                       Dover   1-0   Dunman Bay                  (D4W)
( D2)        Teignford Academical   0-1   Kirkby Railwaymen           (D2 )
( D1)                 AFC Gillman   5-0   Windsor                     (D3E)
(D4E)             Maxwell Arsenal   0-3   Hoxford United              (D3W)
( D2)        Pomeroy Mountaineers   2-0   Richmond AFC                (D4E)
(D3E)            Hesham Wanderers   1-0   Wolskel                     (D4E)
( D2)                Glenmont AFC   1-2   Gelder Creek                (D3W)
( D1)               Fraser Valley   3-0   Readale Wanderers           (D2 )
(D4W)               Monroe Quakes   0-3   West Couno United           (D1 )
(D3W)            Ridgewell United   3-0   Cortlandt United            (D4E)
(D4W)              Prinsip Street   0-1   Harren Armada               (D3E)
( D1)              Bencoolen City   2-1   Port Marray                 (D2 )
(D3E)            Hendon Cardinals   2-2 p Wilmington Town             (D4E)
( D1)               Lakewood City   3-0   Rosenberg City              (D3E)
(D3E)           Falmouth Athletic   2-1   Clifton                     (D4W)
(D3W)                   Orpington   2-1   Southport Thunder           (D3W)
(D4W)          Johnstone Athletic   3-2   Readale City                (D3W)

The first round of the Republic Cup is almost always something that flies under the radar. Half the teams in the six tiers get knocked out, and scarcely any of the matches are exciting enough to write home about anyway. There is interest generated after Macarthur knock eight past Cheltenham, a poor fourth tier side who honestly looked like they were begging for the referee to blow the whistle about three minutes before he was actually supposed to. Lakewood United putting five past Tavistock Athletic is also an eyebrow-raising game. In terms of other interesting results, Kingsbury falls by the wayside; a relative rarity in these early rounds. They fall to Ashton, who, to be fair, did put up a spirited fight to toss out a side whose heart wasn't quite in it.

The rebrand of the Republic Cup was meant to draw attention to it; but it seems to have failed. Most cup competitions tend to fall by the wayside in modern football, anyway; a scant few countries actually hold their cup competition in this high regard, unless there's a lack of an actual league competition — like Grearia.

PREMIER DIVISION

MATCHDAY 6
Clark City 2–3 Kingsbury United
C Walsh 22', E Illsley 29'//J Anderson 35', B Cheschon 66', H Schwartz 85'
Serrapince 1–1 Ridgewell Rovers
V Sallay 82'//H Canavan 4'
Sturrey Athletic 3–4 Columbia City
J Mercer 12', F Hall o.g. 60', Robert V 84'//V Thesselborg 19', 80', D Burnet 72', T Fiallo 89'
Colbrook City 0–0 Lakewood United

Lakewood City 1–1 FC Inter Nantwich
R Vaughn 66'//B Coxeter 20'
Hesham 3–0 AFC Gillman
G Deighton 3', A Gagliardini 19', A Hutton 40'
Fraser Valley 1–0 Straton
L Eyre 61'
Bencoolen City 0–0 Newark Argyle

Couno Rangers 3–1 Clyde Park
D Conder 38', E Robertson 45' + 3', F Prost 67'//B Brown 89'
Macarthur City 2–2 West Couno United
J Hunter 31', I McDermott 64'//E Wright 69', V Reisinger 83'

"To be honest, the squad's been taking quite a bit of time to gel together, and I think that's why our start to the season hasn't been ideal," says Samara Kaniatarii after a disappointing 2-2 draw to Macarthur. "But I think we have to appreciate that we've made a lot of new signings, and we can't all expect them to hit the ground running immediately." The WCU-Macarthur game sees several rotations in both squads; Vivianne Anderson is out with a hamstring injury, so Graham Lloyd decides to deploy James Hunter as a false nine of sorts. The unorthodox tactic flounders the WCU defence; Hunter scores a goal before WCU is able to do anything to him. The second half sees him drag the defence further up as he himself drops back; allowing Ian McDermott to give the Blackbirds a 2-0 advantage before a counter is staged. Most pundits think that the correct result would have been a Macarthur win; but there was no stopping the powerful shot from Reisinger in the eighty-third minute, seemingly powered by spite more than anything else.

Most of the top six drop points; league leaders City are pegged back by Nantwich, though Riedweld is keen to pass it off as a match "where sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, because everyone is so strong." Colbrook versus United, which was initially thought to be a high-scoring game, produces a grand total of zero goals and twenty thousand very dissatisfied fans. Andrew Gillingham is received warmly upon his return to his former stomping grounds, receiving a round of applause when the game is over; but the closest he could get to scoring ended up being a chance that limply sailed past the post, wide.

