FM24 England Level 10 Challenge

[vikeologist]

Vikeologist's Canterbury 2024/5 Tales

Won the Southern Counties East League Premier Division and Southern Counties East League Cup fairly easily, although I had to spend an eternity finding new players.

The nice thing about the non-contract element is that you don’t have to worry about mistakes when signing players.

A year ago the board said they were looking for a stadium in Canterbury, (we’re exiled in Margate) but I’m not sure how they’d pay for it. We had the second lowest attendance in the division at 78, and the increase from 50ish the season before was probably only because of our success.

No sooner do I type that than they announce a new 1,312 capacity stadium to be ready in a year at a cost of a million. It will be interesting to see what happens to our attendances then, although hopefully it will coincide with another promotion.

 

Top Goalscorer – Kai Bartolo – 21

He was my starting striker for the first half of the season, but he’s the backup now.

Highest Average Rating (minimum 10 matches played) – Jared Wardley – 7.33

Bit of a surprise. He’s a young, promising, but not great yet, attacking midfielder.

Man of The Match - Nico Cotton – 7

He won all the categories last season, but was out injured for 3 months this season.

Most Valuable Player–

Honestly, nobody really stands out.

Season	Division						Position	Notes						
23/24	Southern Counties East League Division 1		1st		Won league on last day of season
24/25	Southern Counties East League Premier Division 		1st		League / County Cup double
25/26	

Southern Counties East League Division 1	15
Southern Counties East League Premier Division 	20
Southern Counties East League Cup	10
	
	
	
Total	45

 

[marco90li]

Hi everyone

i decided to take this challenge

i was hoping to do it with London Samurai Rovers, but it was already taken so i choose: LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY EAGLES FC

i'm the invisible manager ahahaha

Someone is able to do the kits for my team?

Edited December 22, 2023 by marco90li

[Hanxvirenk208]

Season 2:  promoted to level 8 after winning the Play-Off.

[Hitbox]

Season three done with a league and cup double.

Some great progress made thanks to a solid run in the FA Cup before we narrowly lost to Stevenage in the second round. 

Facilities started at 3, 2, 1, 1 (out of 20)

Still waiting to find the site for our new stadium. It's a ridiculous size for this level - I'd be shocked of it'll actually be this big!

We will likely need another decent run in the FA Cup to keep the money coming in.

[Mochard]

Not my best start to a season. Had no money for wages so I struggled to find anyone who wanted to sign for $20 per game. The board expected me to get promoted so finishing 7th is no bueno and I have to get 8pts in my first 5 games of next season to keep my job. Shouldn't be a problem but you never know! Got to the quarter finals in the United League Cup but no points for me this season. However I did get the manager of the month for April so that is something!

[Siepe1990]

Merry Christmas to all!

Perfect 2nd season, couldn't have wished for more. Almost managed an unbeaten season, but the boys slacked off once the league was won. We managed to retain the Northern Counties East League Cup and to win the FA Vase after a thriller against Tooting & Mitcham United. The most stunning achievement however was reaching the FA Cup proper - we sadly got kicked out immediately by Gateshead, but managed to get some nice scalps along the way (AFC Telford United, Curzon Ashton and South Shields), which gives me good hopes for next season!

[Mochard]

OK so that didn't go to plan!

However, a month later I interviewed and took the first available job from a team that started and is still in Level 10 leagues.

[lionel messi]

7 minutes ago, Mochard said:

OK so that didn't go to plan!

However, a month later I interviewed and took the first available job from a team that started and is still in Level 10 leagues.

sorry to hear you was sacked but good luck in your new job

[samrnpage]

Spartans 26/27 - see's the Spartans youth get another promotion 

Was an extremely frustrating start to the season, my squad wasn't good enough so I was constantly signing players, releasing players, replacing players. It was very difficult, but eventually after some trial and error a few players started to cement their place and I got a massive run in November and December winning every league game. From then it was all about keeping the chasing pack at bay.

Lost the league cup in the final. 

Again, attendances are a huge issue. My league average was 91 for a level 8 side, I doubt many clubs have ever had lower than that at this level. I am minus -£40,000 in debt. I am hoping I can get up to at least 250 average attendance next season. 

