MVP: Wdl

Team DPs: 88

ELG are rivals to 0 teams.

Club: Elgin City FC
Formed: 1893
Nickname: Black & Whites
Stadium: Borough Briggs - Capacity 5000
Address: Elgin City FC Borough Briggs Borough Briggs Road Elgin IV30 1AP
Official Website: www.elgincity.com/
Season 32 Update
A big challenge ahead to stay in div 1 this season. Elgin are 15th T11 and 14th T17. Fortunately we have some cash to throw at the first auction:1300k, so hopefully can bolster the squad.
Season 32 goals:
Stay in div 1!

Season 34 Update

Since our last update Elgin have suffered back to back relegations. So at least can console ourselves we won't be relegated this season!

We have 6th best T11 and 5th T17 so we should be in with a shout of a playoff position.

Season 34 goal: 6th in div 3

Season 35 Update

Elgin exceeded target last season and managed promotion to div 2, finishing 2nd in div 3.

Looking at the squad for this year we are going to struggle with 14 th T11 and 11th T17 and a measly 52 k in the bank.

At least we have managed to buy 35 CP and will use 6 of these to get OTF back to 10 ( seemed to help last season).

S35 goal: 10th to avoid relegation again!

Season 36 Update

Relegated last season, Elgin are back in our traditional home of division 3.

The team is quite old now with an average age close to 4.  Usually that would mean a strong T11, alas no 14th in T 11.

T17 looks more promising,  6th in the division.  Little cash to play with, 94k but we do have 40 CPs.

Plan for this season is to try and build the squad and get some good young players, we'll also get OTF back up to 10 as soon as possible.

Target position is 12th, this is a rebuilding season.

Season 37 Update

We did a lot better than expected last season, finishing 6th and then going onto win the playoff game against Ayr to get promoted straight back to div 2.

However it may have been better to lose as Elgin are going to have a rough time in div 2 this season.  We have 14th T11 and 14th T17, an old squad and 970k in the bank before buying resources.  This may be the worst starting position for the club ever!

Realistically Elgin will be relegated this season so the priority is to not waste money on old one season players and try and build a stronger younger squad with some money for coming seasons in div 3.

Season 39 Update

Did better than expected last season, finishing 11th.  For a while the wooden spoon was likely.  Turning to this season we are 9th T11 and 10th T17 so mid table again.

In our favour we do have 7OTF which will put back to 10 ASAP.  The squad looks unbalanced as we have good forwards, 3 over level 20 but defence and midfield only have 2 players over 20.  Additionally we'll need to train a keeper.  So actually it may turn into another wooden spoon battle this season, oh well keeps it interesting!

Season 40 Update

Season 39 was as predicted, we started with 10th T17 and finished 10th.  For a little while wooden spoon was a danger but we then put some wins together aided by golden gloves keeper Daniel Bentley.  He also managed 7 MoMs thus earning us 500k sponsorship, a real star!  We also managed to win 2CPs by coming second in prediction league.

This season things are looking good as we have joint 4th T11 and 6th T17 plus 747k and starting with OTF=9.  Attack and midfield look goodish but defence is poor so need to try and pick up a decent defender or two.  At least we have our star keeper and a 1/17 to train up so hopefully will not leak too many goals.  Prediction 6th play- off.

Season 41 Update

Poor performance last season finishing 11th.  We tried coaching a couple of players to the max, striker Benjamin Cullen and keeper Daniel Bentley.  Don't think it worked, especially as Cullen only scored 12, although Bentley was 2nd best keeper.  One good thing was the bank balance which has allowed us to buy 40CP and over 1000 to spend on auctions.

For this season things are looking ominous as we have 15th T11 and 13th T17, going to be a long season trying to avoid the wooden spoon.  The squad needs bolstering with a couple of great defenders, a midfielder, and another striker.  So will be splashing the cash in the auction or transfer market.