Serrapince, too, drop points; talisman Sallay scores late in the game but immediately after goes down and requires a substitution. It turns out to be a bad injury; he'll be out for at least the next month or so. The result masks the fact that Ridgewell have only won one game so far this season, having drawn three and losing the other two; but Chris Haines says the situation is all under control. Steinar doesn't make an appearance; he's not even named on the teamsheet, having apparently come down with another unspecified malady a few days before the game.

MATCHDAY 7
West Couno United 2–1 Clark City
C Vette 13', M Hajdarpasic 55'//B Murphy 79'
Clyde Park 2–1 Macarthur City
T Haller 23', 68'//T Hughes 34'
Newark Argyle 1–2 Couno Rangers
S Oliveira 39'//N Coleman 29', 90' + 3'
Straton 2–0 Bencoolen City
Tino 12', Liang T 82'
AFC Gillman 2–1 Fraser Valley
R Adams 35', B Powell 75'//A Beckett 9'
FC Inter Nantwich 2–4 Hesham
B Coxeter 13', J Dufour 29'//Min S-H 3', G Deighton 19', A Gagliardini 78', 90' + 4'
Lakewood United 0–0 Lakewood City

Columbia City 1–1 Colbrook City
F Harcourt 90' + 6'//F Harcourt o.g. 18'
Ridgewell Rovers 2–2 Sturrey Athletic
D Hall 10', E Îmiév 29'//P Philips 25', D Burrows 45' + 3'
Kingsbury United 2–1 Serrapince
J Anderson 13', 87'//L Ness 29'

August Haller's first game as Serrapince's starting striker doesn't exactly go so well. She's substituted an hour in, after missing three clear-cut chances on goal, and Paul Tucker is allowed to run free in her stead. He doesn't do much better, mind, and nor does the defence when James Anderson spots a gap in the Bees' defences and pounces to bring the three points home to Kingsbury. The club sinks to fourth — not a bad result, mind — but it's still disappointing for their nascent hopes of a title challenge.

The Lakewood derby is this week, and with both Lakewood sides in the form of their lives, it's a hotly-anticipated match. Disappointingly, however, just like the last Lakewood derby, it ends 0-0. This time, it's the entire city of Lakewood that goes disappointed; and Robin Vaughn, who has a goal pegged back for offside, is probably the most frustrated of all. As the matchday rumbles on, however, it's soon forgotten; because Nantwich surprisingly fall to Hesham, with newly-promoted Alessio Gagliardini scoring two late goals to put paid to any hopes that Nantwich had of bringing home the three points. The results also mean that City remains the only undefeated team in the league.

Gillman, after notching their first-ever points on the board, go one further and beat Fraser Valley, securing their first-ever Prem win. It's celebrated by almost everyone at the ground, with not many in the cramped stadium expecting much out of this campaign. One win still leaves them at the bottom of the table with just four points, but the look on George Lascelles' face as he regards his players with pure joy says almost everything. At the very least, the mood at this club still remains better than that at Clyde Park, where although Timothy Haller (no relation to August) scores a brace to get Clyde's first win of the season, Joep Martens is still much regarded as a dead man walking.

MATCHDAY 8
Clark City 1–2 Serrapince
C Haywood 76'//A Haller 23', G Hilton 59'
Sturrey Athletic 1–0 Kingsbury United
J Mercer 78'
Colbrook City 1–1 Ridgewell Rovers
C Grimley 20'//C Steele 31'
Lakewood City 1–1 Columbia City
S McTavish 10'//P Hurst 77'
Hesham 1–3 Lakewood United
H Mornington 20'//A McDermott o.g. 13', K Considine 39', C Fontana 70'
Fraser Valley 1–4 FC Inter Nantwich
T Barker 83'//H Gell 9', 46', W Thomas 25', R Haines 87'
Bencoolen City 1–3 AFC Gillman
P Harding 13'//V Slade 38', H Vallance 48', J Kent o.g. 59'
Couno Rangers 0–3 Straton
Tino 16', 80', C Baker 25'
Macarthur City 1–0 Newark Argyle
J Pearce 22'
West Couno United 2–0 Clyde Park
V Reisinger 30', 64'

City just can't seem to find that second goal against Columbia, with Riedweld's substituting on Charlotte Henshaw and Jack Reed coming a bit too late into the game for many a supporter. "I won't get everything right," he says, "but I will take the blame on this occasion." Elsewhere, Serrapince leap up back to second in the table, keeping the pressure on City; August Haller and George Hilton scoring to power past Clark. Clark, for their part, haven't exactly been convincing this season; with just two wins out of eight and mounting pressure on manager Robert Brent.

Clyde Park's season of misery continues, with a loss against West Couno bringing to light rumours that Joep Martens is five matches away from being sacked. There's no telling who his replacement will be — Ted Bayh, Mark Pryor, Oliver Lutece and Russell Lock are the prime candidates, though none are particularly convincing — but he does look like a dead man walking after Vasya Reisinger scores two past his side. Emotionless, he looks resigned after the game's conclusion; there's not much but disappointment on his face as he embraces his players as they walk off the pitch. Only a few respond.

