Eura (EUR) Qualifiers
Top seeds are first
IFCF Champions League: Directus, Ulsa, Spartangrad, Bastion
IFCF Challengers Cup: Holdenberg, Revolutionaries, Falourr
IFCF Liga B Champions Trophy: Old Boys Club, WEA, AFC Mayville
Other Competitions Eura (EUR) Qualifiers
Cup Winners Cup: Spartangrad
Copa de Campeones: Directus
The Euran Football Association’s Euraleague
SEASON 41 - PART I
Recap on Season 40
SEASON 41 - PART I
Recap on Season 40
Spartangrad, Directus, Bastion and Revolutionaries all entered the final quarter of Season 40 on the same points tally, setting up one of the most thrilling title races in recent memory. It was a far cry from the Directus dominance of the season before, the underdog shocks of Falourr and Holdenberg or even Spartangrad’s cruise to the title before that. The historic Big Five showdown was back, albeit with Ulsa lagging behind slightly. They were the first to fall away, an embarrassing 0-3 home defeat to Old Boys Club leaving their title hopes in tatters. Next came Revolutionaries, for whom Earl van den Brink was the unlikely source of tears as his final shot at another Gold League title was sunk by his fellow defenders mistakes against Bastion. Three remained going into the final two matches, with Revolutionaries and Ulsa battling over the last Champions League spot.
Directus were the favourites, sitting pretty on 79 points after another season of “The Three Sisters” – Strongbow, Hawke, Martel-Burns – cutting defences to ribbons. They had a challenging away visit to Hornchurch to contend with, before finishing with a relatively easy home tie against Carsby. Behind them on 76 points were Spartangrad and Bastion, who played each other on the penultimate matchday at the Spartan’s classic Olympic Stadium home, one of the few “open bowl” type stadiums in Eura. Spartangrad then had to travel to the already relegated AFC Mayville on the final day, while Bastion returned home to face Holdenberg City. Clearly the Spartangrad-Bastion tie was the game to watch; a draw would leave Directus needing only one win to seal the title. Spartangrad needed a win to take Directus to the final day, while Bastion’s inferior goal difference meant they realistically needed both opponents to fail to win either of their remaining games.
At the Olympic Stadium, the visitors threw themselves relentlessly at the home side, passionately urged on by their Mytanar manager Robin Hjik. Wonderkid Amakli Inuro’o put Jack Avelione through on goal in the 33rd minute only for the young Schottian to fire agonisingly wide, wasting their best chance of the half. It was 0-0 at half time. Meanwhile Directus were in dreamland, having taken a 1-0 lead into the break at Hornchurch, Estrella Hawke breaking the deadlock yet again. As things stood Dragan Kryznjak’s side would retain the title with a game to spare. Then came the wobble the neutrals were hoping for; Damion Bowman and Kurtis Bastable linked up to put the latter on the scoresheet, their latest combination in an utterly rampant season. At the Olympic Stadium Spartangrad had come back into the game and left Bastion rueing their missed chances as Ciro Oljer and Lui Wceil made it 2-0. By full time it was three after Lucan Palmisano netted from the bench, and they’d kept yet another clean sheet to boot. Bastion had run out of road.
In Hornchurch, Directus had been dealt a huge blow. Bastable had scored again and Bowman had curled home a ridiculous third to beat the champions 3-1. This left them level on points with Spartangrad going into the final game, but ahead on goal difference by four goals. All they needed to do was equal the result of Walter Crasder’s side. Spartangrad set about doing all they could to give themselves a shot, tearing AFC Mayville apart from the word go and leading 3-0 at half time, Oljer having already scored a hat-trick. They were level on goal difference now, but behind on goals scored. It didn’t matter at the time - Directus were imploding again, down 1-0 at half time against Carsby to a Connor Marsh goal. Yet Spartangrad couldn’t relax, knowing that this might not be enough. Spartangrad kept pushing for more goals, Palmisano coming on for a defender to add a fourth, before Nicolas Moran added a fifth. When Wceil made it six with minutes remaining, Mayville’s keeper Keith Carney looked utterly dejected – it was a terrible way to finish an awful season.
Spartangrad had done all they could –Directus needed to win by two goals. The Spartan’s watched on with worry as Directus had levelled early in the second half through Martel-Burns, and only needed two goals without conceding to win it all on goal difference against a side that had already conceded 83 in 37 and a half games. Kryznjak brought on teenager Adam Woodman, a masterstroke. The 16 year old Euran picked the perfect time to score a memorable first league goal, drifting in from the left (Strongbow had been moved to the centre) and firing through the legs of Will Walter, a 37 year old keeper playing his last game in a long Carsby career. 2-1. Yet Krznjak chose to fly too close to the sun, playing a high line in search of that last goal with thirty minutes still to go. Carsby, who had not enjoyed a great season and were still struggling without Moira Woakes, were nevertheless being underestimated. In the 64th minute a dangerous Kalinic cross was cleared straight to another Mytanar lingering on the halfway line. Ermin Drzic chested the ball down and laid it off for Echani full back Andreu Caelius.
Caelius probably didn’t realise he was about to write himself into Spartangrad folklore and a catalogue of famous Euraleague moments. The Eshan international had been long waiting for his moment since moving to Eura six years before, having been a flop against expectations at Unioneers, Blackfields and Usmer before a mediocre showing at Carsby. Caelius knocked the ball forward into the Directus half with his first touch and sprinted after it. The improvised home back three of Bader, Moore and Cook galloped back to intercept. Caelius shrugged off Bader and outran Moore as he accelerated deep into the Directus half. Gasps of disbelief and anguish filled the air as Belgrave was forced to rush out and Caelius, who had not scored a single goal all season, toe-poked the ball through the Euran goalkeepers legs and into the back of the net. Most of the 95,000 fans at Castle Road fell silent. Carsby players and fans celebrated wildly.
Directus needed two again and finally the situation exposed Krznjak’s flaws as a leader that had been so curiously absent the season before. He argued about a non-existent foul on Bader with the fourth official, and generally lost his cool when what his team really needed was a plan. For ten minutes Directus heaved without any ideas. In pure desperation he then brought on third forward Stewart Robson for Cook, giving him a 2-2-3-3 formation of sorts. The 18 year old did look lively but tactically it was a bad choice. Carsby got the ball again and countered. Again, the lack of pace in the Directus backline was exposed. Again, Belgrave had to pick the ball out of his net as young Vanorian Signe Hagen finished off a move carried by the legs and skill of Drzic. Directus were utterly shattered and had nothing left to give. Rowena Strongbow buried a free kick in stoppage time to hollow cheers. The title had gone to Spartangrad by two points and, had points been level, two goals.
Following this late drama there was little doubt that Walter Crasder deserved his Manager of the Season Award, and Ciro Oljer the Forward of the Season and Golden Boot winner after his 28 goals that powered them to the title. Nevertheless it had been a team effort. Hansi Weschler enjoyed a fantastic first season as the replacement for Mathis Woodgate, the Cosumarite winning Goalkeeper of the Season. Spartangrad’s centreback pairing of Harvey Blake and Mark Unterhausen also topped the accolades for Defenders, the Euran pipping the Schottian to the big prize. Other key figures included the highly talented left back Alex Ingram, midfield rock John Talbot, his central partners Harry Gravesen and Clint Rogers, the veteran Valladar Nicolas Moran, Farfadillis star and soon to be world champion Lui Wceil and, of course, the younger Palmisano brother. But it was Oljer who stole the show. Few contested his Player of the Season gong.