Prediction: 12th

Season 42 Update

Last season was brilliant.  Starting with 13th T11 we finished 2nd and even could have won it if we had beaten Stenny in the penultimate game that ended a draw.  What happened?  I think most of the explanation is our star striker Benjamin Cullen who I coached to the max up to level 39 at mid season.  Boy did that pay off as he scored 25 goals, club record and golden boot.  There were quite a few games we won by the odd goal from Cullen's boot.  Once we were winning the momentum and morale seemed to carry us through.  I don't think we'll have a season like that again for a while so just nice to have enjoyed it!

So how are things looking for this season in div 2?  We have 14th T11 and 11th T17 so similar ranking to last season.  We do have plenty of cash 1438k which will help buying some more players and managed to get 45 CP for this season, so will be able to coach Cullen again to the max (will lightning strike twice?).  The team could do with a couple of quality defenders and another decent striker if we are to get into promotion places so we'll be looking to the auctions and transfer market to solve that one.

Predicted finish position: 8th

Season 50 Update

Here we are, it's season 50.  Elgin sit in our favourite division 3.  Last season was a disappointment as we finished 13th, about where we predicted to.  
For season 15 we have joint bottom T11 and 13th T17.  At least we had 7 OTF at start which will be put to 10 ASAP.  Finances look fine as we managed to buy 40 CPs and still have almost 1000k in the bank.  Looking at the team we're weak in all areas, but especially the attack will struggle for goals.  So priority is to get a good striker.  Or should we have a rebuilding season and train up a couple of youths?  Probably the latter.  Prediction for season 50: 14th.

Season 51 Update

Last season went as predicted, we finished 13th avoiding the wooden spoon just.  For this season things look a little better as we have 9th best T11 although 13th best T17.  Might go for it this season as have 2 decent keepers so need to play a L5.  Weakest area is midfield but at least we have decent DMs so can hopefully field a reasonable midfield.  We'll need a young striker and midfielder to train up and press for promotion.  800 odd k in the Bank hopefully enough to get one or two players.  Prediction: 6th playoff spot

Season 52 Update

Last season was one to forget.  We finished 13th again but were expecting a play-off spot.  However on the statistics it was about right as we had 13th T17 at the start of last season.  On this basis hopefully this season will be better as we have 8th best T17 although only 13th best T11.  We have a nicely balanced squad with no major weaknesses in DF, MF, or attack.  May take on the advice from the top managers and pile CP into FWs and WGs early.  Hopefully can pick up another FW in an early auction to allow some aggressive play knowing I have another FW to cover when EL goes. May leave training a new keeper to next season.  Prediction: 8th but would love a play-off spot.

Season 53 Update

We did better than expected last season finishing 5th and into the play offs, alas it wasn't to be as we were soundly beaten by EDI.  Our top striker Kane Hester did well and finished Bronze boot with 25 goals.  For this season we start off with a decent squad with good players in all positions.  We have 7th best T11 and 6th best T17 so hopefully can push into the play offs at least this season.  Will go with the up front coaching of strikers and wingers as seemed to work well last season.  We were also lucky enough to win a superstar upgrade to L10, although don't have enough cash to buy the apprentice yet!  Prediction: 5th again.

Season 54 Update

Last season went well, and better than predicted as we finished 2nd and automatic promotion.  Must say we have been second many times in Division 3, never seem to win it.  Last season we were no where near the champions HIB.  It seems the up front coaching of strikers and wingers paid off, along with a great season by Roger Craigedows in goal, who won loads of MoMs and bought us lots of wins.  This season we have 9th best T11 and 7th best T17 so mid table looks possible.  We've kept back a nice pile of cash over 1000k for the div 2 only auction so hoping to win a decent player or 2 in this before we go up against div 1 teams in later auctions.  We have our star striker Fin Allen training up this season to L 30 so hopefully get a few goals.  Main aim is to stay in the division.as we tend to be a yo-yo club.  Prediction: 8th.

Season 55 Update

We did better than expected last season finishing 3rd and gaining promotion to div 1.  I think we rode our luck with injuries and played a lot of games with players finishing in negative EL.  This meant we could play T11 for a good proportion of the matches.