Gillman goes from strength to strength, a second victory over Bencoolen being more convincing than their first; Lascelles remarks that "it's always nice to have a run of good form, and hopefully that can continue." Gillman are still favourites to be relegated at the end of the season, but the odds have somewhat lengthened; maybe, just maybe, they'll be able to stay up.

MATCHDAY 9
Clyde Park 3–0 Clark City
M Wague 25', 66', E Markozy 29'
Newark Argyle 2–2 West Couno United
R Fleetwood 11', A Fox 78'//M Broadhurst 39', E Wright 42'
Straton 3–0 Macarthur City
H-A Rivard 30', 77', S Cole 53'
AFC Gillman 0–4 Couno Rangers
B Nolan 25', J Tyler 29', D Conder 48', K-R Hertel 77'
FC Inter Nantwich 4–0 Bencoolen City
V Wakajama 49', J Dufour 57', B Coxeter 63', 78'
Lakewood United 3–1 Fraser Valley
C Keyes 30', J Horvat 58', 77'//M Coonan 89'
Columbia City 0–3 Hesham
H Bevins 16', A Gagliardini 22', A Thompson 40'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–2 Lakewood City
J Stance 40'//J Reed 63', O Bernard 73'
Kingsbury United 3–0 Colbrook City
N Caroline 14', X Medal 29', L Paterson 78'
Serrapince 0–3 Sturrey Athletic
J Mercer 23', G Roberts 81', 90' + 2'

Two of the promoted teams suffer big losses; Gillman collapse to Couno at home, while Nantwich travel to Bencoolen and give them a thorough thrashing. Clyde Park give their fans a moment of relief by showing up against Clark City — two embattled managers trying to rescue their seasons after they've gotten off to bad starts — while Moussa Wague shows his undoubted potential by scoring a brace. The wins gets them out of the relegation zone, though seventeenth is not much of a good place to be — it's their worst start since that time Brian Devzies got sacked — and the rumours of him only being in place until the board finds a replacement continue to circulate. Is it a good way to treat a manager who's given them half a decade? No. But the fans don't really care at this point.

Sturrey, surprisingly, show up against Serrapince — though most of the action took place in the last fifteen minutes after Gareth Roberts was substituted on. Serrapince's placid style of play against the Lactics gave Roberts an opening with which he scored one just six minutes in; but the insult was compounded when he latched on to the end of an Evans-Jones cross and headed the ball past Mick Key. Losing 3-0 as Serrapince is bad; losing 3-0 to Sturrey, a team that's got a 27% win rate across eight seasons in the Prem? Ouch.

West Couno drop points to the bottom team in the Prem — that being Newark — who seem to be having some adjustment issues to the Prem. It's not yet known how lenient Henza are with their managers, but it'd probably be fair to say that their start to life in the Prem hasn't been going so well. As for West Couno, this really should have been a winnable game; but to no avail. In response to a critic of Hajdarpasic being a "luxury player," however, Kaniatarii hits back; he is, after all, a twenty year-old in a new country and forced to play football in an environment that's extremely harsh on them.

MATCHDAY 10
Clark City 3–2 Sturrey Athletic
C Nightingale 7', 74', J Turner 63'//M Evans-Jones 26', Robert V 79'
Colbrook City 0–3 Serrapince
A Haller 22', B Anggara 45' + 3', C Ritchie 76'
Lakewood City 4–1 Kingsbury United
R Vaughn 33', O Bernard 49', C Henshaw 59', 80'//Kim C-Y 72'
Hesham 1–0 Ridgewell Rovers
G Deighton 8'
Fraser Valley 1–0 Columbia City
F Sinclair 20'
Bencoolen City 0–2 Lakewood United
B Ndosi o.g. 67', A Gillingham 82'
Couno Rangers 4–1 FC Inter Nantwich
B Nolan 25', 83', D Conder 60', E Robertson 77'//I Robertson 2'
Macarthur City 2–4 AFC Gillman
V Anderson 16', G Jennings 28'//R Adams 20', D Cairns 34', B Watkins 58', G Lewis 89'
West Couno United 2–1 Straton
L Vujanovic 36', M Broadhurst 58'//Tino 4'
Clyde Park 0–0 Newark Argyle

It's not exactly a good sign when your team — with proven Prem quality — struggles against a side that's bottom of the table. Yet that's exactly what Clyde Park have done. Their struggles this season have been reminiscent of that time under Brian Devzies, except this time there hasn't been as much of a sheer dropoff in the quality of results. Rather, it's just been a slow decline. Maybe nothing will ever recreate those moments of magic, where Neil Fraser, Pierre-Louis Laishram, Kwak Hyeong-joon and Dean Cresswood came together and challenged the dominance of the Big Six all those years ago. The magic's gone.

