[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

FC Ruggell - 2025/26

 

League - 9th

A decent first outing at this level. We were never in danger of going down but the 40 point gaps shows we have a lot of work to do to catch the teams at the top. We got into a decent rhythm of beating teams below us but except the odd shock we struggled against the top 5, taking 3 points from Breitenrain and losing the other 9 games against those sides. The eagle eyed may notice something else of interest on here however...

Liechtenstein Cup

We finally won the Liechtenstein Cup! We did it the hard way too, coming up against FC Vaduz in the semis and dispatching them 3-1 before beating Eschen/Mauren from the division above with a 94th minute winner in the final. This gives us a place in the first qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, I expect to get knocked out at the first hurdle but the money will be invaluable for the club's future progression.

Squad Statistics

Wohlwend carried us again however it was nice to see Ruggell original Tim Schreiber chip in with a 15 goals return. The 32 goal pair lead the line now for the national team and I think the only reason no-one has show an interest in either (particularly Wohlwend) is because they're either at or very close to their PA ceiling with both's development slowing significantly. Shoutout to our keeper Manuel Furstenhofer, who becomes the first intake prospect to hit 100 appearances for the club despite absolutely being thrown in well before he was capable. the CA stars don't look great here but I think it's more than Wohlwend and Feyh in particular are just so much better than my other players who are playing 1 or maybe even 2 levels above where their ability should dictate.

Youth Intake

I managed to push a junior coaching update through pre-season and it more than paid off with this intake. All were signed except two and whilst the personalities leave a little to be desired in terms of the HOYD's view on current and potential ability this is easily our best intake so far.

Marcel Neumann

I don't play a right midfielder but seems to have the attributes to either move back to right back or forward to AMR. I'm leaning towards the latter as we lost a big player in that position this season (see transfers) but we'll see how he develops over the next few months.

Admin

The most we've ever been in debt due to the introduction of part time contracts, hopefully a brief European campaign will alleviate a little pressure here. The board downgraded our training facilities at the end of last season and I haven't had the funds to get them improved again so far. We lost two first team players, again both to top tier teams. The first was my own fault as I didn't realise he was still on his old amateur contract. The second, Dehmel was sold by the board after being chased by St Gallen, Basel, Vaduz and his eventual new team Thun, making me think he's got a decent PA. Luckily the board did insert a sell on clause so if he does end up progressing we may see some money in the future.

 

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

YESSSSSSSS

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

FC Ruggell - 2024/25

League - 1st 

We led the way from the first week and never looked back. I was concerned after losing our two starting CMs on a free just before the season started but the two young lads brought in were more than up to the task. We relied on outscoring teams rather than a solid defence with one of our intake of 2024 averaging well over a goal a game. What I didn't realise however is that winning this league doesn't guarantee promotion! There's a playoff structure after, with us being seeded first due to having the highest points total across the three groups at this level and needing to win through two rounds to go up...

We were very lucky with the 2-2 after being dominated away to Delemont but they were no match for us in the second leg as we blew them away 5-0. Although we'd completed a league double on Collina d'Oro I was very concerned as we had 7 players on international duty for Liechtenstein and I foolishly forgot to withdraw the 6 of them playing age group football, meaning I was relying on back ups and even one lad from this season's intake to see us through. Luckily we still managed to dominate both games and went on to secure promotion! This is huge for us as hopefully it will finally force the board's hand into offering part-time contracts before I lose any more of our best players.

Cup - Runners up

Not much to say here, third season in a row we've lost in the final now with FC Vaduz back with a vengeance and handing us a 6-2 hiding to keep us out of Europe for another year.

Squad Statistics

Martin Wohlwend from the 2024 intake is the star of the show here with an incredible return of 39 goals in 32 appearances. I'm not sure how long he'll stay with us but he's certainly the one who has catapulted an otherwise unremarkable team to what on the face of it is a very unlikely promotion. I think he's close to his ceiling but to be well over a goal a game in his first season in adult football is an excellent achievement. Beyond him it's again good to see a large number of younger lads in and around the squad with 4 holding down starting berths in our strongest 11.

Martin Wohlwend

Martin is well beyond anything in our squad and his F.Pro personality and regular first team slot have seen his stats sky rocket in the last 12 months. Bigger clubs are circling (Looking at you again here FC Vaduz!) but when the season rolls over I'll try and get him on a part time contract so I can at least negotiate a fee and sell on for him.