The calamitous final game was a bitter lesson for Directus that the Gold League was too competitive to be won by simply splurging money on world beating attackers, which is why they might have been quite quiet in the transfer window afterwards. Even so there were positives to be had from the season with Ralf Bader looking like a top centreback, the emergence of a new young generation featuring Adam Woodman, Stewart Robson and Deli Acs, and more fine performances from their deadly attackers. Bastion secured their Champions League spot by limping past Holdenberg City on the final day, although with so much young taent in their side the future is looking bright. Revolutionaries had once again underdelivered, but this was forgivable with Niels Kruse being in his first season in charge.
The battle for Challengers Cup qualification was more straightforward, with Ulsa and Farrenton Athletic always looking just short of the Champions League but nowhere near falling out of IFCF contention. This marked a disappointment for Ulsa and the increasingly under pressure Gerhard Thunder. For Farrenton it was actually a big success after years of mediocrity and earned Daniel Belgrave second place in the Manager of the Season nominations in only his first season back at the club. Holdenberg were underwhelming in seventh as they took the last IFCF spot, with Hornchurch unexpectedly in a close pursuit right until the last day of the season. This was all the more remarkable given they conceded a whopping 82 goals, usually enough to put a team in relegation trouble. They were carried by the goals of “BaB” (Bastable and Bowman) who now had big price tags on their head. Brenecian manager Danielle Granger’s gamble on an all-out attack strategy had paid off.
Falourr experienced probably the biggest disappointment of the league season among the traditionally big clubs, falling as low as 9th. Their title win now seems a long time ago and the retirement of Anthony Ho and Eduardo Giuffrida added to the end of an era feeling. Their season was saved however by an unexpected National Cup win, beating Reach region rivals Directus 3-1 in the final (further compounding their misery). They were also able to enjoy the emergence of Tommy Sutton, a fearsome looking striker who won Young Player of the Season. Unioneers, Lajuno and Holdenberg City all experienced mixed seasons in mid-table, while Oakstone were very disappointing in 13th. This led to one of the stories of the year – the sacking of club hero Bob Partridge, the manager who brought them back from the brink. His replacement by with the Sameban Asey Vella was hard to predict to say the least.
Marketville once again performed well to survive with the smallest budget in the division, and at the end of the season veteran Euran internationals Sterling Rose (the player-manager) and Joel Sutton have retired from playing. Rose will stay on as manager. Brigham and Carsby barely kept their head above the water, the latter sacking another fan favourite manager, Nigel Angers, despite their last day triumph in Directus. Usmer also failed to set the world alight but, having been predicted to finish in the bottom three at the start of the season, 17th was an acceptable result. Unfortunately there was little relegation battle to speak of past the middle part of the season. Old Boys Club, Honeybadgers and AFC Mayville all looked a cut below their opponents and all three conceded over a hundred goals as they were relegated without much fanfare.
In the lower leagues, Workers Union made a quick return to the Gold League with a comfortable Silver League title win. They were followed up by Rhys West’s Callodown and Whitepill, who have caused quite a bit of excitement with a young squad, attractive playing style and Euran international legend John Spartan as manager. Ironchester, Karkland and Dudsbury dropped into the Bronze League while EFS easily won the Bronze League with Sword and Suttonville in tow. Clifton Villa, Croxford and Moors drop into the National Conference. The three new Sameban clubs in the Bronze League survived – Storfan and Aspel narrowly missing out on promotion, Rivet narrowly avoiding relegation at the other end of the table. Their presence posed a big challenge for the Euran authorities with violence being reported at a number of their games and threats of suspension being bandied about. There are rumours that Aspel won’t be allowed to return to their traditional Aspel Dellaro home for at least another season as it remains cordoned off.
The first IFCF season went off without a hitch, unless you were a Euran club. All Euran teams underperformed in the big three tournaments with the exception of Spartangrad, who were beaten by eventual Champions League champions 1830 Cathair in the quarter-finals, after the Audioslavian side had previously beaten Directus in the last round. There was some consolation for Euran’s though that 1830’s manager was Lee Sharp. The most important and arguably greatest player in Eura’s history has infamously had a lot of bad luck in major finals as both a player and manager, losing World Cup finals as both. He wasn’t going to let it get away from this time. His 1830 side, including his son Dean, beat Brenecia’s Northern Stallions in the final to become the inaugural IFCF Champions League winners. There was some joy for Euran’s however in the Copa de Campeones. Spartangrad recovered quickly from their Champions League disappointment to thrash Navel Sharks and AFC Treason on the way to beating Olympic FC of Eastfield Lodge in the final. Player of the Season Oljer got the winning goal from the penalty spot.
One further development of note was that the Euran Oceania Territories finally played the first season of its newly professionalised football league system. It wasn’t particularly competitive as Fligsive FC shocked no-one by winning the league comfortably and the quality was at times woeful. That hasn’t put off Expat national team manager Skorji Oslograd, who lauded the season as a “balloon pumping success”, whatever that means. As a result we can expect to see a lot of transfer activity with the new league in its coming second season.
Transfers ahead of Season 41
PLAYER AGE POS. NATIONALITY FROM TO FEE/TERMS
Damion Bowman 23 LW Eura Hornchurch Crisisbless (Nephara) £25m
Kurtis Bastable 23 CF Nephara Hornchurch Ulsa £25m
Lauren Cheney 24 RW Brenecia Kingsgrove (Brenecia) Spartangrad £17m
Vincent Robshaw 24 CM Eura Unioneers Northern Union (Brenecia) £16m
Pluto Blinkman 26 CM Apox Liria Prizren (Mytannion) Ulsa £14m
Ava Rose Donaldson 25 AM Schottia Handon United (Schottia) Falourr £9m
Ceridwen Fletcher 24 LM Brenecia North Hall (Brenecia) Holdenberg £8m