[eren39]

Second season over. We played another great season. Champions of United Counties League Premier Division South. Cup run was not the best but hope next season we can do better.

After Midseason things got difficult because lots of good player left our club. Exited for season 3.

[vikeologist]

Vikeologist's Canterbury 2025/6 Tales

For most of the season we ‘d skirted around the top of the table, but rarely actually top. I thought I was only in the hunt for a playoff spot.

However with 2 matches to go we found ourselves in a pack of 3 on 72 points. We all won, meaning we needed to win our last match.

Actually we didn’t because the other 2 only drew, but we won anyway for my 3^rd consecutive league title.

Things probably change form now. For one thing we move into a new stadium back home in canterbury before the new season, although I expect there’ll be some last minute delays. It will be interesting to see what happens to our attendances. Our average has risen from 48 to 167 over the 3 seasons, but the league average is only 111. We’re going to need a big increase in attendance or cup runs to pay for the stadium.

The player awards seem silly with players coming and going so much, but nonetheless.

Top Goalscorer - Harrison Nee – 37

I did sign a striker who’s supposed to be slightly better mid-season, but he didn’t get off to a good start so I went back to tried and trusted Nee.

Highest Average Rating (minimum 10 matches played) – Harrison Nee – 7.44

Man of The Match - Harrison Nee – 8

Most Valuable Player– Harrison Nee

Turns out that was an easy decision, but I suspect that Nee won’t be able to take us much further.

Season	Division						Position	Notes						
23/24	Southern Counties East League Division 1		1st		Won league on last day of season
24/25	Southern Counties East League Premier Division 		1st		League / County Cup double
25/26	Isthmian League South East Division			1st		Won league on last day of season
26/27	Isthmian League Premier Division

Southern Counties East League Division 1	15
Southern Counties East League Premier Division 	20
Southern Counties East League Cup	10
Isthmian League South East Division	30
	
	
Total	75

 

[DarkMarkElk]

Yarm & Eaglescliffe 2025/2026

Had a little wobble at the start so I thought I'd go all FM21 and make myself a strikerless tactic due to my strikers not being able to hit a cows backside with a banjo, it worked far batter than expected in the league as I won it at a canter, I need a good FA Cup run next season as the finances are looking shaky 

 TROPHIES - 3

POINTS - 65

 

[Waldo the Bear]

Dobswall Season 2024/25 

Much easier season for us this year being semi-pro was a big part of that. Recruited well, won the league with 3 games up our sleeves. Then won the cup to do the double. 

Edited December 28, 2023 by Waldo the Bear

[Hitbox]

4th season done and another promotion and league win. The success has clearly got to the board's heads as they are expecting a win in the Vanarama South next season. Hopefully our run continues.

 

[kamacdonaldphoto]

I held off on committing to the team until I knew that I could make it through the first season. We bounced around mid-table too long, dropping too many points, so we ended up losing the league by one point. In our second game against Bourne Town, we took the lead in the 80th minute, just to give it away and have to settle for the tie on an 87th minute goal from 25 yards out. We won't even talk about the cups.

[Azzo]

Season two finished with three trophies! Biggest issue by far is the inability to sign actual contracts, i lost multiple players in the starting eleven. Does anyone know when i can start giving the players a weekly salary? Average attendance 243.

[lionel messi]

31 minutes ago, Azzo said:

Season two finished with three trophies! Biggest issue by far is the inability to sign actual contracts, i lost multiple players in the starting eleven. Does anyone know when i can start giving the players a weekly salary? Average attendance 243.

you can start offering part-time contracts once you secure promotion to tier 7

 

[Mochard]

This season we had a board takeover but no investment and no money. They even took out a $16k loan. The board wanted me to not finish bottom and on the final game of the season I managed a win to move me up to 2nd bottom. Going to totally revamp the squad and shift some of this dead weight. With an average attendance of 49, I am not sure where I am going to get any money from. I need a good cup run but not sure how much money that would actually get me!