Youth Intake

Doesn't look as strong on the face even though potential is still high, with this being the first time I haven't signed up everyone for numbers. There's still plenty to work with and hopefully with us climbing the leagues our B team will enter the pyramid at a playable level soon enough to give me an extra chance for the younger lads to get game time.

Plenty of work to do but a nice base to work from and positive personality in a position we've become weaker in due to departures of senior players.

Admin

Two starting midfielders and a starting centre back lost however the Liechtenstein youth conveyor belt is rolling along nicely so the loss of these three didn't impact us as much as I'd feared. My wingers are now in their thirties so I may need to look to bring through some more younger lads sooner rather than later.

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

Losing both of our starting centre midfielders and best players in pre season for free wasn't ideal, but the price I currently have to pay until the board will offer part time contracts.

Interestingly, Vaduz are still in the Swiss top tier so it makes me think Braun (who is a Liechtensteiner U19) must have a fairly high PA ceiling for them to come calling.

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

FC Ruggell - 2023/24

League - 6th

A very decent 6th place in our first season at this level. Despite every other club in the division being able to offer part time contracts our board decided to stick to non-contract terms, meaning a lot of hoping players opted to stick around. Luckily most did meaning we had a comfortable season. We never looked like troubling the playoff places but equally never looked like going down, job done.

Liechtenstein Cup

Now this was a real disappointment. We comfortably made the final again and having expecting to come up against FC Vaduz it was a huge shock to find fellow fourth tier team Balzars had knocked them out! This was a huge chance for an early financial boost from the EC2 qualifiers but we rolled over and had a our bellies tickled in a 3-0 mauling in the final. I can't imagine there will be too many seasons I don't have to come up against Vaduz so this was a bitter pill to swallow.

Squad Statistics

Plenty of chances for my younger players, with Furstenhofer22i an ever present in goal (and not doing dreadfully considering he isn't very good!) and Braun22c also holding down a starting role. Wohlwend24d came straight in from the intake (see below) and hit the ground running with a mightily impressive 7 goals in 7 games. The squad is always on a knife edge and without being able to offer contracts players can be taken from me at no notice between July & February, but for now the players are remaining loyal - I hope that continues. We've also now got one full international, two u21s and an u19 in the Liechtenstein squad, maybe one day we'll produce most/all of them!

Youth Intake

Another solid intake with a better spread of personalities this time. Wohlwend went straight into the first team squad to supplement our aging frontline, Albers is a lefty so I'll be retraining him from WBR to LB and would expecting to see some minutes sooner rather than later. The other quality player in this intake is Weirather, but we're currently stacked on the right wing so he'll have to bide his time for now.

Slower than I'd usually like in a striker but with defenders at this level generally even slower he's more than getting by. As mentioned a goal a game from his first 7 starts is an outstanding return and again I'll be hoping to keep hold of him as long as I can.

Admin

Losing our last starting keeper before the season was a blow but it forced my hand into playing a youngster and he more than delivered. I'd have liked to keep Buchel around for squad depth but at 36 he'd been usurped by Braun and wasn't happy to sit on the bench leaving me no choice when Bern came calling. (They signed 6 players in January all 34 and over - something of an Old Boys club!)

 

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

FC Ruggell - 2022/23

League

Well, this went better than expected! We spent almost all the season in second place, at one stage 10 points behind runaway leaders Kreuzlingen. They started to slip in the final third of the season and we overtook them by thumping them 4-0 at our place in game week 22. We then slipped up and fell back to second but managed to overhaul them by beating Red Star ZH in our final game. I started the season only really aiming for survival but when we won our first two game 4-1 and 5-0 I had a feeling we might do a little better. Strangely the primary position sorting for teams on level points in this league is discipline(!) so even though our goal difference was by far the best in the lead and we went into the final game level with Kreuzlingen we had to better their result to win the league, which luckily we did. The next tier looks a lot stronger with a mixture of B Teams and clubs who look much stronger than us, only 2 go down from that level so hopefully we'll at least be able to compete.

Cup

We also impressed in the Liechtenstein Cup, making it all the way to the final before being beaten by FC Vaduz who also went on to win the second tier. Although we only lost 3-1 it wasn't a close game and Vaduz have won the cup every year since 1997 with the exception of two seasons. They'll still be playing 3 division higher than us next year despite our promotion so I don't see us winning this any time soon.