Tom Duffy 29 CF EOT Ulsa Newrook City (Nephara) £7m
Alma Watts 23 RB Eura Oakstone Soldarian FC (Valanora) £6.5m
Zara Cormann 24 ST Nephara Brinemouth (Nephara) Workers Union £6m
Joel Kamara 22 CB Schottia San Marco Storm (Schottia) Brigham £6m
Abraham Cardoso 26 CM Darmen Raven River (Nephara) Callodown £6m
Harry Moore 24 AM/CF Audioslavia AFC Mayville Whitepill £5m
Finn Leadbetter 21 CB Brenecia Marque (Brenecia) Hornchurch £5m
Hugo Toring 24 CM Schottia Old Boys Club Unioneers £4.5m
Adelaide Tallow 25 CDM/CM Nephara AFC Treason (Nephara) Farrenton Athletic £4.5m
Hakki Ojala 30 RM/LM Cosumar Sabrefell Athletic (Nephara) Workers Union £4m
Jason Beltran 31 LW/AM Valladares Revolutionaries AD Cerro (Valladares) £4m
Fraser Wheatley 22 CF Eura Old Boys Club Marketville £4m
Julian Mann 23 CAM Eura Old Boys Club Port James Athletic (Schottia) £4m
Sigimund Firmin 21 LB Darmen OGC Nauti (Darmen) Unioneers £3.5m
Dominic Ellis 29 RW Eura Club Stein-los (Pasarga) Southern Star (Brenecia) £3.5m
Mautau 23 CAM Dainer Ulsa Rovers Farrenton Athletic £3.5m
George Richards 24 CDM EOT Pascal Mashu (Kita-Hinode) Callodown £3.5m
Margareta Fetlar 20 ST Schottia Handon United (Schottia) Brigham £3m
Sherry Lockston 26 RW Brenecia Old Boys Club Northern Stallions (Brenecia) £3m
Dave Wehlbeck 29 RB Eura CA Paulinthal (Pasarga) Bakermouth (EOT) £3m
Kinnel Hunter 20 ST Schottia Regional Development A (Schottia) Directus £2.5m
Victor Collar 24 CF Audioslavia Holdenberg City WEA £2.5m
Dan Waghorn 29 ST Eura Honeybadgers Falourr £2m
William Stone 34 ST Eura Ramusok United (Cosumar) EFS £2m
Ricky Hoglund 28 CB Chromatika Blackfields Myana (Chromatika) £2m
Mark Abernathy 25 CB Brenecia Brigham San Marco Storm (Schottia) £2m
Adnan Cynac 32 AM Eshan Holdenberg Callodown £1.75m
Blair Henderson 28 ST Audioslavia Honeybadgers Emerald Coast (SRS) £1.6m
Cole Bruin 30 GK Brenecia Brigham Finbar Stalwarts (Brenecia) £1m
Ryan Theuer 34 CB Nephara Falourr Handon United (Schottia) £1m
Nina Pomeroy 22 LB Chromatika Urrheddiao State Uni (Chromatika) Oakstone £1m
Tardos Gulyas 22 ST Pasarga Harkdown Usmer £1m
Joshua Coates 31 RB Eura Carsby Foxhampton £1m
Lasse Scharnberg 28 ST Nephara Lajuno AFC Rochford (Nephara) £1m
Ephraim Mirzian 29 ST Nephara Marketville Royal Garo (Mkabia) £1m
Matt Ruffan 31 CDM Brenecia Holdenberg City Scaffield (Brenecia) £1m
Joseph Cameron 30 CB Askari Union Harkdown Brookford Otters (Nephara) £1m
Gabriel Dunn 31 LM Eura Brigham Sword £750k
Magnus Orchard 32 GK Nephara Workers Union Issington FC (Apox) £600k
Petros Mytaras 30 RW Nephara Farrenton Athletic Gallant Cross (Brenecia) £500k
Cihan Resad 17 CM Timuria Tasova Gencler (Timuria) Lajuno £500k
Alex Coles 19 CB Eura Old Boys Club Usmer £100k
Kemal Gajic 20 RAM/LAM Mytannion Farrenton Athletic Arka (Mytannion) Undisc.
Khrusan Mlianko 16 RM/LM Vilita Eel Cat Things Academy (Vilita) Bastion Undisc.
Anthony Townsend 29 RM Eura Ma Alameome (Farfadillis) Whitepill Free
Leigh Oswald 36 ST EOT Wanda Island Wanderers (Abanhfleft) Expats Endeavour (EOT) Free
Finley Carr 30 CF Eura Usmer Ulsa Rovers Free
Willem Ajax 34 CM Apox/EOT Bastion Expats Endeavour (EOT) Free
Gabriel Harper 33 LB Eura Directus Harkdown Free
Ethan Parsons 32 LB Eura Lajuno Blackfields Free
Edward Pollard 33 LM EOT Lajuno New Bastion (EOT) Free
John Wylie 30 ST Schottia Unioneers WEA Free
Horace Popov 30 RB Abanhfleft Brigham Bastion Lions Free
Lukas Stonemoore 21 ST Nephara University of the Pacific (Hinode) Revolutionaries Free
Friedrich Church 26 GK Nephara Chenoworth Rovers (Nephara) Blackfields Free
Vander Kruse 26 ST Nephara Southfell United (Nephara) Blackfields Free
Yannick Rodgers 26 ST Nephara Chenoworth Rovers (Nephara) Arrowsmith Free
Bruno Kezman 28 GK Nephara Cranequin City (Nephara) Ulsa Rovers Free
Malte Cairn 25 CM Nephara Cypher Town (Nephara) Old Boys Club Free
Feather Graves 25 CM Nephara Raven River (Nephara) Bakermouth (EOT) Free
Marcia Barron 26 ST Nephara South Laithland (Nephara) Real Oakwood Free
Kallum Anderson 19 AM Schottia Marionville (Schottia) AFC Whittorians (EOT) Free
Tom Renckerson 20 LB Schottia West Holbrookdale (Schottia) Burgess FC (EOT) Free
Laura McWilliams 22 CDM Schottia Port Sebastian (Schottia) Blackfields Free
Gerhard Colvyn 24 ST Brenecia Scaffield (Brenecia) Old Boys Club Free
Dirk Coppersmith 26 LM Brenecia Twin Saints (Brenecia) Exiles United (EOT) Free
Sora Yamashita 21 CDM/CM Hinode Imperial Forces Academy (Hinode) Whitepill Free
Edward Ratimir 21 CB Mercedini Project Olimpo (Mercedini) Callodown Free
Gusti Rodolfo 21 CM Mercedini Project Olimpo (Mercedini) Workers Union Free
Louise Vaughan 21 CB Nephara Cente for Excellence (Apox) Lajuno Free
Anthea Finnan 21 GK Brenecia Cente for Excellence (Apox) Brigham Free
Constance Stroud 21 LW Brenecia Cente for Excellence (Apox) Workers Union Free
Kira Lorinc 16 CM Pasarga Free Agent Usmer Free
Kristoffer Linds 25 ST Semarland KF Werzin (Qusdmo) Mountainside Free
Laszlo Peto 16 LW/RW Pasarga Free Agent Fligsive FC (EOT) Free
Christian Gilliam 22 CB Nephara 1923 Esca (Mytannion) Oslograd Academy (EOT) Free
Maria Szantho 16 CAM Pasarga Free Agent New Bastion (EOT) Free
Piusz Gaspar 16 ST Pasarga Free Agent Bakermouth (EOT) Free
Otose Magnum 21 LM Hinode NIRKR (Hinode) Bakermouth (EOT) Free
Tony Brattle 31 LW Eura Old Boys Club Sporting Jaglan (SRS) Free
Augustine Catapan 26 GK Nephara Honeybadgers Gonen's Bridge (Nephara) Free
Josh Cokes 24 CM Dunnes Honeybadgers Aspel Free
Gilbert Wise 29 RM Eura AFC Mayville Jacksonville City (Baker Park) Free
Keith Carney 30 GK Brenecia AFC Mayville Gallant Cross (Brenecia) Free
George Thorpe 31 AM Eura Ulsa Rovers Shearwater FC (Kelessek) Free
Thanasi Holland 29 LM Nephara Ulsa Rovers Morningstar (Nephara) Free
Jake Lindsey 27 CB Audioslavia Harkdown Gallant Cross (Brenecia) Free
Iker Ariztondo 31 ST Audioslavia Suttonville Rockridge Phoenix (Brenecia) Free
Jack Little 26 GK Eura Blackfields New Dundee Star (Schottia) Free
Connor McNeil 27 LB Audioslavia Blackfields Snowden River (Brenecia) Free
Brad Ranford 30 ST Brenecia WEA Coppersmith (Brenecia) Free
Journey Flintoff 28 RB Nephara Belgrave (Nephara) New Bastion (EOT) Free
Kasmeer Jewell 27 ST Nephara Coret Hawks (Nephara) Blades ex Magnaeus (EOT) Free
Sigmund Ambrose 25 ST Nephara Coret Hawks (Nephara) New Bastion (EOT) Free
Cass Rayle 25 ST Nephara AFC Corvistone (Nephara) AFC Whittorians (EOT) Free
Amber Broadis 26 RW Nephara North Sabrefell (Nephara) Exiles United (EOT) Free
Damian Fletch 26 RW Brenecia Northern Stallions (Brenecia) Burgess FC (EOT) Free
Christian Kearnan 26 ST Brenecia Northern Stallions (Brenecia) Bakermouth (EOT) Free
