JimmyJeffers
Player Valuation: £70m
If the Swansea mascot gets harpooned at half time I’ve a fair idea who the culprit is
Former Everton Centre Forward Duncan Ferguson steps into management.....
- Thread starter The Penalty Box Dancer
- Start date
The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
Wigan Athletic vs AFC Fylde
2nd December 2031
Second vs First and a chance for Fylde to take all points and increase the gap to five points at the top. Michael Beale's side were in excellent form having not lost in 12 matches. John Jones and Euan Henderson are in incredible form and can be devastating down the left at the DW Stadium. Wigan dumped Fylde out of the League Cup earlier this season but today could be different as both teams are competing for top spot. Wilson took the ball down well and held off two Wigan players as he came forward and played it to Bytheway, he turned and made space for the shot with his left foot outside the box and struck it with venom past Price to put Fylde in front! It was a great start but Fylde conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box two minutes later and Skelton put it over the wall and into the net to level. It was bad news for Fylde just before half-time after Gibson was involved in a robust challenge and stayed down holding his shoulder, he was stretchered off and McPherson replaced him. Wigan had Fylde penned back in the second half and Fylde were keeping men behind the ball waiting to win it back, Wigan were trying to carve the opening. Wilson won the ball back from Wigan's Ewan Henderson and played it to Bytheway on the right but the ball was ran out of play ten minutes into the second half. Wigan cleared the danger after intercepting Morton's pass and McPherson took the ball and held off Sarpong-Amamoo but played for the foul and the referee gave Sarpong-Amamoo his second yellow card! Fifteen minutes and a chance for Fylde to grab the winner. Ferguson pushed his men forward but Wigan camped in their own half and didn't allow Fylde to play football. Wigan done a good job to hold off Fylde who rarely created any decent chances. Ferguson was frustrated his team couldn't get the victory here today but The Coasters remain top of the table.
DF: Sam's injury looks a bad one, he was unable to move and from what I've heard he has a damaged spine. We'll know the full extent tomorrow but it is a bad injury. He'll be a big loss and it's up to Kenny McPherson to show us what he can do. To get a draw against a very good Wigan team who have a team full of Championship players is a positive. It's a shame we couldn't get the win but it's a good point away at the title favourites.
PLAYER RATINGS
AFC Fylde vs Rochdale
6th December 2031
Rochdale were floating around mid-table after being promoted to League One this season. Archie Frear who was on loan from Wolves was having an impact in the division. Sam Gibson suffered a damaged spine in the Wigan game and was ruled out for the season. Ferguson stated he would be looking for a Central defender in the January transfer window. It was a quiet start for both teams and John Jones seemed right up for it, he was booked early on and it took a word from Duncan Ferguson telling his star left back to settle down. Tyrone O'Neill epitomised the frustration in the first half when Hutson played the ball to him in the box and it got stuck under his feet before being cleared away. Three minutes into the first half and Fylde kept the ball around the Rochdale box, Wilson was trying to carve open a chance and found Jones on the left who dribbled into the area and hit a left footed shot but the keeper turned it away, it looked goal bound. Hutson was playing well and done well to pick up the loose ball, he played it to Bytheway on the edge of the box and he tried the shot, it deflected off a Rochdale player before falling for Jack Quinn who struck first time into the bottom corner! His first goal for Fylde! On as a second half substitute! The only goal of the game and it gives Fylde the three points which extends their lead at the top by four points!
DF: It was difficult at times but the breakthrough came and gave us that ssurance then. Great finish from Jack and he'll be delighted to get his first goal for the club.