Elsewhere, WCU get back to winning form, coming back from being 1-0 down to triumph over Straton. The result moves them up one spot, to seventh; they haven't exactly had the best start to the season, but they're slowly working on it. Hesham, meanwhile, have been having an excellent start to the season; they're up to fourth. Perhaps avoiding the transfer window for the most part was a smart choice; William Wight, for his part, has long been a proponent of less squad turnover and working with what you have. And with the sudden appearance of Alessio Gagliardini, perhaps he's actually right.

Ten matches in, and City remain the only undefeated side. They are just one point ahead of their local neighbours, which sets up one of the more interesting title fights if this holds, just ten matchdays in. Behind them, Couno, with Bruce Nolan already having hit ten goals with a brace against Nantwich; then Serrapince, Nantwich and West Couno, all trying to get their seasons into gear. Sturrey takes Bencoolen's spot as the surprise of the early season, with two wins propelling them into the top half; while Colbrook and Bencoolen have all taken massive dives back to, some would say, where they actually belong. Straton are starting to piece together their season, while Clyde are struggling and on the verge of a sack; meanwhile, Ridgewell are probably fervently hoping for the return of Steinar Clemensson, who should be fit for next match. Hopefully. Maybe.

Premier Division, Season Nine

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5 
 1 Lakewood City          10    7   3   0    20    6  +14    24   -0   DDDWW
 2 Lakewood United        10    7   2   1    20   10  +10    23   ▲1   DDWWW
 3 Couno Rangers          10    7   1   2    26   10  +16    22   ▲2   WWLWW
 4 Hesham                 10    7   0   3    20   12   +8    21   ▲3   WWLWW
 5 Serrapince             10    6   2   2    17   10   +7    20   ▼3   DLWLW
 6 FC Inter Nantwich      10    5   3   2    20   13   +7    18   ▼2   DLWWL
 7 West Couno United      10    5   3   2    19   16   +3    18   ▲3   DWWDW
 8 Kingsbury United       10    5   0   5    17   15   +2    15   ▲3   WWLWL
 9 Sturrey Athletic       10    4   1   5    16   16    0    13   ▲3   LDWWL
10 Colbrook City          10    3   4   3    11   13   −2    13   ▼4   DDDLL
11 Fraser Valley          10    4   1   5    10   13   −3    13   ▼2   WLLLW
12 Straton                10    4   0   6    12   12    0    12   ▲5   LWWWL
13 Macarthur City         10    3   1   6    11   20   −9    10   ▲1   DLWLL
14 AFC Gillman            10    3   1   6    12   22  −10    10   ▲6   LWWLW
15 Bencoolen City         10    3   1   6     9   19  −10    10   ▼7   DLLLL
16 Columbia City          10    2   3   5    12   19   −7     9   -0   WDDLL
17 Clark City             10    3   0   7    11   20   −9     9   ▼4   LLLLW
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 Ridgewell Rovers       10    1   5   4    11   15   −4     8   ▼3   DDDLL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Clyde Park             10    2   2   6    10   15   −5     8   -0   LWLWD
20 Newark Argyle          10    1   3   6     5   13   −8     6   ▼3   DLLDD

by **Tumbra** » Wed Jan 04, 2023 12:07 pm

REPUBLIC CUP, SECOND ROUND

128th Republic Cup, Second Round
( D1)               Couno Rangers   4-0   Ridgewell Rovers            (D1 )
(D3E)             Knapford United   1-0   Fontwell Rovers             (D3W)
( D2)            Delphi Lionesses   3-0   Colney Thorns               (D3W)
(D3E)              Tavistock Park   3-0   Oakton                      (D3W)
(D3W)         Millsburgh Steelers   2-0   Heffron City                (D3W)
( D1)             Lakewood United   3-0   Haversham City              (D4W)
( D2)               Ashton Rovers   0-2   Columbia City               (D1 )
( D2)             Guillemard Town   2-1   Harwick Wanderers           (D3W)
( D2)             Washington City   2-1   Hindhede FC                 (D4E)
(D4E)                  Staplewood   1-2 e Othaven                     (D4W)
(D4E)              Melwood United   0-3   Colbrook City               (D1 )
( D1)            Sturrey Athletic   3-0   Fort Heatherton             (D3W)
( D2)          Heath Bay Mariners   0-1   Hesham                      (D1 )
( D1)                  Serrapince   3-2   Dorival                     (D2 )
(D3W)           Ilstead Wanderers   0-5   Straton                     (D1 )
( D2)            Trelmont Rangers   0-1   Newark Argyle               (D1 )
(D3W)               Brades United   2-1   Newton Wanderers            (D2 )
( D1)              Macarthur City   1-0   Mayfield AFC                (D3E)
( D1)           FC Inter Nantwich   2-0   Clark City                  (D1 )
(D4E)                      Coburg   3-0   Gisbourne                   (D4E)
(D4W)                 FC Montrose   0-2   Pinhal Athletic             (D3E)
( D2)       New Timbourne Knights   0-1   Moresby United              (D4W)
(D3W)             Nottingham City   2-3 e Chesterfield                (D4E)
(D3W)               Caldwell City   5-1   Dover                       (D4W)
( D2)           Kirkby Railwaymen   0-2   AFC Gillman                 (D1 )
(D3W)              Hoxford United   0-1   Pomeroy Mountaineers        (D2 )
(D3E)            Hesham Wanderers   1-0   Gelder Creek                (D3W)
( D1)               Fraser Valley   1-3   West Couno United           (D1 )
(D3W)            Ridgewell United   1-2   Harren Armada               (D3E)
( D1)              Bencoolen City   2-0   Wilmington Town             (D4E)
( D1)               Lakewood City   4-0   Falmouth Athletic           (D3E)
(D3W)                   Orpington   3-0   Johnstone Athletic          (D4W)