Chris Fortune 26 CM Brenecia Northern Union (Brenecia) Crater (EOT) Free
Pluto Akiyama 21 AM/ST Hinode KOS-MOS Tech Institute (Hinode) Fligsive FC (EOT) Free
Kore Ikeda 21 CDM Hinode KOS-MOS Tech Institute (Hinode) Crater (EOT) Free
Farrell Byron 21 RB Brenecia Centre for Excellence (Mercedini) Blades ex Magnaeus (EOT) Free
Tim Watts 21 CM Xanneria University of New Arch (Xanneria) New Bastion (EOT) Free
Zan Galla 18 AM Eastfield Lodge Lodger Juniors (Eastfield Lodge) Fligsive FC (EOT) Free
Hideaki Honda 21 CM Hinode Kuroba State University (Hinode) Oslograd Academy (EOT) Free
Akira Tsukuda 21 AM Hinode Okagane Univesity (Hinode) Oslograd Academy (EOT) Free
Obiega 21 CB Dainer Toadstool Enterprises (Hinode) Oslograd Academy (EOT) Free
Caitlin MacTilt 20 CM Schottia Cornellians (Schottia) Oslograd Academy (EOT) Free
Oscar Laidon 18 ST Schottia Development Side B (Schottia) Oslograd Academy (EOT) Free
Gabirel Zozaia 17 CF Audioslavia KT Itzalovalle (Audioslavia) Whitepill 2 Season Loan
Mihaly Bernat 18 ST Pasarga Revolutionaries Great Northern FC (Baker Park) Season Loan
Mario Szolosi 18 CAM Pasarga Ulsa Kings Park (Schottia) Season Loan
Gunter Obermaier 17 GK Valanora Ulsa Nukon Season Loan
Herbert Brewer 17 CM Eura Spartangrad Brham United (Darmen) Season Loan
Daniel Wolter 17 GK Valanora Oakstone Foxhampton Season Loan
David Logan 18 CDM Audioslavia Holdenberg Marketville Season Loan
Ildiko Kalman 18 RW Pasarga Lajuno Callodown Season Loan
Boriska Nagy 18 LW/ST Pasarga Spartangrad Arrowsmith Season Loan
Managerial changes ahead of Season 41
MANAGER AGE NATIONALITY CLUB CHANGE
Kyle Muldrew 44 Eura AFC Mayville Sacked
Nigel Anders 55 Eura Carsby Sacked
Bob Partridge 51 Eura Oakstone Sacked
Moses Luc Bjerregaard 44 Polar Islandstates Blackfields Sacked
Saskia Holden 37 Schottia Blackfields Hired
Evgeni Hakkarinen 50 Savojarna Arrowsmith Hired
Tom Benedict 69 Eura Sabrefell Athletic (Nephara) Retired
Grant Davis 69 Eura Free Agent Retired
Dimitri Campbell 71 Eura Feardallis Wanderers (FFD) Retired
Chris Waller 50 Eura Chenoworth Rovers (Nephara) Hired
Tony Dalton 50 Eura Sabrefell Athletic (Nephara) Hired
Aidan Brosque 57 Nephara Carsby Hired
Asey Vella 51 Sameba Oakstone Hired
The retirement of Tom Benedict is particularly significant. The long serving Directus and then Sabrefell Athletic manager won domestic and UICA silverware, and retires an iconic figure at both clubs. Dimitri Campbell will be best remembered as Eura’s assistant manager under Ben Randall, but he’s also had a distinguished management career in the club game, ending at Farfadillis side Feardallis Wanderers strengthening their Euran connection further. Grant Davis was a Euran international during the earlier years of the Randall/Campbell era, and enjoyed an eclectic management career at a number of teams in Eura and abroad before calling it a day after leaving his last role.
Retirements ahead of Season 41
PLAYER AGE POS. NATIONALITY CLUB
Sterling Rose 39 CDM Eura Marketville
Joel Sutton 38 LW Eura Marketville
Earl van den Brink 34 LCB Audioslavia Revolutionaries
Anthony Ho 34 CM Electrum Falourr
Charles Owens 39 AM Eura Blackfields
Tom Robson 38 LM/CM Eura Blackfields
Eduardo Giuffrida 33 CDM Audioslavia Falourr
Will Walter 38 GK Eura Carsby
Evan Smith 34 CB Eura Farrenton Athletic
Aidan Burgess 33 CB Eura Unioneers
Torrance Price 32 CB Eura Oakstone
Gareth Westmead 34 RB Nephara Lajuno
Leon Wilson 33 CB Eura Marketville
Elias Shaw 35 AM Eura Unioneers
Daniel Stokes 35 CB Eura Dangerford
Max May 34 CM Eura Dangerford
Bart Jones 36 GK EOT Burdoc Ridge (Audioslavia)
Ewan May 35 LB EOT Lemmitania State FC (Audioslavia)
There’s been more milestone retirements following Season 40. 39 year old Sterling Rose is perhaps the most significant, a World Cup and Copa Rushmori winner and for a time a Eura captain. He made his mark for Eura certainly with his trademark short passing style and calm demeanour, a physical as well as mental presence despite his diminutive and lean physique. He started out at Marketville before making a big money move to Cazadores Cathair in Audioslavia at just 19, for £6.5m. He spent a monumental 16 years in Audioslavia, switching to AC Icotz Zubia where he enjoyed great success, before returning home to Marketville at the age of 35. What seemed at first to be a very common Euran trend – for a player on the verge of retiring to return to a Silver or Bronze League club that gave them their start in the game – became something much more. Rose didn’t just lead Marketville to promotion, he took over as player-manager, and now retires to take on the management job full time.
Retiring with him at Marketville is 38 year old Joel Sutton, another World Cup and Copa Rushmori winner who went abroad for much of his career. He played in Valladares for Marinos Metropolis after a big money move from Lajuno, for £15m, at the age of 21. He returned fifteen years later to Marketville, just like Rose. There he helped them survive in the Gold League for the last two seasons of his career before gracefully bowing out. Earl van den Brink is a significant figure in Euran and Audioslavian football. Originally an unfancied young defender, he was snapped up by Revolutionaries and became a stalwart for the side as it rebuilt its defence post-Mark Rogers, eventually getting into the Audioslavia national team and becoming a regular there too. He won the Champions Cup and Gold League titles with Revolutionaries and many fans still believe he could do a job for the team at 34. He clearly disagrees, as he’s called it a day.
Anthony Ho was a mediocre central midfielder for a while – until he was a key part of taking Electrum to a shock world championship at World Cup 78, infamously seeing off a Eura side that had exhausted itself on the way to the final in the midst of a national crisis. Since then he’s been a key part of a Falourr side that eventually won the Gold League. After winning the National Cup as a less favoured member of the squad last season, he’s clearly decided it’s time to retire while he’s still at the top level. Tom Robson is another player, like Ho and van den Brink, who wasn’t always seen as top class. He emerged as a relatively little known left midfielder at Blackfields as part of their best generation of players in modern times. He made his mark on the Gold League as a fairly slow but incredibly skilful and intelligent midfielder, with an excellent defensive work rate to boot. He earned himself a £9.5m move to Brigham even at 29 years old, excelling there. He then returned to Blackfields seven seasons later and has ended his career at his hometown club. It’s a shame he never won any silverware – Robson was as deserving as any.