 

[lionel messi]

3 hours ago, Mochard said:

This season we had a board takeover but no investment and no money. They even took out a $16k loan. The board wanted me to not finish bottom and on the final game of the season I managed a win to move me up to 2nd bottom. Going to totally revamp the squad and shift some of this dead weight. With an average attendance of 49, I am not sure where I am going to get any money from. I need a good cup run but not sure how much money that would actually get me!

 

In my 3 seasons my average attendance has been 20, 28, and 37

Just got promoted to tier 8 so i hope it goes up a little now we are paying alot more out now.

currently £200,000 in debt.

[eren39]

End of Season 2025/2026. Another League win. But it was closer then it looks. This was the hardest season for me so far. I am very dissapointed of the cup games. FA Cup, Fa Trophy out in 1st round, the other one out in 2nd round....

Average Attendance is 100, we are last in Northern Premier League Divison 1 West (8th tier).

+116 followers on social media, we are growing :DDDD come on Chelmsley Town <3

ticket price for next year is going up from 6€ to 9€. season ticket from 49€ to 77€. we need that money.

Edited December 31, 2023 by eren39

[Siepe1990]

3rd season, 3rd title! Easier even than the previous seasons, which surprised me. Managed to hold on to most of my players for the biggest part of the season, which is a big help. Cup runs were good as well, generating some nice cash - and we managed to win the 'League Cup' for the third year in a row!

 

Edited December 31, 2023 by Siepe1990

[marco90li]

SEASON 1 - 2023/24 

UNDEFEATED

TRIPLETE (Domestic)

Supporters increase mostly on Social Media

To my SURPRISE the Board decided to expand the Stadium a little

 

Spartan South Midlands League Division 1 : WON (15 pt)

FA Vase : WON (20 pt)

Spartan South Midlands League Cup : WON (10 pt

FIRST SEASON : 45 pt

Edited January 1 by marco90li

[Hitbox]

Greenways FC - 5th Season

Vanarama National League South - 1st

FA Trophy - 3rd Round

FA Cup - 4th Round

[samrnpage]

On 30/12/2023 at 20:03, lionel messi said:

In my 3 seasons my average attendance has been 20, 28, and 37

Just got promoted to tier 8 so i hope it goes up a little now we are paying alot more out now.

currently £200,000 in debt.

Same happened to me with Spartans - I have had two takeovers, both have put 20k loans on the club and no investment! We have possibly chosen the smallest club we couldve in terms of attendances!

[Siepe1990]

A first for Brigg Town: next season we will be playing in the Vanarama National League North! 4th promotion in a row, but not the 4th title, even though we managed to score 100 points in the season... Macclesfield grabbed the title with a whopping 102 points, we lost to them 5 matches from the end (2-0), so a fair champion for me. The play-offs were harder than I would have thought ; we needed extra time against Warrington Town (after beating them 4-1 and 4-2 in the regular season), but the final was a lot easier (3-1 against Radcliffe).

Cup runs were decent, however a bit disappointed with the early exit in the FA Cup against Blyth Spartans. Managed to get to the semi final of the FA Trophy, but failed to win the League Cup for the first time in 4 seasons.

Attendance levels are still low ; new record of 484 on average however and a new record of 2.192 in the final against Radcliff which meant we almost sold out our 2.500. We do get an expansion of 500 standing capacity however due to regulations for the Vanarama (3.000 minimum). Financially we are doing okay, no negative balance since September 2024, but the projection is negative and the professional status too expensive. Let's hope the attendance picks up, we manage to gather some more sponsorships and get a few good cup runs!

Best players: 'regen' Diarmuid Carter, former Newcastle United, who's and absolute beast as a Poacher, and left wing back Noah Adekoya, former Burnley, who has managed to achieve a 7.52 / 7.75 / 7.29 average over the last three seasons... which is insane, but it has to be said that anyone who I play in that role gets insanely high ratings somehow - must be my tactic I guess.

Onwards to Level 6!

 

[lionel messi]

5 hours ago, Siepe1990 said:

A first for Brigg Town: next season we will be playing in the Vanarama National League North! 4th promotion in a row, but not the 4th title, even though we managed to score 100 points in the season... Macclesfield grabbed the title with a whopping 102 points, we lost to them 5 matches from the end (2-0), so a fair champion for me. The play-offs were harder than I would have thought ; we needed extra time against Warrington Town (after beating them 4-1 and 4-2 in the regular season), but the final was a lot easier (3-1 against Radcliffe).