PLAYER RATINGS
AFC Fylde vs Yeovil Town
F.A. Cup Second Round Replay
10th December 2031
A home tie against Swansea City awaits the winner in January. Ferguson made a few changes to the starting lineup with Ellis McKimm-Forster, Declan Marshall, Victor Oto'o and Jack Quinn all starting. Early pressure from Fylde inside the first minute, the ball was played wide to Morton who supported Oto'o on the right side and he crossed into the box, Henderson got up for the header and directed it towards the bottom corner and the keeper got hands to it but couldn't stop it going in! 1-0 to Fylde! It was all Yeovil in the next 20 minutes, Dube and his defence had their work cut out but managed to keep Yeovil out with some solid defensive work. John Jones recovered the ball and played it to Feeney, Feeney took an awful touch and lost it to Daniel Pike, McPherson tried to get across and Pike squared it for England who slotted inside the box tro make it 1-1. Terrible from Feeney. Jordan Wilson was on for McKimm-Forster in the second half. It was looking better in the second half for Fylde with Henderson carrying the team. He almost got the second with another header after Jones' cross on 54 minutes. John Jones took the corner on 62 minutes but it was cleared away after Quinn went up for the header, Uttridge chased it down and played it to Wilson, he had a look up and thought about the shot but played it wide to Morton who was inside the area and he blasted it with his right foot, the keeper tried to push it out but could only palm it into the side of the net, 2-1! Tyromne O'Neill came on for Euan Henderson and had an instant impact playing on the left, on 70 minutes he met Morton's cross at the back post with a great header to make it 3-1! Great ball from Morton to find O'Neill. Yeovil couldn't find a way back in it and it was Fylde progressing to round three!
PLAYER RATINGS
2nd December 2031
=
Second vs First and a chance for Fylde to take all points and increase the gap to five points at the top. Michael Beale's side were in excellent form having not lost in 12 matches. John Jones and Euan Henderson are in incredible form and can be devastating down the left at the DW Stadium. Wigan dumped Fylde out of the League Cup earlier this season but today could be different as both teams are competing for top spot. Wilson took the ball down well and held off two Wigan players as he came forward and played it to Bytheway, he turned and made space for the shot with his left foot outside the box and struck it with venom past Price to put Fylde in front! It was a great start but Fylde conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box two minutes later and Skelton put it over the wall and into the net to level. It was bad news for Fylde just before half-time after Gibson was involved in a robust challenge and stayed down holding his shoulder, he was stretchered off and McPherson replaced him. Wigan had Fylde penned back in the second half and Fylde were keeping men behind the ball waiting to win it back, Wigan were trying to carve the opening. Wilson won the ball back from Wigan's Ewan Henderson and played it to Bytheway on the right but the ball was ran out of play ten minutes into the second half. Wigan cleared the danger after intercepting Morton's pass and McPherson took the ball and held off Sarpong-Amamoo but played for the foul and the referee gave Sarpong-Amamoo his second yellow card! Fifteen minutes and a chance for Fylde to grab the winner. Ferguson pushed his men forward but Wigan camped in their own half and didn't allow Fylde to play football. Wigan done a good job to hold off Fylde who rarely created any decent chances. Ferguson was frustrated his team couldn't get the victory here today but The Coasters remain top of the table.
DF: Sam's injury looks a bad one, he was unable to move and from what I've heard he has a damaged spine. We'll know the full extent tomorrow but it is a bad injury. He'll be a big loss and it's up to Kenny McPherson to show us what he can do. To get a draw against a very good Wigan team who have a team full of Championship players is a positive. It's a shame we couldn't get the win but it's a good point away at the title favourites.
PLAYER RATINGS
AFC Fylde vs Rochdale
6th December 2031
=
Rochdale were floating around mid-table after being promoted to League One this season. Archie Frear who was on loan from Wolves was having an impact in the division. Sam Gibson suffered a damaged spine in the Wigan game and was ruled out for the season. Ferguson stated he would be looking for a Central defender in the January transfer window. It was a quiet start for both teams and John Jones seemed right up for it, he was booked early on and it took a word from Duncan Ferguson telling his star left back to settle down. Tyrone O'Neill epitomised the frustration in the first half when Hutson played the ball to him in the box and it got stuck under his feet before being cleared away. Three minutes into the first half and Fylde kept the ball around the Rochdale box, Wilson was trying to carve open a chance and found Jones on the left who dribbled into the area and hit a left footed shot but the keeper turned it away, it looked goal bound. Hutson was playing well and done well to pick up the loose ball, he played it to Bytheway on the edge of the box and he tried the shot, it deflected off a Rochdale player before falling for Jack Quinn who struck first time into the bottom corner! His first goal for Fylde! On as a second half substitute! The only goal of the game and it gives Fylde the three points which extends their lead at the top by four points!