Charles Owens was a player of huge potential at Revolutionaries early in his career after signing from Whitepill, but never quite lived up to it. His forays into the Euran national team were not consistent and he didn’t stick in the squad. Nevertheless he led a long career and spent a decade at the team in green, winning silverware. Other notable retirements after last season include Eduardo Giuffrida, an Audioslavian international with Gold League and National Cup medals at Falourr, Carsby’s long serving goalkeeper Will Walter, Nepharim international Gareth Westmead, and Euran youth and senior internationals Daniel Stokes, Evan Smith and Elias Shaw.
Team Previews for Season 41
BASTION
Manager: Robin Hjik (59, Mytannion)
Stadium: Bastion Arena (Bastion, 110,000)
Last season saw Bastion just off the pace in the title race behind Directus and Spartangrad, with a markedly inferior goal difference. Robin Hjik has reasons to be optimistic however. His squad is brimming with young talent and its now mostly been cleared out of ageing veterans, while retaining the experience of players in their prime, such as Roberts, Rowland and Bassa. Miller's pace is waning but his skill on the ball is keeping him in the side at Fuller's expense. The big question is what happens up front, where Dion Underwood soldiers on at 33 with his pace still strong but not quite what it was. Avelione is now the focus of much of the attacking play. Lofty Jones is likely to make this season his last, in Bastion colours at least. Many eyes will be on the young star Amakli Inuro'o, the Turori teenager being one of the brightest young players in the league.
PLAYER AGE POSITION NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Matthew Tyler 24 GK South Covello
Amakli Inuro'o 19 CB/LB/RB Turori
Eero Solari 24 CB Cosumar
Charles Roberts 27 CB Eura
Moises Fermandez 23 LB Farfadillis
Jan Gersten 23 RW Pasarga
Monica Rowland 27 CDM/CM Eura
Adrián Bassa 31 CAM Valladares
Dominic Miller 32 LW Eura
Dion Underwood 33 ST Eura
Jack Avelione 23 AM/ST Schottia
SUBS
Jason Russell 33 RWB Eura
Jamie Byrd 17 CB Eura
Harrison Burns 30 RM Eura
Gabe Stevens 22 CM Eura
Kasey Fuller 22 LW EOT
Khrusan Mlianko 16 RM/LM Vilita
Lofty Jones 35 CF Eura
Fred Cox 21 ST Eura
BRIGHAM
Manager: Danny Sullivan (48, Eura)
Stadium: Old Ham Lane (Brigham, 76,409)
Brigham experienced a chastening Season 40, finishing 15th, and have reacted appropriately. Cole Bruin has been shipped out after a very poor season in goal, with Glasvyrn finally taking the gloves, while Abernathy and Dunn are now history. Talented young Schottians Joel Kamara and Margareta Fetlar have been signed; Kamara enters the backline and Fetlar will act as a rotation option with Truro behind the trusted Valladar strike partnership of Rosales and Valdivia. This is a club that has a lethargic feeling to it, which needs to change quickly.
PLAYER AGE POSITION NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Leo Glasvyrn 22 GK Ceni
Declan Hurst 28 RB Eura
Joel Kamara 22 CB Schottia
Alexander Pearce Jr. 28 CB Cosumar
Jude Skinner 32 LB Eura
Freddie Wright 26 RW Eura
Dan Ainsley 34 CM Eura
Alain Barthez 30 CAM Valladares
Euristithanes 25 LM Apox
Esteban Rosales 29 AM/ST Valladares
Alfred Valdivia 29 ST Valladares
SUBS
Anthea Finnan 21 GK Brenecia
Hans Cabel 20 LB EOT
Tristram Grass 23 CB Itor
Kendrick Lamarde 29 CM Chromatika
David Anderson 25 CDM Schottia
Robbie Truro 21 ST Eura
Margareta Fetlar 20 ST Schottia
CALLODOWN
Manager: Rhys West (41, Mertagne)
Stadium: Hollow Park (Callodown, 52,660)
They were unfancied for promotion but Callodown are here, under the tutelege of Rhys West. Formerly (and briefly) the second manager of the Euran Oceania Territories national team, West has hit the ground running in club football. He's spent just over £11m to reinforce his midfield, bringing in Abraham Cardoso as a box to box type midfielder, Adnan Cynac as an attacking mifield option and George Richards as a holding player. Whether they are good enough to stay up is debatable; they have a decent young striker in John Hooper but he's their only option and is untested at the Gold League level. They've got some decent Gold League experience in the side in Jim Stokes, Adnan Cynac and Louie McKenzie, but truth be told their starting line up doesn't look anything spcial, especially the defence. Tipped by most bookies to finish bottom.
PLAYER AGE POSITION NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Frederick Salt 27 GK Eura
Luke Richie 26 RB Eura
Kyle Bryton 31 CB Itor
Joe Clunes 24 CB Eura
Eve Reeve 19 LB Eura
George Richards 24 CDM EOT
Wallace Pickton 21 LM Eura
Abraham Cardoso 26 CM Darmen
Jim Stokes 35 CAM Eura
Adnan Cynac 32 AM Eshan
John Hooper 22 CF Eura
Barry Flake 17 CF Eura
SUBS
Edward Ratimir 21 CB Mercedini
Ildiko Kalman 18 RW Pasarga
Kris Hamilton 30 CDM Daera
Louie McKenzie 31 AM EOT
Markos Baranyi 17 CM Pasarga
CARSBY
Manager: Aidan Brosque (57, Nephara)
Stadium: Dughill Park (Carsby, 41,500)
Last season was a wake up call to Carsby who have been resting on their laurels since losing Moira Woakes. It was felt that the team could simply ride out the loss having done so in the case of Tom Whittaker - such assumptions have proven foolish. Nigel Anders is gone and Carsby have aimed high with his replacement. Aidan Brosque is a former manager of the Nephara national team and all around tough cookie, and looking to prove themselves. Unfortunately Brosque has virtually no budget to speak of in his first season, meaning that this elite level manager is going to have to use all of his skill and experience to keep them up. They've got an inexperienced goalkeeper, a pourous and ageing defence and an unbalanced midfield. Only their forwards look set. It doesn't look good.