Most of the favourites make it through again; Ridgewell have the unenviable luck of facing Couno the same week that they need to pick up points against Fraser. The game's almost an afterthought for Chris Haines, and he himself admits it after seeing a rotated side take a 4-0 beating from Couno; but the important thing is for them to move on. Elsewhere, West Couno beat Fraser away, coming back from going a goal down after Michelle Broadhurst inspires a comeback; while former Prem side Kirkby Railwaymen try to upset Gillman, but are put down in a neat performance that George Lascelles wryly notes that he wouldn't have minded seeing in the Prem. Sixty-four teams are shaved to thirty-two; and they'll all go at it again in five weeks.

PREMIER DIVISION

MATCHDAY 11
Newark Argyle 3–1 Clark City
S Oliveira 23', 88', J Harding 49'//C Nightingale 72'
Straton 2–1 Clyde Park
F Woodhouse 20', D Sartain 59'//E Markozy 70'
AFC Gillman 0–4 West Couno United
V Reisinger 11', 39', 64', A Charron-Becker 25'
FC Inter Nantwich 1–0 Macarthur City
Luo N 90' + 5'
Lakewood United 0–3 Couno Rangers
J-P Vaillancourt 12', N Coleman 36', D Conder 75'
Columbia City 2–2 Bencoolen City
V Thesselborg 59', 90' + 4'//R McNamara 45' + 3', M West 56'
Ridgewell Rovers 0–0 Fraser Valley

Kingsbury United 0–1 Hesham
Mu W 77'
Serrapince 0–2 Lakewood City
C Henshaw 25', R Vaughn 69'
Sturrey Athletic 1–0 Colbrook City
C Nunnaro 81'

Newark get their act together as Simon Oliveira becomes the superstar in a 3-1 demolishing of Clark City; a result that puts Clark second bottom of the table. Robert Brent hasn't done much wrong — his schedule, bar this one match, hasn't been the easiest — but then again, nobody really has the easiest schedule, and Clark City being nineteenth after eleven matchdays, there have been complaints. Still, though, at least they're still doing better than Clyde Park, whose latest loss to Straton has rendered Joep Martens' position all but untenable, and less than 48 hours after the match he's released from his contract. Most expected this from the start of the season; that Clyde are rock bottom of the table probably sealed his fate. Speculation on his successor begins immediately, with his assistant coach Michael McShane is given the reins until a permanent successor can be chosen. Mark Pryor, formerly of Kingsbury, Ridgewell, and for about ten weeks, Delphi, is the immediate favourite.

Another manager that hadn't previously been thought of as being in danger but now, most definitively is, is David Griffiths at Columbia; it's thought that, with his side currently floundering in fourteenth and off the back of a draw with Bencoolen in which they went two-nil down, he's got his name on an unemployment form already. For Griffiths, who's been at the club for thirteen years, it'll be tough if this comes to pass; but it seems that Columbia has been slowly dropping down the order with little to no hope of recovering it. On his fate in the post-match conference, he's wry; but there's a definite downcast look about him after the question's been asked. It seems that, for the usually self-confident Alexandria native, he's considered for the first time that he may actually lose his job.

Two important matches take place today; the Tumbran Classic and, uh, whatever Serrapince and City's rivalry is called. Both matches are expected to be close, but neither are, at the end of the day, Couno run out with a demolishing of United, while City hold their nerve for a victory over Serrapince. The games send United tumbling down to fourth and Serrapince down to seventh. Andrea Spinelli looks horrified as Paul Marlin gets found out, again and again and again, by Dimitra Conder; but just accepts that "today wasn't our day," and can only hope to bounce back harder.

Oh, and Vasya Reisinger scored a hat-trick. It was against Gillman, but still. Talk about an eventful day.