This season looks ominous as we start with the 16th T11 and T17 in div 1.  Realistically it will be an achievement to avoid auomatic relegation back to div 2.  We may need another strategy this season, perhaps pick our target games and send out the reserves for games we have no chance in.  Problem is that's the vast majority of the games!  Perhaps we just concentrate on building the team for next season in div 2.  Prediction: 14th

Season 56 Update

Well last season was one to forget, 15th and relegated.  At the start of the season we had the worst T11/17 so not a surprise.

So what's in store for this season? On the basis of T11/17 it's going to be a rough ride in div 2, we're last in both again this season.

One small chink of light is that we managed to have enough for 50cp for the first time ever.

The defence is looking poor so will be the priority at the start.

We'll also need to get a goalkeeper trained up.

So this will likely be a rebuilding season, and we'll accept relegation and hope to do better next season in division 3.

Prediction: 16th

Elgin City's manager: Jason Dowson

Season 27 Update

Elgin reached a new low in season 26 finishing 14th in division 3 and narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon. The normal tactic was used for most games but with very little success since we didn't create enough goal-making opportunities to get wins on the board.

Season 27 things we are going to try rebuilding the aging squad as number one priority. To that end we have acquired the maximum 50 TPs and aim to get 5 age 0/1s fully trained by season end. It will also be time to say goodbye to the normal tactic as ELG do not have enough resources to employ sufficiently strong players in midfield which this tactic seems to require. It is time for long ball!

Away from SESL I have just become a father, so having lots of fun with my 3 month old son Cailin. I also enjoy running and I am currently training for a 10k in September.

Season 34 update

It's been a while since my last update.  Cailin is now almost 4 and I now have a daughter, Freya 9 months old.

Still running, albeit at the ungodly hour of 5:30 in the morning before work!  Maybe sign up for a race this year.

Recently celebrated my 20th year in my job as a programmer.  Starting to wonder whether I'll still be doing this in 10 years, probably!  I enjoy it anyway.

Favourite team: Southend United currently in league 2 but good chance of playoffs at least this season.

Season 35 Update

Southend got promoted to league 1 via winning the play -off final and I was there at Wembley with my Dad and brothers, fantastic!

Still in the same job programming.  Enjoying the summer and looking forward to hols in Scotland, visiting Alford and then Isle of Arran.

also sadly looking forward to getting a new manual lawnmower to tackle a jungle of a back garden.

Season 36 Update

Southend are doing ok in league 1 currently just outside playoffs in 7 th.  

Christmas was nice and relaxing and now looking forward to 2016, might be time to try something new at work, all will be revealed in s 37 update!

New years resolution is to try and get to bed earlier, so it being 11:20 it's goodnight!

Season 37 Update

Southend finished mid table in league 1, good news is that Charlton went down so looking forward to Southend v Charlton this season as I live 1 mile from Charlton's ground.  I'll take Cailin along for his match and try and indoctrinate him to be a blues fan!

I've finally bit the bullet at work and am no longer a pure programmer, now I'm an analyst.  However will still get a chance to do some programming, which is good because I do enjoy it.

Holidays in Scotland in August, up in Alford and Crieff Hydro, nice family hotel.  Looking forward to some down time.

I'm looking for a hobby to keep my mind occupied, possibly photography.  Will update next season.

SEason 39 Update

Cailin and Freya now have a new baby brother, Morvan!  So having lots of fun with the children.  Off to Scotland for summer hols, driving up for first time, 500 miles!  Changed my role again at work so doing more programming again which is definitely my thing!

Season 40 Update

 Morvan is 9 months and Cailin 6.5, Freya 3.5 all enjoyed Christmas, great fun!  Job is going well and will be busy on a project for next few months.  New Years resolution is to try and get fit again and get more sleep, and watch less news, I'm bored of Brexit now!