PLAYER AGE POSITION NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Gianni Pisani 23 GK Pasarga
Andreu Caelius 26 RB Eshan
David Roberts 34 CB Eura
Toby Chambers 28 CB Eura
Cheney Heneghan 31 CB Brenecia
John Falkholt 26 LB Nephara
Philfs Picot 28 CM Audioslavia
Glen Merson 30 CM Eura
Richard Pearce 25 LW Cosumar
Connor Marsh 29 ST Eura
Signe Hagen 24 ST Valanora
SUBS
Tomas Banks 27 CB Nephara
Freddie Law 27 CB EOT
Trevor Finney 26 CDM Eastfield Lodge
Ermin Drzic 26 CAM/ST Mytannion
DIRECTUS
Manager: Dragan Kryznjak (48, Audioslavia)
Stadium: Castle Road (Directus, 95,000)
Fresh from the heartbreak of losing the title on the final day of the season, Kryznjak promised what he called a "furious return to form" this season. Audioslavia's answer to Timo Skye and Skorji Oslograd might be slightly unstable but he's shown he can do it before, and will seek to do so again this season. Directus were only out by a whisker - if they can tighten up at the back, there's no reason why that can't happen. The front line is perhaps the world's best, supported by an ample midfield where Patterson has now matured enough as a player to force Keane out of the side. The defence let the side down occassionally last season but were mostly excellent, and if Lazar Meier can supplant Alan Moore as the season goes on it'll be a complete side, though in the long term Ethan Cook will need replacing. Watch out for 17 year old Adam Woodman, Strongbow's understudy who scored his first goal on the last day of last season.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Kevin Belgrave 29 GK Eura
Ethan Cook 33 RB Eura
Ralf Bader 26 CB Pasarga
Alan Moore 32 CB Electrum
Deli Acs 21 LB/LW Pasarga
Boris Kalinic 27 RM Mytannion
Circe Rosenthal 27 CM Nephara
Henry Patterson 25 CAM Eura
Rowena Strongbow 27 LW Nephara
Estrella Hawke 30 ST Nephara
Corinne Martel-Burns 29 ST Schottia
SUBS
Lazar Meier 22 CB Pasarga
Eamon Mullins 22 CM Eura
Nicky Keane 34 CM Eura
Adam Woodman 17 LW Eura
Stewart Robson 19 ST Eura
Kinnel Hunter 20 ST Schottia
FALOURR
Manager: Dan Eastwood (54, Eura)
Stadium: Sandstone Ground (Falourr, 76,000)
Dan Eastwood may well regret his off-season activities, and we don't just mean what the tabloids are running with. He signed Ava Rose Donaldson for £9m when he already has a perfectly good starting left winger, and Dan Waghorn. Both good players, but not what he needs, which is a revitalised defence. Jed Poole is not ready to step into Stephen Paul's shoes and looks like he never will be. Still, Falourr have a fundamentally strong squad and should qualify for the Challengers Cup at least. Tommy Sutton is the main man now and will look to repeat last seasons performances.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Apostolos Tsattalios 31 GK Nephara
Dirk Freitag 27 RB Pasarga
Jarrod Jenkins 23 CB Eura
Stephen Paul 33 CB Schottia
James Robertson 33 LB Schottia
Kristian Harper 29 RW/ST Ethane
Dexter Tricklebank 25 CM Cosumar
Malachi Chalk 26 CM Nephara
Olvir Texstrom 30 LW Cosumar
Tommy Sutton 22 ST Eura
Lukas Cole 25 ST Ethane
SUBS
Lucian Fontaine 17 RB Eura
Jed Poole 24 CB Eura
Scott Quinn 24 LB Eura
Elspeth Wykker 25 RW Cosumar
Gael Tobin 34 CAM Eura
Ava Rose Donaldson 25 AM Schottia
Dan Waghorn 29 ST Eura
FARRENTON ATHLETIC
Manager: Daniel Belgrave (63, Eura)
Stadium: Pignot Stadium (Farrenton, 70,000)
The return of Daniel Belgrave was greeted with skepticism at first. Those skeptics were silenced by Farrenton's massively improved performances last season as they managed to finish sixth and qualify for the Challengers Cup. In truth, this may be a purple patch season for a squad that doesn't look better than several of the teams below it, especially with Le Tonnelier, Curwyk and Jashkin having enjoyed above-average seasons simultaneously. The summer hasn't gone brilliantly either; Kemal Gajic got homesick and forced a transfer back to Mytanija, and the club panic bought Mautau. On the bright side, Adelaide Tallow looks like a fine signing. Anything other than a top half finish would be a massive dissapointment.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Yanko Zhelyaskov 25 GK Siovanija and Teusland
Kai Xiao 24 RB Chromatika
Paul Rees 24 CB Eura
Justin Crawford 24 CB Ethane
Gordon Clayton 29 LB Eura
Samuel Freeman 33 CM Mertagne/EOT
Sebastian Field 30 CM Eura
Mikhail Jashkin 24 RW Savojarna
Carrol Liam 33 LM Chromatika
Mehmet Curwyk 27 LW/AM Cosumar
P-L Le Tonnelier 27 ST Gadirya/EOT
SUBS
Garrett Richardson 23 GK Eura
Andoni Suzuki 22 CB Hinode
Adelaide Tallow 25 CDM/CM Nephara
Mautau 23 CAM Dainer
Julyan Carlevaro 26 ST Sameba
HOLDENBERG
Manager: Ryan Collins (53, Eura)
Stadium: Benedict Lane (Holdenberg, 74,869)
Holdenberg's title win is now firmly in the past even though its main stars remain. Last season was frustrating, a seventh place finish in the league being well off the pace. Lazer Eleonora has just about peaked, and cannot be relied upon now to be world class every game. Holsteiner is noticeably not as good without Eleonora being on top of his game, which is surprising given that the Farve striker is a world champion in his own right. The defence remains one of the league's best on paper, but struggles in the big games and conceded a concerning 59 goals last season. Collins has shown some ambition to try and arrest the slide. The signing of Fletcher from North Hall for £8m is a sign of that.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Andreas Swoboda 33 GK Nephara
Aitor Carbonara 26 RB Audioslavia
Líbano Menéndez Herrera 24 CB Pasarga
Henri de Aea 22 CB Chromatika
Stanley Burns 23 LB Eura
Frank Bevan 27 CM Eura
Henry Hollifield 21 CAM Cosumar
Lázár Eleonóra 31 RM/RW Farfadillis
Ceridwen Fletcher 24 LM Brenecia
James Howell 27 ST Eura
Oskar Holsteiner 26 ST Farfadillis
SUBS
Jane Hallam 17 RB Eura
Oliver Murray 33 CB Eura
Aristotle Weaver 26 CM Mareibat
Helmut Chilmark 31 CDM Nephara
Jamie Edwards 25 RW Eura
Leonard Sharpe 28 LM Eura
HOLDENBERG CITY
Manager: Bruno Hawke (58, Nephara)
Stadium: Hafran Lane (Holdenberg, 63,590)
New manager Bruno Hawke enjoyed a stable enough first season after the sacking of Pola Grabnyak. Little has been done in the transfer market however, suggesting Hawke may not be being given as much support as needed to progress the club, or at least can't do so until deadweight has been removed - an understandable move after the extravagance of splurging money on a 30 year old Arrowsword last summer, along with the less risky signings of Cueleman and Djuric. To that end Matt Ruffan and Victor Collar are both gone. Otherwise the squad has changed little.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
William Lewis 29 GK Schottia
Marvin Walsh 22 RB EOT
Damien Halliger 22 CB Kelessek
Daniel Robertson 27 CB Audioslavia
Harvey Roseroot 22 CB/LB Schottia
Patrick James 32 RW Eura
Solmon Djuric 23 CDM Apox
Martel Ceulemann 26 CM/CAM Nephara
Sebastian Beethoven 26 LM/CM Audioslavia
Efrain Arbizu 26 LM Audioslavia
Andrew Arrowsword 31 ST Ceni
SUBS
Tug Cooper 30 RB Cosumar
Lily Shephard 24 RW Eura
Harper Conroy 31 CM Brenecia
Masi Hishi 22 CM Hinode
Brendan Randall 26 AM Schottia
Bryan Sanchez 30 AM/ST Valladares
HORNCHURCH
Manager: Danielle Granger (58, Brenecia)
Stadium: Walter Avenue (Hornchurch, 56,392)
The "BaB" initialism will forever be burned into the hearts of every Hornchurch fan after last season, a culmination of several years developing the young talents of Damion Bowman and Kurtis Bastable. The Euran and Nepharim partners in crime racked up an incredible 38 goals between them last season and catapulted Granger's team to eighth in the league. This outstanding performances naturally attracted suitors, but no club could afford the pair. Instead they both went for £25m in different directions. The Euran went to Nephara and the Nepharim stayed in Eura, Bowman the new shining light at Crisisbless and Bastable the new hope at Ulsa. Hornchurch have spent very little of the £50m revenue received, their biggest signing being the good value capture of Brenecian prospect Finn Leadbetter for £5m. Unless they have taken leave of reality the board will no doubt have lower expectations this season, but Granger might just regret not using that cash. At least she has some formidable attackers from her homeland left over in the form of Breremond, Martane and Wolff.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Anthoulis Matraxis 29 GK Nephara