MATCHDAY 12
Clark City 3–2 Colbrook City
F Tran 64', C Haywood 77', S Randall 90' + 3'//E Calare 20', G Calvert 41'
Lakewood City 4–3 Sturrey Athletic
J Reed 27', S McTavish 48', 59', R Vaughn 87'//T Huon o.g. 33', I Coleman 45' + 3', J Mercer 90' + 1'
Hesham 1–3 Serrapince
L Russell 32'//A Haller 24', 29', D Lawrence 63'
Fraser Valley 2–3 Kingsbury United
D Greer 11', M Coonan 16'//J Anderson 49', 77', H Moss 62'
Bencoolen City 0–2 Ridgewell Rovers
H Canavan 68', 85'
Couno Rangers 2–0 Columbia City
B Nolan 1', D Conder 18'
Macarthur City 0–1 Lakewood United
C Fontana 66'
West Couno United 1–0 FC Inter Nantwich
L Vujanovic 32'
Clyde Park 5–1 AFC Gillman
G Escat 16', 90' + 8', B Proudfoot 30', E Markozy 49', B Parker o.g. 63'//H Vallance 71'
Newark Argyle 3–1 Straton
R Fleetwood 18', Z Campbell 34', L Hayes 83'//A Asanta 39'

Yes, yes, 5-1 to Clyde looks bad for almost everyone — Martens, Clyde, and Gillman — but the scoreline betrays how scuffed the game's proceedings were. Escat's first goal is a penalty, given dubiously, at that, for a Nakagome trip on Lynette Frecklington; Proudfoot's goal comes after a missed header and goal-line scruffle that sees her boot be lucky enough to be the one that tipped it entirely into the goal, while Markozy's arguably is the only one that counts as a good goal, a free-kick taken from just outside the box that sails past Susan Moran. Escat's second goal is dubious, too — dubiously onside. It's a controversial match, and even Clyde Park fans will admit the officiating was a bit in their favour; but a win's a win, and three points is three points. Michael McShane seems remarkably ready to move on from his managerial debut, while Christopher Tolliver goes on a bit of a rant over bad officiating standards. He's given a fine.

Much like Serrapince, Nantwich's season hasn't really gone to plan; which is a bit annoying considered those two were considered hot favourites for the title at the beginning of the season. This time, it's a narrow loss to West Couno in which Nantwich don't really look like they've got the killing edge; just a blunt instrument attempting to lob balls at the goal and hoping that one of them will eventually go in. It, unsurprisingly, doesn't work; with the defensive duo of George Steel and Noel-Hercule McKinley keeping that threat blunted. Straton, meanwhile, go ahead and lose to Newark Argyle, who seem to be entering a hot bit of form themselves; time will tell, however, if this will last. Most pundits still think that, despite their weak start to the season, they'll beat the drop; it'll just take a bit of time to gel, since about half their starting eleven arrived at the club this window. Some are holding off judgement until after the winter break.

There's not much more to talk about for the title race; City go into the half-time break behind a surprisingly feisty Sturrey Athletic side, but come back, as they often do; even an injury time goal scored by Joe Mercer can't give Sturrey a point against the Skylarks. Behind City, nobody's really sure who's best up to the challenge of going up against them; Nantwich and Serrapince's forms are too on-and-off, while Couno and United are generally considered to be closest, but neither have made a convincing argument for themselves either. West Couno, meanwhile, are still working their way up the table. They're now up to fourth with that win against Nantwich; six points behind City. It's still early on in the season, but a third of it has almost gone; and the title race has to start shaping up at some point.

MATCHDAY 13
Straton 4–2 Clark City
Tino 39', C Baker 65', 84', B Hamilton 68'//M Coltrane 29', 40'
AFC Gillman 1–1 Newark Argyle
R Adams 82'//G Butler 75'
FC Inter Nantwich 1–4 Clyde Park
R Haines 19'//M Wague 11', G Escat 25', 47', K Kearnes 81'
Lakewood United 2–1 West Couno United
K Considine 29', N Atkinson 55'//M Hajdarpasic 8'
Columbia City 0–0 Macarthur City

Ridgewell Rovers 0–1 Couno Rangers
L Kendall 77'
Kingsbury United 1–1 Bencoolen City
D Larr 87'//P Doyle 23'
Serrapince 2–2 Fraser Valley
V Sallay 34', R Perry 58'//Xilix-Oxolt M 15', L Eyre 66'
Sturrey Athletic 0–0 Hesham

Colbrook City 0–4 Lakewood City
V Leighton 12', R Vaughn 22', 49', J Reed 82'

The sackings seem to be coming thick and fast — a day after Columbia's goalless draw with Macarthur, David Griffiths is sacked. It's unceremonious, but Columbia's draw has just seen them drop down to eighteenth. Martens' name is mentioned, but Columbia say they won't be making a decision on the job so soon; so former goalkeeper Gerald Scicluna is shoved into the manager's seat and told to do his level best to lift the club out of the doldrums they're in right now. Easier said than done, of course, considering his next two matches are against West Couno and Clyde Park; though that game will probably be a must-win for both sides considering the gravity of their situations.