Cup runs were decent, however a bit disappointed with the early exit in the FA Cup against Blyth Spartans. Managed to get to the semi final of the FA Trophy, but failed to win the League Cup for the first time in 4 seasons.

Attendance levels are still low ; new record of 484 on average however and a new record of 2.192 in the final against Radcliff which meant we almost sold out our 2.500. We do get an expansion of 500 standing capacity however due to regulations for the Vanarama (3.000 minimum). Financially we are doing okay, no negative balance since September 2024, but the projection is negative and the professional status too expensive. Let's hope the attendance picks up, we manage to gather some more sponsorships and get a few good cup runs!

Best players: 'regen' Diarmuid Carter, former Newcastle United, who's and absolute beast as a Poacher, and left wing back Noah Adekoya, former Burnley, who has managed to achieve a 7.52 / 7.75 / 7.29 average over the last three seasons... which is insane, but it has to be said that anyone who I play in that role gets insanely high ratings somehow - must be my tactic I guess.

Onwards to Level 6!

 

too be fair you have done a very good job with both macclesfield and bury in you division.

[kamacdonaldphoto]

Selston Season Two: A very frustrating season all around. The league was mediocre (the difference between 3rd place and 11th place was 6 points), but we failed to make anything of our season, including the cups.

The first half of the season was full of underperformance, but in this case it was not a player or two who were causing the trouble, instead it was a coach. As soon as I got rid of him our season turned around, but we were in the bottom the table at that moment.

Then as things started running smoothly, my backup keeper, who signed to be a backup keeper, left because he was upset that I was using him as a backup keeper...and of course a game or two later, my main keeper got injured, so we were forced to play kids in goal. And in that same game, one of my leading scorers went down - both players were injured for about six weeks. So, each time we saw a bit of light, something else happened.

On to season three.

[samrnpage]

The Spartans Survive - Just! 

Painful season - my team did not have enough quality. I saved myself on the last day of the season. 

My entire wage budget is £3,200 a week, there were players playing for Torquay, Crawley and Lewes on £2,200-£2500 per week. That's the levels I am working when 1 player for them makes up my entire wage bill

However my first FA Cup first round appearance and semi decent FA Trophy saw some money come in - I am for the first time ever, in the black financially - £3000 up! 

Average attendance in the league......147 of the most loyal fans in the world - Next lowest was Hornchurch on 585. 

I was hoping now my finances are okay, the board will increase my wage budget and to be fair they did - to £4,000. £0 transfer budget. My effing god. 

Tough tough season - hopefully next year is better. I am going to release a lot of my overpaid players and go for a full rebuild.


 

[Siepe1990]

16 hours ago, lionel messi said:

too be fair you have done a very good job with both macclesfield and bury in you division.

Thanks! Bury surprised me really, expected them to challenge as well, but they came 8th (after a 6th place the year before). Just managed to beat Macclesfield in the 6th match of the season in the Vanarama North, curious to see if we keep up the good form (W W D W D W)...

[vikeologist]

 

Vikeologist's 2026/7 Canterbury Tales

We were in contention for a playoff spot all season. It went to the last match of the season. We needed to win away to one of the best teams and hope the team above us lost at home to one of the worst. Predictably, neither happened.

We had the consolation prize of an Isthmian League Cup final against a team a league down, but despite battering them and their even having a player sent off, we lost 2-1.

That wasn’t a complete injustice. I struggled to find good players to bring in, and our goalkeepers are particularly bad. Our team was pretty much the same as last season, and the newcomers were only minor improvements.

A disappointing season, but if we can just find a few decent new players, starting with a goalie, we should do better next season.

This was our first season back in Canterbury. Over a thousand people came to our first home match, but that was an anomaly. Nonetheless, our average attendance was up a lot.

We had a board takeover, and the new guy cleared our considerable debt of about £150k, and we’re currently 18k in the black, which will only last about a month, if that.  