Bailey Norman 29 RB Eura
Crista Veylos 16 CB Eura/Sameba
Aldo Zeno 24 CB Audioslavia
Finn Leadbetter 21 CB Brenecia
Russell Feltner 28 LB Abanhfleft
Elysse Matheson 24 CM Brenecia
Dom Finch 28 CM Eura
Jorg Fischer 29 CM Pasarga
Cheney Breremond 27 RW/ST Nephara
Claudia Martane 25 RW Nephara
Erika Wolff 29 ST Nephara
SUBS
Thomas Stewart 21 GK Audioslavia
Artem Giord 33 CB Sameba
Santiago Curiales 31 CB Cosumar
Alan Markovic 23 CDM Pasarga
Archie Weir 23 ST Schottia
LAJUNO
Manager: Glenn Anderson (Eura, 48)
Stadium: Lansbury Road (Lajuno, 62,000)
Lajuno are another team struggling to progress from mid-table mediocrity, not for want of trying. Kara Ciogach has proven an excellent signing but the coffers appear to be empty, so there's been little to no change here.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Vance Simm 21 GK Eura
Ruon Asante 27 RB Nephara
Ugaitz Leskerre 28 CB Astograth
Jessie Bowen 24 CB Blaneu
Pierre DuPont 24 LB Chromatika
Chance DuPois 24 LB Chromatika
Oliver Naismith 30 RM Eura
Reece Cooper 32 CDM Eura
David Carpenter 26 CM Eura
Cathal Keynes 25 LW Brenecia
Kara Ciogach 26 ST Brenecia/Schottia
Ben Chillotov 25 ST Mercedini
SUBS
Louise Vaughan 21 CB Nephara
Johanna Sutton 25 RW Nephara
Antonio Bozic 23 CDM Pasarga
Cihan Resad 17 CM Timuria
Christine Atkinson 16 ST Eura
MARKETVILLE
Manager: Sterling Rose (39, Eura)
Stadium: The Maw (Marketville, 42,000)
Retiring from playing for Marketville rather than just managing them will likely give Sterling Rose more opportunity to grow the club this season, rather than just surviving, although their fourteenth place finish last season was impressive. Some minor transfer activity has freshened up the squad, however the failure to find a first team centre back after a number of failed bids in the transfer window looks potentially disastorous. As things stand, 17 year old Jack Menard will be first choice alongside John Burrell, having never played a senior game. It could be a long season.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Opal Cairncross 27 GK Brenecia
Nicholas Glover 21 RB Eura
Jack Menard 17 CB Eura
John Burrell 25 LCB Audioslavia
Simon Prutton 23 LB Eura
Juri Kisame 24 RM Hinode
Charlie Bolton 28 CM Eura
William Rodgers 27 CM Eura
Per Tegeler 24 LW Recuecn
Rnan Black 30 CF Eura
David Hackley 20 CF Ethane
SUBS
David Logan 18 CDM Audioslavia
Matts Bogdanor 22 CM Kelessek
Fraser Wheatley 22 CF Eura
OAKSTONE
Manager: Asey Vella (51, Sameba)
Stadium: The Oak House (Oakstone, 82,402)
Sacking Bob Partridge was a controversial enough move for the Oakstone board, their patience finally waning as he continued to fail in his mission to progress the club after Brian Bond's departure. A thirteenth place finish - above par a few years ago, now a massive let down - was enough to seal his fate. The board then stoked the flames of media frenzy further by appointing Asey Vella manager. That's right; the football club most famously affected by the war with Sameba, based in a city invaded and besieged by Eura's former northern neighbour, has just hired a former captain of the Sameban national team as manager. To the credit of the club and its fans, there has been little backlash from the city itself who understand that Vella was not supportive of the Sameban dictatorship or its war effort. Nevertheless his the Euran press disagreed that this was no big deal, overshadowing pre-season preparations with a huge debate, giving him a newspaper column sized mountain to climb already.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
James Clements 31 GK Eura
Ginton French 27 RB Eastfield Lodge
Alex Gonzalez 29 CB Sargossa
Nathan Wall 30 CB Eura
Ben Hall 29 LB Eura
Amber Trahearne 28 CM/CAM Nephara
Josh Montoya 27 CAM Ethane
Kyle Ford 23 RM Ethane
Leo Sterling 26 AM Audioslavia
Aron Riise 26 ST Cosumar
Heron Kendall 30 ST Nephara
SUBS
Luka Laczko 18 GK Pasarga
Syrma 22 CB Dainer
Nina Pomeroy 22 LB Chromatika
Judson Tripi 24 CM Audioslavia
Milan Grubišić 23 CM Pasarga
Gareth Corvine 30 LM Nephara
Franklin Harris 22 ST Eura
Rita Brookfield 16 ST Eura
REVOLUTIONARIES
Manager: Niels Kruse (45, Polar Islandstates)
Stadium: Sasky Rising Memorial Stadium (Brigham, 107,000)
After his first season in charge at Revolutionaries, Niels Kruse looks comfortable at the reins of one of Eura's biggest clubs. He's got a sizeable budget, a quality squad already and the patience of a fanbase that adore him from his playing days. The club have been quiet in the transfer market, signing only Nepharim striker Lukas Stonemoore on a free as a young prospect, while Earl van den Brink has gone off the wage bill with retirement. A title push may be just beyond them for now.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Max McIntyre 26 GK Audioslavia
Timwise Gerduns 29 RB EOT
Kurt Strong 30 CB EOT
Roxelana Thorn 23 CB Nephara
Gethin Quill 28 LB Brenecia
Jurgen Eisenhower 28 CM Pasarga
Maximilien Longchambon 24 CAM Ko-oren
Rhys Griffiths 27 AM Eura
Maurice Delfour 22 LW/RW Cobrio
Alexander Jager 24 AM/ST Pasarga
Konrad Lovelace 22 ST Nephara
SUBS
Fulco Salas 17 RB Pasarga
Tanya Green 20 CB Eura
Ronan Stenhouse 21 CDM Eura
Alex Wyatt 33 CM Eura
Chance Buckmaster 19 RM Audioslavia
Rob Ricketts 17 AM Eura
Lukas Stonemoore 21 ST Nephara
SPARTANGRAD
Manager: Walter Crasder (55, Eura)
Stadium: Olympic Stadium (Spartangrad, 104,773)
Walter Crasder is once again on a high following Spartangrad's title victory. They are now perhaps the most successful Euran club of the modern era, at least domestically, and Crasder can take at least some credit for that along with many of the current generation of the squad. Whether they can defend their title is a different question. This is a team that has given the impression of being run on full steam in the past two seasons. Several key players have now peaked and are past their best having won the big prize one last time - Lucan Palmisano, Nicholas Moran, Kyle Carter, Harry Gravesen and Mark Unterhausen are all the wrong side of thirty. They've also not yet replaced John Talbot, who has been the rock of their midfield for years but is now 32 and not getting any younger. Even Harvey Blake, who seems eternally young, is already 29. They will probably have enough in the tank to mount a title defence this season, but next summer might be a time for a serious rebuild.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Hansi Weschler 30 GK Cosumar
Thomas Uribe 27 RB Cosumar
Harvey Blake 29 CB Eura
Mark Unterhausen 31 CB Schottia
Alex Ingram 21 LB Eura
John Talbot 32 CDM Eura
Harry Gravesen 30 CM Eura
Clint Rogers 23 CAM Eura
Lauren Cheney 24 RW Brenecia
Lui Wceil 27 AM Farfadillis
Ciro Oljer 28 CF Audioslavia
Lucan Palmisano 32 ST Apox
SUBS
Mathis Woodgate 37 GK Brenecia
Kyle Carter 31 RB/LB Osarius
Laborc Szollossy 21 CB Pasarga
Tabor Csikos 21 CB/RB Pasarga
Johan Karlovic 23 CM Mercedini
Nicolás Morán 33 LM Valladares
ULSA
Manager: Gerhard Thunder (57, Nephara)
Stadium: Troutbridge (Ulsa, 97,460)
If the papers are to be believed, Gerhard Thunder is on borrowed time. His side improved slightly last season to finish fifth but still lag noticeably behind the title contenders. The signing of Kurtis Bastable is a big statement of intent in terms of closing that gap as soon as possible. Then again its not clear that another striker is what Ulsa needed with Valgard in his prime and Duffy not needing to be sold as he was, even if at 23 he is easily young enough to replace Valgard like he replaced Campbell. Their backline looks shaky; Coles is still top class and Lord has looked solid but Sumiile, a declining Leach and Potts do not make for a convincing centreback unit. If Thunder can work around the fraility of his defence, his side could finally thrive.
