May 2004
Our final match of the season is at Exeter, and we again field a mixed bag. We’re getting some good time for unproven young players like defender Nick Barnes and midfielder Craig Russell, and that’s valuable. We come up flat here, and give this final match away – but our season goal has already been reached.
Exeter 3, Lincoln 0.
Here is the top of the Third Division table at the end of the season:
Code:
W D L GF GA Pts
Tranmere 32 4 10 101 46 100
Lincoln 28 9 9 82 41 93
Port Vale 28 4 14 92 53 88
- - - (auto promotion line) - - -
Rushden 24 8 14 86 61 80
Doncaster 23 10 13 96 72 79
Boston Utd 23 8 15 89 74 77
Hartlepool 22 8 16 60 61 74
- - - (promotion playoff line) - - -
Bristol Rovers 22 4 20 67 56 70
Mansfield 20 9 17 71 61 69
Rochdale 20 9 17 89 84 69
So, we couldn’t have caught Tranmere even had we stayed aggressive through the whole season – they finished strong. In the playoff, I think Doncaster might be the side to beat – they have played well lately, although Rushden did make a big springtime move to get into position, and they should have little trouble with Hartlepool in the opener.
I make an offer to Rochdale, trying to secure one of their midfielders. Rochdale had expressed interest in my forward Jamie Barnes, who is still a bit unsettled with us. I offer Barnes and some cash for their 19 y/o midfielder Nick Thompson. However, they aren’t willing to let Thompson go, and they reject our offer.
Peterborough are in dire straits financially, and are looking to move out some contracts. I home in on Kevin Whittle, who was fairly effective for them as a left midfielder and forward last season. Plus, he is willing to leave to help out the club. I put in a transfer offer of £35,000 – everything we have left in the budget. Peterborough ant £90,000 for him – much more than I can afford. I try again with £35,000, but they decline.
In the Third Division final, Rushden take out Doncaster 3-0, and they will advance to the Second Division with us.
Lincoln have been given £230,000 for their final position in the Third Division.
Rochdale’s Nick Thompson is squirming a bit about his contract – and I renew my efforts to land him. I offer £26,000 for him, which is most of our remaining transfer budget.
Tranmere Rovers’ John Walker has won the Englis Third Division Manager of the Year award. QuikSand of Lincoln City came in second, and Paul Woods of Port Vale came third.
This essentially wraps up our season. We’ll have a look at the final player performance grid:
Code:
Keepers Age Wage Value Top Skills App Con AvgR
Darren Baines 27 £300 £16K Rushing Out,Eccentricity 24 15 7.33
Steve Howarth 18 £275 £16K Determ,Stamina,Bravery,Agility 21 22 7.28
Alan Ryan 24 £550 £18K Kicking,Comm,OneonOnes 5 9 7.00
Defenders Age Wage Value Top Skills App G A MoM AvgR
Martin Gibbons 23 £700 £140K Decisions,Determ,Stamina 40 0 1 5 7.52
Michael Kelly 21 £1.0K £16K Stamina,Finishing,Aggression 41 3 2 0 7.09
David Francis 21 £1.1K £18K WorkRate,Determ,Aggression 38 0 3 1 7.10
Andy Davies 21 £375 £16K Heading,Bravery,Marking,Jumping 35(1) 0 2 7 7.44
Andrew Cross 23 £160 £16K Heading,Jumping,Strength 23 0 2 4 7.52
Ryan Hughes 16 £ 75 Heading,Creativity,Positioning 10 0 0 0 7.40
Andy Hughes 20 £300 £16K Determ,Teamwork,WorkRate 2 0 0 0 6.00
Ian Hutchinson 26 £475 £16K Determ,Marking,Bravery,Jumping 0(10) 0 0 0 7.09
Midfielders Age Wage Value Top Skills App G A MoM AvgR
Gary Webb 24 £1.0K £16K Passing,Technique,Stamina,Flair 40 6 2 0 7.22
Richard Lewis 21 £1.0K £16K Dribbling,Acceleration,Pace 40 9 3 1 7.25
Lee Williamson 22 £400 £40K WashingUp,Jumping,Bravery,SetPieces 37 19 13 8 7.67
Jason Wilson 20 £950 £40K WorkRate,Determ,Aggression,Infl 31(6) 1 6 0 7.54
Andy Allen 19 £ 90 £16K Anticipation,Stamina,WorkRate 23(12) 0 5 0 6.80
Lee Harris 16 £ 85 WorkRate,Marking,Stamina,Balance 8(8) 1 1 0 6.75
Paul Warner 16 £ 80 Passing,Heading,Technique,Aggression 3(8) 0 1 0 7.09
Craig Russell 16 £ 90 Dribbing,Heading,Crossing,Teamwork 11(2) 0 0 0 7.07
Andy May 22 Loaned In OffTheBall,Teamwork,WorkRate,Bravery 13 2 2 0 6.76
Adam Newman 18 £ 80 £18K WorkRate,Determ,Aggression,OffBall 5(1) 0 0 0 6.83
Mark Oakes 26 £400 £16K Determination,LongThrows,Bravery 3 0 0 0 6.33
Jamie Mason 26 £800 £16K Determ,WorkRate,OffTheBall,Balance 1 0 0 0 ---
Forwards Age Wage Value Top Skills App G A MoM AvgR
Alan Jones 18 £ 80 £16K Creativity,Agility,Balance,Infl 29 8 5 3 7.68
Matthew Jackson 15 £ 70 Stamina,Aggression,Bravery,Finishing 21(3) 14 10 5 7.41
Chris Morgan 29 £500 £16K Determ,OffTheBall,Agility,WorkRate 21(4) 13 16 2 7.48
Jamie Barnes 21 £550 £28K Pace,Crossing,Positioning,Finishing 18(6) 9 8 0 7.29
John Garner 16 £110 Strength,Stamina,Bravery,Flair 5(1) 2 3 0 6.83
Pretty good performance from here, across the board. We got 7+ ratings from every starter, and quite a number of our players rank in the division leaders in match rating. We’re strong defensively, pretty good up front, and passable in the middle, I’d say.
Alan Atkinson, one of our coaches, has announced his intention to retire after this season. So, we will be looking for another coach to bring to the staff. I first ask Atkinson if he will reconsider, and stay for another season. He agrees to think it over.
This puts a “wrap” on our 2003-04 season – a success by really any measure. Now, we will have to see if we measure up with the competition in the Second Division, as we are movin’ on up!