Top Goalscorer - Dennis Bossman – 24

I dropped last year’s MVP, Nee, for Bossman who’d been his backup, but was supposed to be better. He did ok, but Nee does seem more prolific, even at this level.

Highest Average Rating (minimum 10 matches played) – Lewis Hooper – 7.20

My right winger. One of my few new players.

Man of The Match - Samson Chukwu – 8

Attacking midfielder. His second season with us. 

Most Valuable Player– Samson Chukwu

He is our best player.

Season	Division						Position	Notes						
23/24	Southern Counties East League Division 1		1st		Won league on last day of season
24/25	Southern Counties East League Premier Division 		1st		League / County Cup double
25/26	Isthmian League South East Division			1st		Won league on last day of season
26/27	Isthmian League Premier Division			6th		League Cup Losing Finalists
27/28	Isthmian League Premier Division

Southern Counties East League Division 1	15
Southern Counties East League Premier Division 	20
Southern Counties East League Cup	10
Isthmian League South East Division	30
	
	
Total	75

 

 

[eren39]

#4th season 2026/27. A terrible season comes to an end. We had such a good start that i thought we will win the league, but after mid season we got worse and worse. After one match i was so angry that i fired 3-4 player   After that things got still worse. Red cards, Injuries etc. This was a season to forget. The only positive thing was our FA Cup run.

 

 

Our average attendance went up a bit.

+90 follower on social media.

 

 

[samrnpage]

Spartans 2028/2029 

A much better season.  I did lose the first 5 games of the season, a simple tactic change and we were chasing the playoffs for the rest of the season, always about 4-6 points outside of it.  We would go on a run of games winning, get an injury or come up against a top 6 side and lose. However things to be positive about.

May we all come together and collectively tell Horsham to do one. P**cks.

Attendance rose - 341 average in the league this season


re 

 

[Siepe1990]

5th season, 5th promotion! When will this end? I would have thought last season already, but even this season I was quite surprised by the performance we could achieve. Macclesfield was too good again, winning the league by a mile ; this meant I had to face the play-offs, where I first took care of Boston United (4-3 in extra time) before dispatching of Blyth Spartans on penalties.

On top of this, I had my best cup run so far in the FA Cup. Just look at this incredible replay win over Peterborough:

Diarmuid Carter - remember the name, you'll be reading more about him in my posts if I can keep hold of him. He extended until 2029 at least, so that would be great already. I managed to beat Doncaster Rovers next, before being bested by Derby County. All combined, this generated 227k TV-income and 154k prize money, as well as a fair increase in match day income (at least 100k). Now at least we have a positive balance of 500k, but the board is still refusing the professional status ; have any of you managed to get professional already?

Very curious to see how we'll fare on the next level, on to the Vanarama National League!

[eren39]

#5th Season 2027/2028 over... my nerves too.. we botteled the season final. i got so angry that i simulated the playoff semi final and lost. we try again next season.... the Southern League Premier Central is harder than the Premier League

wow what a season final thank you guys...

Average Attendance grew again.

+48 follower 

[samrnpage]

Spartans promoted! - 3rd time lucky - god I am glad I don't have to play in the VNS anymore!

What a rollercoaster season. I binned off the majority of my squad pre season and bought in 8 new players. New tactic as well! (Striker-less formation). I was in the playoff for most of the season and got a good FA Cup run to the 2nd round, furthest I have been so far.

Secured playoffs on the final day of the season and this brings me onto Horsham.

Horsham have knocked me out of the FA cup, and/or FA Trophy 4 times in this save and they beat me in the trophy AGAIN this season and beat me twice in the league, so guess my absolute delight when I came up against them in the PLAYOFF FINAL. Ugh.

I got my revenge though, beat them 2-1 in extra time after they got 2 men sent off. It was absolute carnage that game really.

Other news: 
 - New stadium being built!!!!

Now I don't know what the smallest wage budget in the top flight of non-league football is or has been, but £8.25k a week surely must be close! There will be players on half that a week at some clubs. I might be coming back down....





Update

Edited January 6 by samrnpage
Updated stadium news

[Azzo]

Another promotion as champions. The cups were a disappointment and cash might be a problem going forward as i try to get the important players on part-time contracts. Average attendance up to 300.