Season 41 Update

Morvan is 14 months and will be walking soon, Cailin 7 and Freya 4.  Still super busy on project for next couple of months, looking forward to summer holidays in Scotland and the World Cup.  For once expectations for England are low so will be more fun to watch the games!

Season 42 Update

Morvan is walking now, Cailin and Freya enjoying school.  Project is still busy but the end is in sight.  World Cup was great, lots of exciting games and nice to see England do so well.  I've been missing my early morning runs so aim to get back into those and get to bed earlier, sleep is so important and I've not been having enough.  See how I do in my next report.

Season 50 Update

Morvan is 4, Freya 7, and Cailin 10, secondary school next year.  Still working as a programmer but now have a new role as a data engineer, using a language called Python (named after Monty Python).  Recently celebrated my 50th year just like SESL!  Still doing the morning runs for fitness, knees starting to hurt a bit but manageable with regular stretching.  Might try some yoga.  Hopefully start learning guitar in the new year.

Season 51 Update

We're almost through birthday season where the whole family have their birthdays within an 8 week period, lots of cake! Recently we tried glamping for the first time.  Went to Cheddar Gorge and had a great time.  The tent was quite luxurious as it had a sofa, kitchen, wood burning stove and separate bedrooms.  Beautiful spot overlooking the Gorge and the children loved it, so we'll go again I think.  Got a beginners pottery making set for my birthday, looking forward to having a go at that!

Season 52 Update

Summer is drawing to a close and looking back on lovely holiday in Aboyne and the Isle of Skye.  Cailin starts secondary school tomorrow so exciting times ahead, Morvan is starting year 1 and Freya year 4.  Will have to manage the drop-offs and pickups as Cailin's secondary school is a bus journey away.  I'm into the office 2 days a week now so we are getting a nanny to help with pick-ups those days.  Still working as a data engineer and enjoying it.  Big aim is to reduce the excess hours I do when working from home as I have been working sometimes to 10 at night.  The work will always be there so I'm going to try a rule of logging off by 8 at the latest.

Season 53 Update

The updates seem to come quicker all the time!  Very busy at work at the moment as have a project going live in a couple of weeks.  Looking forward to getting evenings back.  Have a nice break in Devon lined up for Feb half term, staying in a cottage, then I have to wait until April because I've used all my holiday days.  Still running in the mornings at silly o'clock 5:30, good to get some fitness in.  Hopefully when the project ends will get some more time to do other stuff like learning guitar.

Season 54 Update

We got the project live at work and so straight into the next one, not too stressful in the early stages.  Enjoying this lovely hot weather we're having and looking forward to holiday in the summer, going to Aberdeenshire  to see the in laws.  Have started doing a bit of yoga and this is really helping my sore knees, great as it allows me to keep up my running. Really pleased to see my youngest son Morvan start football training, he is 6 and seems to have great potential, a powerful shot and good dribbling skills.  My daughter Freya 9 has also started football training.  My eldest son Cailin 12 enjoys his theatre school.

Season 55 Update

Project is going well at work, making good progress and not too much stress so far.  Going live next September.  Running still and enjoying it.  We have a cat now.  Oreo started visiting us in September, we checked if he had an owner and doesn't so we've adopted him, cute cat about 10 months old.  Kids love him.  I used to be allergic but seem to be fine with him.  I'm trying to get some more sleep and it does seem to make a difference.  As I get up at 5:30 for my run I'm trying to get to bed by 10:30.  I'm going to start doing some of the free courses on Open Learn.  There are lots of free courses on there from the Open University.  I might do one on exo planets which I find fascinating.

Season 56 Update

Project still going well at work.  I'm enjoying the exoplanet course with OpenLearn, very interesting.  Currently getting passports renewed for the children and myself so hopefully we can go abroad for the first time since 2016. Keeping up the running and have found a good combination of stretches to help with my knees, almost running pain free now.  The children are getting on well at school and enjoying their theatre school and football clubs.  Southend United are doing ok in the national league and should hopefully avoid relegation now.  Now they have new owners can hopefully push on next season and get back into the EFL.