Squad Statistics

A lot of our better players are on the older side which is alarming, however some of the intake (see below) already look like they'll be able to contribute next season. One concern is that I started the season with 3 keepers - two left on a free before Christmas and the third is leaving us in July (roll on being able to offer semi pro deals!) meaning I'll be starting next season with our first intake keeper in goal, and to be honest he isn't any great shakes.

Youth Intake

Very pleased with the first intake, we'll only have 14 of our original players left next season so I'd expect to see quite a few of these lads in and around the first team squad and as mentioned above Furstenhofer 22i will be our new number one next season, though not be choice.

Feyh22a is easily the best in this intake and considerably better than anyone I ever managed to produce in my Ton Pentre save. He's already appeared for the first team and is already being linked to a youth international call up. I'll get him on a part time contract for next season if I can but realistically I don't expect him to stay around too long.

Admin

Just the two outs, but annoyingly both goalkeepers with our third following them out of the door next month. We managed to push through a junior coaching upgrade before our finances declined too much, I'm guessing with part time deals they'll keep sinking next season and until we can either hit the top league or win the cup.

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

FC Ruggell - 2. Liga Interregional Gruppe 6

After much pondering and reviewing available teams in the out of the box leagues I opted to download a Swiss level 5 database expansion with the intention of trying to pick up one of four teams from tier 6, and after 5 reloads I managed to pull FC Ruggell. We will be playing in the 5th tier of Swiss regional football, with the interesting caveat that the club is actually based and produces youth players from Liechtenstein. This makes the challenge more interesting as Liechtensteiner clubs cannot qualify for the Champions League (or Europa League for that matter) via the Swiss top tier. The winners of the Liechtenstein Cup are given a place in the first qualifying round of the Europa Conference League, meaning in theory I'd have to win the Conference League, Europa League and then Champions League in consecutive seasons to complete the challenge. Nothing like making a hard task harder right?!

 The odds aren't favourable however it does appear there's a worse team than us! We only have a very small squad with a number of teams already interesting in some of our players, as always the first season will be the hardest. Looking at the league rules it appears the Wil Second Team can be promoted to the next tier so taking these odds into account they look like they'll take some stopping.

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

Congrats @libbyshuss!

 

Took a break from my Ton Pentre save after losing a number of first teamers on a free to divisional rivals and almost getting relegated. I'm going to make a fresh start in a country where I can at least offer part time contracts, holidaying and reloading at the moment looking for a particular team..

[FM22 England Level 10 Challenge]

 

Hallam FC - 2021/22

We were favourites for the league and lived up to it in style, romping home with 103 points and promoted with plenty of time to spare. I expect next season to be a bigger challenge, we got knocked out of the FA Cup, Vase & North East Counties Cup by tier 9 teams suggesting there's quite a difference in class between the two levels.

I didn't know before picking them but the database reflects Hallam's decent following, with an average attendance of almost 500 meaning I secured a junior coaching upgrade and coaching badge half way through the season.

 

[FM22 England Level 10 Challenge]

Hallam FC

 

Hi all, going to take up this challenge with a youth only policy. I've chosen Hallam FC as they're the closest team available to me in the database and I've been to see them a few times in the past. Based in Sheffield, they're also famous for playing at the oldest surviving football ground in the world (Sandygate), playing in the first ever official match in England (lost 2-0 to Sheffield FC) and being the team Sean Bean's character Jimmy Muir was playing for when scouted by Sheffield United in the film 'When Saturday Comes'.

 

Looking forward to this, thank you for the database file @lionel messi!

 

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

Ton Pentre  - 2027/28

We weren't quite a match for the top teams this year and ended up finishing 5th, though we were right in it up until losing to eventual champions Port Talbot in game week 29. The gap between the better sides and the rest of the league is growing with us consistently beating the bottom teams now, however two defeats each to Port Talbot and Ammanford ultimately cost us in the end. I'm a little concerned we've plateaued as without the money for improvements the players coming through are no better than what we have, but that's two seasons in a row now we've been close so if I can squeeze a little more out of this team before the non-academy projects get too old I'm hoping we can get over the line soon.