DF: It was difficult at times but the breakthrough came and gave us that ssurance then. Great finish from Jack and he'll be delighted to get his first goal for the club.
PLAYER RATINGS
AFC Fylde vs Yeovil Town
F.A. Cup Second Round Replay
10th December 2031
=
A home tie against Swansea City awaits the winner in January. Ferguson made a few changes to the starting lineup with Ellis McKimm-Forster, Declan Marshall, Victor Oto'o and Jack Quinn all starting. Early pressure from Fylde inside the first minute, the ball was played wide to Morton who supported Oto'o on the right side and he crossed into the box, Henderson got up for the header and directed it towards the bottom corner and the keeper got hands to it but couldn't stop it going in! 1-0 to Fylde! It was all Yeovil in the next 20 minutes, Dube and his defence had their work cut out but managed to keep Yeovil out with some solid defensive work. John Jones recovered the ball and played it to Feeney, Feeney took an awful touch and lost it to Daniel Pike, McPherson tried to get across and Pike squared it for England who slotted inside the box tro make it 1-1. Terrible from Feeney. Jordan Wilson was on for McKimm-Forster in the second half. It was looking better in the second half for Fylde with Henderson carrying the team. He almost got the second with another header after Jones' cross on 54 minutes. John Jones took the corner on 62 minutes but it was cleared away after Quinn went up for the header, Uttridge chased it down and played it to Wilson, he had a look up and thought about the shot but played it wide to Morton who was inside the area and he blasted it with his right foot, the keeper tried to push it out but could only palm it into the side of the net, 2-1! Tyromne O'Neill came on for Euan Henderson and had an instant impact playing on the left, on 70 minutes he met Morton's cross at the back post with a great header to make it 3-1! Great ball from Morton to find O'Neill. Yeovil couldn't find a way back in it and it was Fylde progressing to round three!
PLAYER RATINGS
LEE LOFTHOUSE LEAVES AFC FYLDE
Lee Lofthouse has decided to leave the club since joining the academy at 12 years old and made his senior debut aged 16 years old in the National League against Salford City. Despite scoring 29 career goals so far, he never hit the net for Fylde and was considered their brightest youth prospect in the last 10 years. Kirkham born Lofthouse had a successful loan spell at FC United in 2027/28 scoring 18 goals in 41 appearances keeping the club in the National League in their promotion season but as Fylde rose through the leagues, Lofthouse just wasn't up to the standard of League One football and felt it was time to move on for the good of his career.
DF: Lee is probably the hardest working player I have worked with in my time as a coach. He put a lot of the experienced professionals to shame in training but he was unable to replicate that on the football pitch. His determination would be an asset to another football club and I want to see him succeed. He still is only young at 23 and has his best years ahead of him.
Thanks for the regular updates TPBD.
Keep up the good work.
UTFC
Keep up the good work.
UTFC
The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
LEAGUE TABLE
Absolute spanner that bloke. Zero goals in 486 games is an utter disgrace.
Yarrgh
Player Valuation: £70m
If you harpoon him, is his blood not that of a coaster?
It'd be more of a herring brine than blood.
Old Rollmop Lofthouse.
Yarrgh
Player Valuation: £70m
Leave his ma out of it. She's suffered enough with her briney affliction.
The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
I had the opportunity to sit down with Kevin Ward. Interview coming very soon.
Hope you harpooned the carpetbagger.