 

 

[samrnpage]

Spartans relegated :( 

[Mochard]

Season 3 is over and my first full season with Spartan Youth. The way it started I was thinking I was in for the same problems as last season but I managed to climb my way back up the table to finish 2nd. Even though we beat Brook House twice this season they were just too far ahead for us to catch. We had our second takeover but no investment and another bank loan. Still living in my car as $80 a week won't get me anywhere. Hoping on back to back promotions so I can generate more income and get some more fans coming to watch the games. I must have had 30 clubs coming in for my best players but thankfully they decided to stay with me. I have had 100% rejections on every board request I made, don't know why I bother but I still will.

 

 

Edited January 7 by Mochard

[Hanxvirenk208]

Season 3 with Clapton Community, predicted 19th and finishing 15th (Level 8, Isthmian League South East).  Out of the cups soon.  

We added four players at the beginning of the season but that did not make a difference.  

Next season's hope:  Mid-table team.

Edited January 8 by Hanxvirenk208

[kamacdonaldphoto]

Selston - Season 3 - still in level 9, United Counties League Premier Division North

Another embarrassing season where we failed to bring it all together. In our final 15 games we only lost twice, but we only won five. I won Manager of the Month in February with 5 wins and a draw, but every other month was bad. I ended up signing three or four rejects from Petersborough Sports, but they were not able to put it all together in level nine.

Season 4 will be delayed a bit due to some travel plans, but I am going to stick with them as long as they are willing to keep me around.

[CDGBruno]

 

A great first season, champion of the League and the Cup

[CDGBruno]

Champion of the league and two cups in the second season, great performance.

 

[samrnpage]

Spartans promoted!

After being relegated last season we bounced back with a title win and promotion. I was a bit depressed after getting relegated and nearly packed the save in, but glad I didn't

Moved into the new 4000 capacity Spartans Youth Stadium, our attendances doubled to about 600 home fans per game, with a dozen or so 1000+ gates due to away fans

However we are now £2.2mill in debt and  constantly under takeovers which is annoying. 

After being relegated last season, I got rid of 17 players, kept only 5 players, a goalkeeper, CDM, a left winger and two CBs. First signing of the season was Louis Cleaver a 17 year old striker released from Southend. He is our best player ever by a country mile, and I found after signing him, better players seemed to want to join us. Signed an entire squad of very good VNS players and walked the league. I also managed to sign my better players up to 2 year contracts with 1 year extensions, so hopefully this time in the National league, we will be better suited.

[eren39]

#6th (2028/2029) is over. I am so happy going up from this league. We are champions of Southern League Premier Central (7th divison). 

#6

We had a terrible season start. Maybe the first time i had such a bad start to the season of all FM´s. First time i really had no clue what to do next. Luckyly we could manage to have an amazing season.

 

Av. Attendance went down. I don´t know why.

its like real life nowadays. more fans on social media then in the stadium   

new ticket prices for Vanarama National North/South

[CDGBruno]

Champion of the league and a cup, the name of the league does not appear, very strange.

[Azzo]

One game left of the season and its against the second placed team. They were ahead of me going in the second to last match but they managed to lose while we pulled of a draw. 

We were predicted to finish dead last with a wage budget at less then one tenth of the richest team. If we manage to go up i think the might be even more against us.

 

 

 

Wish me luck.

 

 

[Azzo]

We managed to draw in the final game of the season and is once again champions of the league. The had player sent of in the third minute but even with that the match was far to close for comfort. No cup wins this year.

 

[Azzo]

Sorry for the spam but i just wanted to share the new stadium we apparently starting building moments after we secured out spot in the Vanorama south/north. The average attendance this last season was 266 so i guess the new stadium will feel rather empty once its finished.

 

[samrnpage]

Hello all 

I got sacked in my next season as manager of Spartans youth - with that I think I am going to pack this challenge in for now. I might revisit it at some point though! Good luck to everyone else!

[lionel messi]

39 minutes ago, samrnpage said:

Hello all 

I got sacked in my next season as manager of Spartans youth - with that I think I am going to pack this challenge in for now. I might revisit it at some point though! Good luck to everyone else!

Im sorry to hear that.