 

 

Our best run in the League Cup ended with a close 1-0 defeat in the Semis to Premier League Llandudno. I foolishly rested a few for what I thought would be an easy 3rd round game against Penparcau and paid the price with a 1-0 loss after our centre half decided to lunge straight through the back of their striker in the third minute and consequently see red. My assistant doesn't overly rate Dean Pike but his numbers speak for him, coming out as top scorer in all three competitions for the second season running.

A very similar look to last year as we were again lucky with injuries meaning five ever presents this season including both of our prolific front two who bagged 40 goals between them. A couple of this years intake look better than what we had last campaign so will probably join up with the squad last season, but promotion is currently the main aim so I won't be looking at too much rotation for the time being if I can avoid it.

 

Youth Intake

Better than recent years with Trueman the one most likely to trouble the first team in the near future. The reports still suggest that despite the 5* potential these lads aren't going to be any better than the youngsters I already have in the first team, though that would make sense as we haven't managed any upgrades so far. I did have three players poached this season including one who had 1 gold star potential on the poached screen (around 100 PA I believe?) so will be interesting to see what they look like when they do come through at their new teams.

Admin

Lost a little more than I would have liked this season but nothing terminal, though I will be looking at our bloated u19s squad over the summer and trimming some of those who aren't going to make it. Harrison Cook left us on a free for league winners Port Talbot, he was actually one of the better players we've had come through just nowhere near the level of our first team keeper Foulston.

 

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

11 Games left and it's even closer than it was last season... the thought of losing out on goal difference again doesn't bear thinking about.

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

Ton Pentre - 2026/27

I lost to Swansea Uni 5-0 on game week 28. If we'd lost 4-0 we'd have got promoted on goals scored. I think this is the closest I've ever come to a promotion on any edition on FM and ended up not making it. It was a close race all season and we were either first or second every week the whole way. As gutting as it is this is a huge improvement from my first four seasons and Swansea Uni are far better than the team coming down, if we don't lose anyone we should hopefully make up it next time around.

A good run in the cup beating two Premier League sides before getting thumped 4-0 at Brickfield. I use the League Cup as more a of a fitness exercise as rounds 1 & 2 are pre season so no shame in losing to Haverfordwest who went on to qualify for Europe.

 

I was very lucky with injuries and suspensions meaning I could largely field the same 11 in a lot of games, with Foulston, Davidson & Pike ever present and Powell & Rose only missing one game each through suspension. I spent a lot of the season offering new amateur contracts to Foulston and Davidson to fight off interest from other clubs in our division, hopefully I'll be able to keep them at least one more year to boost our promotion push.

Youth Intake

It was so bad I didn't even screenshot it and no-one was signed from this intake.

Admin

 

Finances have been largely stable throughout the 5 years have we only have youth contracts and matchday fees to pay players.

 

Next season's update will no doubt be longer, I needed to get this one out quickly and carry on playing after missing out on promotion how I did.

[The FM22 Youth Academy Challenge]

Ton Pentre - JD Cymru South

I've long been an admirer of this challenge and have spent hours pouring over the annual threads right back to the original one almost a decade ago. I picked up FM just after Christmas in the sales and started immediately with Ton Pentre in the Welsh second tier, however didn't sign up to post initially as I wasn't sure I'd stick it out. That was 4 seasons ago however so we're picking this particular career up a few years in (don't worry, you haven't missed much!) 3 games into season five. It's rejuvenated my love for FM after I barely played 21 or 20 (12, 15 and CM0102 were my faves) so although completing the challenging itself in Wales is highly unlikely it will be interesting to see what I can (or more likely can't!) achieve.

Story so far

22/23

23/24

24/25

25/26

 

The overall headline is not a lot exciting has happened! We've never got quite close enough to challenge for promotion and other than in 23/24 for an 11 game losing run actually had us level on points with the relegation places after 27 games, 3 wins from our last 3 propelled us into the top half of what was a close league. I finished 25/26 very strongly with 9 games unbeaten and I've taken that into this season with three wins from three so far.

Our Heroes

Mostly academy players at this point, not all received tags but due to us not being able to offer anything other than month to month contracts I've had a lot of my original squad poached over the last 4 years. That said we've come a long way from only having 11 players and no keeper in season one, which our first intake standout Foulston now the star of the show.

The Admin

 

I don't have a screenshot from the start of the career as I didn't originally intend to post though this shows in the top right that I started with Sunday League experience and (still) have no badges.