The Penalty Box Dancer
Player Valuation: £35m
Interview with Kevin Ward
As you walk through the Mill Farm football stadium, the walls are decorated with photographs of club legend Danny Rowe, photos of the team that won promotion from the National League in 2022 to the Football League, the promotion to League One in 2028, the League One title winning team of 2029 and countless photos of the manager and player of the month awards collected over the years. The corridor then leads to the chairman's office once occupied by Fylde fan David Haythornthwaite who promised the fans promotion by 2022 and it was duly achieved. Fast forward almost ten years and Fylde are under new ownership and are in a different stature to that previously. Kevin Ward opens the office door and offers me a chair at his desk. Ward took the reigns of the club two years ago and in the January of 2030 oversaw the transfer of Jordan Wilson from Hearts for £350k. The following January window saw Mick Wisdom and Neil Foster leave the club for a combined £600k and Jimmy Dube signed for £98k. In the midst of a promotion campaign, the club was rocked to the core and Fylde missed out on play-offs finishing the season in 9th. This added fuel to the fire for the resignation of Kevin Ward with the Fylde fans fearing the club was doomed. Ward sanctioned the transfer of highly rated left back John Jones from Leicester for £400k and the signing in January of left winger Joe Donnelly. Ward stated the club were looking to bring in a defender in the forthcoming window and whilst the club sat top of the League One table entering the Christmas period, the fans discontentedness was temporarily at bay. "I'm a fan of the club, first and foremost" Ward stated. "But I am a business man and there is a lot of money at stake here. I had to allow Foster and Wisdom to leave as the club was not bringing in enough revenue from player sales. Foster and Wisdom both came here on free transfers and as good as they were, they held a high valuation." I asked Ward about where he wants the club to be in the next five years and whether that can be achieved on a shoestring budget. "My aim is the Premier League, what chairman doesn't want that? We came this far from the National League North and nobody expected us to reach League One so soon. Ferguson has the credentials to make it happen. I don't know what you refer to as a shoestring budget, we have spent money and will continue to spend wisely on the right players." Ward was confident Fylde could reach the heights of the Premier League but we saw what happened in The Championship. "We almost survived and I think if we stayed up that season we would be pushing on now to mid-table. I was criticised for not backing the manager but we had limited funds and we wasn't profiting from player sales. I get it's a catch 22 but look at us now, we exploited the loan market and we are top of the table." Ward gave me the impression that Ferguson's job was difficult. The manager is being asked to achieve miracles and not being allowed to build a squad. Player sales can be good for the club financially but if Ward wants the club sitting at the top table then he needs to allow Ferguson to retain his best players. "I want the club to be making money from trophies, we have dropped out of the EFL Trophy too easily year on year, we need to get to Wembley. I'm confident we could sell over thirty thousand tickets there. We are currently enjoying a cup run, a home tie with Swansea in the third round, they are manager-less and they are beatable, can you imagine what could happen if we progress to the fourth round?" It was clear to see Ward's ambition and he was fond of Duncan Ferguson. What would happen if Fylde failed on promotion this season? "We rebuild again, we keep aiming for it, Ferguson has signed a contract extension by a further two years, I fully expect him still here in two years time whether that be playing in League One or The Championship." Before I left I asked Ward if he had a message for the supporters of the club. He sat up in his chair and instructed me to ensure I got every word. "Together we are one, we are one club and we are one fanbase. We all want to see the same thing and that is success on and off the pitch. The fans can expect the club to flourish. We have invested in the backroom staff of the club and improved our training facilities. The stadium has been expanded and if we reach the big time, we could eventually leave Mill Farm for a state of the art football stadium. As long as we are playing in League One, I will keep the ticket prices competitive and be an affluent member of the community here in Fylde. This will benefit us all and we want to be a club that can one day be travelling to Old Trafford and Anfield for the the big occasions. We work tirelessly at the club to bring you a fantastic match day experience. The club shop has been expanded and we are always looking at big commercial opportunities." I concluded my interview with Mr Ward and thanked him for his openness. He is still a fan of the club but he has an eye for a profit. The concern for Fylde is if an offer comes in for a player that's too good to refuse, will Ward be accepting it? He has ambition and wants to see the club progress, he is certainly here for the long haul and wants Fylde to be an established Premier League club. Can that be achieved if Ferguson is hustling in the transfer market bringing in last minute loan deals? It may work temporarily but it means a new squad of players have to gel each season.