PLAYER AGE POSITION NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Hector Calixto 33 GK Audioslavia
Scott Coles 32 RB Eura
John Leach 33 CB Eura
Shrey Sumiile 25 CB Cosumar
James Lord 27 LB Eura
Monako Saroszi 25 RM Nephara
Pluto Blinkman 26 CM Apox
Carles Gorgas 23 AM Audioslavia
Rene Hahn 23 LW Pasarga
Romikk Valgard 30 ST Cosumar
Kurtis Bastable 23 CF Nephara
SUBS
Jason Potts 22 CB EOT
Adnan Szalai 34 AM/ST Nephara
Hugh Ilyess 32 CDM Eastfield Lodge
Vincente Dupont 30 CDM Audioslavia
Nolberto Dravon 17 RW EOT
Dominik Krause 32 LW Pasarga
UNIONEERS
Manager: Chris Granger (40, Eura)
Stadium: The Iron Shed (Harther, 45,390)
The departure of NIels Kruse to Revolutionaries was a big blow for Unioneers but not the end of the world. Chris Granger was a more than capable replacement and their squad fundamentally solid. Few pundits were shocked as they finished a respectable tenth last season. This could be another good season for Unioneers, with Niall Bremner now looking like a genuine goalscorer, a talented midfield and a Ethan Fleming getting better every game between the sticks. Unfortunately the loss of captain Vincent Robshaw mid-table might be their ceiling.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Ethan Fleming 26 GK Eura
Jorj Pjetrovic 25 RB Cosumar
Harold Knight 23 CB Eura
James Jones 24 CB Blaneu
Joe Sullivan 28 LWB Eura
Hugo Toring 24 CM Schottia
Claudian Polastri 22 CM Cosumar
Jakob Larsen 23 CM Valanora
Zoban Ajao 25 ST SRS
Niall Bremner 25 ST Brenecia
Timur Salai 23 ST Pasarga
SUBS
Sigimund Firmin 21 LB Darmen
Pablo Mane 31 CM Sameba
Daniel Sorrentine 29 RB Nephara
USMER
Manager: Lyle Heath (53, Eura)
Stadium: Ludvik Ring (Usmer, 69,492)
In another year Usmer might not have survived on 39 points. It was good enough this time around. However Lyle Heath will surely be determined to improve on a 17th placed finish and prove Usmer can be more than just perennial relegation strugglers. There wasn't much investment in the squad in the summer but they have depth already,a solid starting lineup and a proven quality goalscorer in Josh Holmes. This squad has a very real chance of upping their game this season.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Elliot Palmer 20 GK Eura
Mason Acuna 27 CB Helving
Patrick Carson 30 CB Eura
Christine Philippousis 27 CB Nephara
James Bailey 26 RW Eura
Sharon Erskine 20 CDM Eura
Christos van Rossen 23 CM Pasarga
Craig Mawson 29 CM Brenecia
Donal Chance 23 LW Brenecia
Josh Holmes 33 AM/CF Eura
Taymund Haynes 28 ST Eura
SUBS
Alex Coles 19 CB Eura
Kari Bardiche 25 LB Nephara
Edith Herron 23 RB Chromatika
Kira Lorinc 16 CM Pasarga
Leonard White 16 CM Eura
Anna Sibucic 29 ST Cosumar
Tardos Gulyas 22 ST Pasarga
WHITEPILL
Manager: John Spartan (46, Eura)
Stadium: White Coast Road (Whitepill, 31,200)
Nearly two decades ago Whitepill ventured into the Gold League, and didn't stay there long. Since then the club hasn't changed much bar a minor ugprade to their stadium, increasing its capacity by a few thousand seats. What has changed is that they have a genuine Euran footballing legend as manager. John Spartan had to cut his teeth as a coach somewhere and Whitepill seemed like the place to do it. After a couple of years groundwork he's got them to the big time, pipping Nukon to promotion on the final day of the season. He has an exciting, attacking side playing a 4-3-3. Hinodjin strike partners Oshiro and Ramone have the potential to make a big impression in the top flight, bolstered as well by the addition of Harry Moore to support them. Most impressively Spartan has persuaded Euran international of many years Anthony Townsend to join on a free after his contract in Farfadillis was run down. This is a major coup for a club of Whitepill's side. Question marks remain over whether this team has enough experience to survive the Gold League but at least they'll be exciting to watch.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Arthur Corbett 22 GK Eura
Rico Silla 20 RB Eura/Sameba
Anika Hogan 23 CB Eura
Ezra Morris 23 CB Eura
Kyle Lowe 21 LB Eura
Travis Coffey 16 RM Eura
Anthony Townsend 29 RM Eura
Mary Graves 22 CM Eura
Sora Yamashita 21 CDM/CM Hinode
Ryota Oshiro 22 ST Hinode
Hiro Ramone 22 ST Hinode
SUBS
Shane Keeling 28 CM Eura
Harry Moore 24 AM/CF Audioslavia
Gabirel Zozaia 17 CF Audioslavia
WORKERS UNION
Manager: Michael Robertson (57, Eura)
Stadium: Workers Athletic Achievement Stadia (Callodown, 80,000)
Under Michael Robertson, Workers Union have bounced back quickly from relegation and look well set to start again. They have a strong midfield featuring big names such as Demetriev, Ojala and Stroud, plus two proven young Euran strikers and the newly added Nepharim Zara Cormann. Their problem is the defence, which wasn't strong enough to stay up before and looks weak again now.
PLAYER AGE PSTN. NATIONALITY
STARTERS
Sergio Salas 22 GK Darmen
Cyrille Ventura 27 CB/RB Chromatika
Marvin Paige 25 CB Eura
Kari Hollows 27 CB Brenecia
Kilian Frazer 23 LB Eura
Hakki Ojala 30 RM/LM Cosumar
Ruslan Demetriev 30 CM Kelessek
Cody Fraser 25 CM Audioslavia
Constance Stroud 21 LW Brenecia
Zara Cormann 24 ST Nephara
Isaac Tomlinson 23 ST Eura
SUBS
Ritchie Mallick 16 CB Eura
Asentzio Sesma 26 RM/LM Audioslavia
Gusti Rodolfo 21 CM Mercedini
Darius Purcell 19 ST Eura