In another crucial game, West Couno go down to United; Hajdarpasic gets on the scoreline first but United strike back. Now in joint fifth with Serrapince (who dropped points to Fraser), Kaniatarii rates her own performance at the club in her first fifteen matches with the club as a B; much room for improvement but with a "solid starting foundation." Luka Vujanovic, who couldn't play due to an injury and was in the stands, makes his way down to the pitch to console Hajdarpasic. The two have seemingly struck up a fast friendship; Vujanovic's Mytanar nationality (even if they do come from different bits of the diverse country) proving to be a bit of a rock for the young Mytanar as he adjusts to a new country.

Clyde Park, of all teams, pull off a 4-1 win against Nantwich; the result gives rise to calls calling for McShane to be given the job permanently. McShane declines, point-blank; there is no way he will put his name forth to be permanent manager. He simply isn't interested, and calls himself too green for the job. On the other end, Rachael Schroeder's frustration with the loss is palpable; it leaves them in seventh with twenty-one points. She's always given off the vibe of being extremely tired, but she seems even more so during the post-match presser. She's now entering her fifth year of management with the club. Yes, there's a league title to her name, but is anyone really safe in this league, what with its demands on managers?

MATCHDAY 14
Clark City 1–4 Lakewood City
J Turner 12'//O Bernard 34', C Henshaw 45', I Ashburn 69', J Clinton o.g. 72'
Hesham 2–1 Colbrook City
K Rostami 9', G Deighton 33'//J Ryland 21'
Fraser Valley 0–2 Sturrey Athletic
D Burrows 16', 19'
Bencoolen City 1–4 Serrapince
R McNamara 67'//B Anggara 13', V Sallay 29', 89', B Trimble 82'
Couno Rangers 0–2 Kingsbury United
J Hughes 55', 84'
Macarthur City 0–1 Ridgewell Rovers
D Hall 90' + 1'
West Couno United 3–2 Columbia City
C Vette 29', H Garlick 34', 50'//V Thesselborg 6', K Sásk 23'
Clyde Park 1–2 Lakewood United
M Wague 88'//J Horvat 12', K Desmond 29'
Newark Argyle 0–1 FC Inter Nantwich
B Coxeter 78'
Straton 0–0 AFC Gillman

One manager who definitively isn't in danger is Hesham's William Wight. A scintillating start to the season — eight wins and one draw from thirteen — is followed up by an impressive show of skill from Gerard Deighton, who's involved in both of the Ploughmen's goals to end the game pretty much early. Colbrook, it must be said, are in a cloud of bad form at the moment — but between Deighton, Lucas Russell, and the recently-promoted Alessio Gagliardini, there was no chance the Northerners were breaking out of said cloud of bad form.

Ridgewell's win over Macarthur — which leaves the Blackbirds at the bottom of the table, now leaving Graham Lloyd in jeopardy — is important for the return of Steinar Clemensson. Before his signing, doubts were cast over his fitness; manager Chris Haines had already said this was "a concern" but Steinar remained a player that could "completely change how we play football," and so deemed it as an acceptable risk. Fourteen games in, he's played in six of them; but in each of those six, no matter for how little time he's come on the pitch, he's had an impact. Haines' style of play puts a lot of onus on the attacking midfielder to create, and both Steinar and his other option, Charles Lyon, seem well-fitted for the role at hand. Against Macarthur, Lyon plays seventy-five minutes before Steinar comes on for the last fifteen; sixteen minutes later, a well-threaded through ball finds Duncan Hall, who neatly slots it past goalkeeper David Ager.

Injuries are often the most perplexing part of a player's career; more often than not they're springboards for discussions on a player's "potential," had they not been struck down by injuries, being treated as if they were some malevolent force, outside the control of players. Several players in the Prem have been tagged with the label of "would have gone further if not for injuries"; examples include United's right midfielder Josip Horvat, who's never really looked like he's been at full fitness since his swap from Serrapince, though has shown flashes of brilliance; Fraser Valley left winger Mike Coonan, whose lengthy injury spells eventually led to his selling by Lakewood City; and, more recently, Brendan May of Clyde. All of these players have had their moments; all of those players have spent a lot of time on the sidelines. Perhaps it's just the way they play that strains their legs; perhaps it's just the way they dribble that attracts defenders to their ankles. Regardless, they've still got the chops to decide the outcome of games when they play.