As you walk through the Mill Farm football stadium, the walls are decorated with photographs of club legend Danny Rowe, photos of the team that won promotion from the National League in 2022 to the Football League, the promotion to League One in 2028, the League One title winning team of 2029 and countless photos of the manager and player of the month awards collected over the years. The corridor then leads to the chairman's office once occupied by Fylde fan David Haythornthwaite who promised the fans promotion by 2022 and it was duly achieved. Fast forward almost ten years and Fylde are under new ownership and are in a different stature to that previously. Kevin Ward opens the office door and offers me a chair at his desk. Ward took the reigns of the club two years ago and in the January of 2030 oversaw the transfer of Jordan Wilson from Hearts for £350k. The following January window saw Mick Wisdom and Neil Foster leave the club for a combined £600k and Jimmy Dube signed for £98k. In the midst of a promotion campaign, the club was rocked to the core and Fylde missed out on play-offs finishing the season in 9th. This added fuel to the fire for the resignation of Kevin Ward with the Fylde fans fearing the club was doomed. Ward sanctioned the transfer of highly rated left back John Jones from Leicester for £400k and the signing in January of left winger Joe Donnelly. Ward stated the club were looking to bring in a defender in the forthcoming window and whilst the club sat top of the League One table entering the Christmas period, the fans discontentedness was temporarily at bay. "I'm a fan of the club, first and foremost" Ward stated. "But I am a business man and there is a lot of money at stake here. I had to allow Foster and Wisdom to leave as the club was not bringing in enough revenue from player sales. Foster and Wisdom both came here on free transfers and as good as they were, they held a high valuation." I asked Ward about where he wants the club to be in the next five years and whether that can be achieved on a shoestring budget. "My aim is the Premier League, what chairman doesn't want that? We came this far from the National League North and nobody expected us to reach League One so soon. Ferguson has the credentials to make it happen. I don't know what you refer to as a shoestring budget, we have spent money and will continue to spend wisely on the right players." Ward was confident Fylde could reach the heights of the Premier League but we saw what happened in The Championship. "We almost survived and I think if we stayed up that season we would be pushing on now to mid-table. I was criticised for not backing the manager but we had limited funds and we wasn't profiting from player sales. I get it's a catch 22 but look at us now, we exploited the loan market and we are top of the table." Ward gave me the impression that Ferguson's job was difficult. The manager is being asked to achieve miracles and not being allowed to build a squad. Player sales can be good for the club financially but if Ward wants the club sitting at the top table then he needs to allow Ferguson to retain his best players. "I want the club to be making money from trophies, we have dropped out of the EFL Trophy too easily year on year, we need to get to Wembley. I'm confident we could sell over thirty thousand tickets there. We are currently enjoying a cup run, a home tie with Swansea in the third round, they are manager-less and they are beatable, can you imagine what could happen if we progress to the fourth round?" It was clear to see Ward's ambition and he was fond of Duncan Ferguson. What would happen if Fylde failed on promotion this season? "We rebuild again, we keep aiming for it, Ferguson has signed a contract extension by a further two years, I fully expect him still here in two years time whether that be playing in League One or The Championship." Before I left I asked Ward if he had a message for the supporters of the club. He sat up in his chair and instructed me to ensure I got every word. "Together we are one, we are one club and we are one fanbase. We all want to see the same thing and that is success on and off the pitch. The fans can expect the club to flourish. We have invested in the backroom staff of the club and improved our training facilities. The stadium has been expanded and if we reach the big time, we could eventually leave Mill Farm for a state of the art football stadium. As long as we are playing in League One, I will keep the ticket prices competitive and be an affluent member of the community here in Fylde. This will benefit us all and we want to be a club that can one day be travelling to Old Trafford and Anfield for the the big occasions. We work tirelessly at the club to bring you a fantastic match day experience. The club shop has been expanded and we are always looking at big commercial opportunities." I concluded my interview with Mr Ward and thanked him for his openness. He is still a fan of the club but he has an eye for a profit. The concern for Fylde is if an offer comes in for a player that's too good to refuse, will Ward be accepting it? He has ambition and wants to see the club progress, he is certainly here for the long haul and wants Fylde to be an established Premier League club. Can that be achieved if Ferguson is hustling in the transfer market bringing in last minute loan deals? It may work temporarily but it means a new squad of players have to gel each season.
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