MATCHDAY 15
AFC Gillman 1–1 Clark City
R Adams 66'//D Grant 25'
FC Inter Nantwich 0–1 Straton
C Baker 3'
Lakewood United 4–0 Newark Argyle
C Fontana 16', K Considine 35', 82', N Pellegrini 75'
Columbia City 3–0 Clyde Park
P Hurst 33', L Bello 48', R Brennan o.g. 50'
Ridgewell Rovers 1–1 West Couno United
C Steele 87'//V Reisinger 24'
Kingsbury United 1–1 Macarthur City
N Caroline 90' + 2'//V Anderson 89'
Serrapince 3–3 Couno Rangers
G Hilton 29', D Lawrence 55', V Sallay 78'//B Nolan 62', K-R Hertel 84', F Prost 90' + 2'
Sturrey Athletic 0–0 Bencoolen City

Colbrook City 0–2 Fraser Valley
T Barker 36', A Beckett 40'
Lakewood City 1–1 Hesham
O Bernard 25'//H Bevins 44'

We end the fifteenth week of football much like we did the tenth; there's virtually no movement in the top five. The closest we got was Serrapince nearly beating Couno, with the Bees at one point being 3-1 ahead; but a late comeback rescues a draw for the Rams, who continue to keep themselves in the title fight despite being five points back on City. It's easily a candidate for the match of the season, even this early in; Hilton's first goal, latching onto a cross from Charlotte Ritchie; Dagur Lawrence doubling the lead with a screamer, and so on; and Frederick Prost's injury-time goal drawing a yellow card for excessive celebration is an image splayed over the back pages of the Couno Herald the next morning. It's easy to forget that Couno a. drew and b. were chasing the game from behind. But that's Couno for you.

Interestingly, City are held to a draw by Hesham, with a goal by Harriet Bevins drawing no response from City despite Robin Vaughn trying his best. The result doesn't change much, though it does mean that a four-point cushion is cut down to two points; United dispatching Newark with relative ease, a result that most pundits expected beforehand. West Couno and Ridgewell frustrate each other by holding each other to a draw; WCU are now nine points off the top of the charts, though they're still in a better position than Nantwich, who fall early to Straton. Schroeder seems lost for words; it seems like Nantwich's title challenge is well and truly dead in the water, even this early in the season.

In a match that garnered some attention, the two manager-less sides of Columbia and Clyde faced each other; Columbia ran out 3-0 victors, though both Scicluna and McShane were keen to encourage a narrative of not reading too much into the result. Both teams are reportedly casting their net out wide, though the possibility of either team managing to attract a foreign manager seems relatively slim; but they have to try, anyway.

The managers most at risk in the current day, with Martens and Griffiths gone, seem to be Graham Lloyd at Macarthur and Robert Brent at Clark; whilst Schroeder at Nantwich seems to be an outside shout of an early sacking if things continue the way they do for Nantwich. With just four weeks to go until the mid-season break, how many more managers will face the sack this season?

Premier Division, Season Nine

                         Pld    W   D   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts  Chg   Form5 
 1 Lakewood City          15   11   4   0    35   11  +24    37   -0   WWWWD
 2 Lakewood United        15   11   2   2    29   15  +14    35   -0   LWWWW
 3 Couno Rangers          15   10   2   3    35   15  +20    32   -0   WWWLD
 4 Hesham                 15    9   2   4    25   17   +8    29   -0   WLDWD
 5 Serrapince             15    8   4   3    29   19  +10    28   -0   LWDWD
 6 West Couno United      15    8   4   3    29   21   +8    28   ▲1   WWLWD
 7 FC Inter Nantwich      15    7   3   5    23   19   +4    24   ▼1   WLLWL
 8 Kingsbury United       15    7   2   6    24   20   +4    23   -0   LWDWD
 9 Straton                15    7   1   7    20   18   +2    22   ▲3   WLWDW
10 Sturrey Athletic       15    6   3   6    22   20   +2    21   ▼1   WLDWD
11 Fraser Valley          15    5   3   7    16   20   −4    18   -0   DLDLW
12 Ridgewell Rovers       15    3   7   5    15   17   −2    16   ▲6   DWLWD
13 Clyde Park             15    4   2   9    21   24   −3    14   ▲6   LWWLL
14 Columbia City          15    3   5   7    19   26   −7    14   ▲2   DLDLW
15 Newark Argyle          15    3   4   8    12   21   −9    13   ▲5   WWDLL
16 Colbrook City          15    3   4   8    14   25  −11    13   ▼6   LLLLL
17 Bencoolen City         15    3   4   8    13   28  −15    13   ▼2   DLDLD
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18 Clark City             15    4   1  10    19   34  −15    13   ▼1   LWLLD
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19 AFC Gillman            15    3   4   8    15   33  −18    13   ▼5   LLDDD
20 Macarthur City         15    3   3   9    12   24  −12    12   ▼7   LLDLD

Tumbran Domestic Football Newswire

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