NationStates • View topic - Updates from the Saint Eleanor League (2025)

Independence 1975 - "Indy;" "The Liberators" - the club of the (civilian) government and the Eleanorian masses

• Home stadium: The National Liberation Arena, Central district (capacity 68,184)
• Starting lineup (preferred formation 4-2-3-1): 1. Robby Ellis [GK; 25yo; he/him]; 2. Cathy Winchester [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CAPTAIN] [LB; 31yo; she/her]; 3. Joe Willis [RB; 22yo; he/him]; 4. Layla Grover [CDM; 29yo; she/her]; 5. Katy Wilson [CB; 25yo; she/her]; 6. Matt Morrison [CB; 22yo; he/him]; 7. David Newcastle [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [LM; 35yo; he/him]; 8. + Kichirō Matsuda [CDM; Wunderbar; 25yo; he/him]; 9. Dortmün Çídh [ST; 32yo; he/him]; 10. Kavezalea Felaraneta [CAM; 25yo; he/him]; 11. Gary Morgan [RM; 26yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. Lisa Dobson [GK; 20yo; she/her]; 13. Joshua Tanner [CB; 35yo; he/him]; 14. Lucy Hendricks [RB; 19yo; she/her]; 15. Jon Harp [LM; 29yo; he/him]; 16. Adam Tarrant [CM; 24yo; he/him]; 17. Ian Marks [ST; 23yo; he/him]; 18. Angela Spooner [RM; 21yo; she/her]
• Manager and tactics: Lydia Sharp [54yo; she/her]: It has been a slow few years in the transfer market, and more generally on the personnel front, for the League. Sharp has accordingly stayed true to expectations, keeping to largely the same squad that won last year's title, while giving the promising, conservative-minded Joe Willis the regular starts he has been preparing for. Ellis and Winchester have by now long proven their respective worths as the key defensive figures, helping to ground the back four in something approaching realism. The attacking set all have a well-known profile and have consistently delivered, but there have been fears of a slowdown on that front; Sharp suggesting that Indy might need to "turn on the taps a little bit" a few weeks before the start of the season would have caught many off-guard, but it might well be the step they need to take, as many Grand Beach fans can attest.

Athletic Saint Eleanor - "Athletic;" "The Reds" - the club of the business owners

• Home stadium: Northwest Road, Whitehammer district (capacity 53,174)
• Starting lineup (preferred formation 4-1-3-2): 1. Kirsti Sundgren [GK; 24yo; she/her]; 2. Elissa Curry [LB; 29yo; she/her]; 3. Naresmet taFrexala [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [RB; 33yo; he/him]; 4. Bridget Coombe [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CDM; 34yo; she/her]; 5. + Lydia VIckers [CB; 22yo; she/her]; 6. Esther Launceston [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CB; 28yo; she/her]; 7. Graham Lawson [LM; 29yo; he/him]; 8. Michael Jackett [CM; 29yo; he/him]; 9. Nightingale [WINNER AS PLAYER: IFCF CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE 6] [CAPTAIN] [ST; pegasus; 36yo; she/her]; 10. Tim Driver [ST; 28yo; he/him]; 11. Wasemprela Sareleva [RM; 28yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. Harry Mitchell [GK; 19yo; he/him]; 13. Ben McDougall [CB; 23yo; he/him]; 14. Natasha Rhodes [CM; 19yo; she/her]; 15. Charlotte Phillips [RM; 24yo; she/her]; 16. Phil Parris [ST; 24yo; he/him]; 17. James Johnson [LB; 21yo; he/him]; 18. Charles Brewer [CM; 20yo; he/him]
• Manager and tactics: Yelto-Aflan Ono [47yo; they/them]: Consistency is the word for YAO even more than it is for their old rival Sharp, having run Indy close yet again and made the last sixteen of the Champions' League on top of it. They still have a proven reputation for tinkering with the squad from time to time, but the overall setup is clear: Sundgren may well be here to stay, given how well and how surprisingly she has acquitted herself. Launceston remains much-needed - she is on good personal and professional terms with almost everyone else on the squad, but especially Vickers and Coombe, the other main defensive influences. Nightingale is not only the greatest striker in SEL history, but also a competent all-rounder who is supported by perhaps the most cohesive midfield in the league. There are question marks about how far this team can go, however; if the ever-looming rumours of Coombe's departure are true, they might start flirting with the Challengers' Cup.

Hiyashi Celestia - "Celestia;" "The Angels" - the club of Northern Saint Eleanor's working class (especially Hiyashi's employees in Broadlands)

• Home stadium: Celestial Stadium, Broadlands district (capacity 36,645)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-2): 1. Shojiro Ito [GK; 30yo; he/him]; 2. Nicole Morlock [LB; 35yo; she/her]; 3. Sarah Parton [CB; 29yo; she/her]; 4. Isi Šasawić [CB; 30yo; he/him]; 5. Caradoc Anghoill [RB; 29yo; he/him]; 6. Nobusuke Kuronuma [CAPTAIN] [CM; 33yo; he/him]; 7. Joe Galbraith [LM; 33yo; he/him]; 8. Maria Morgan [CM; 23yo; she/her]; 9. Rick Goldsmith [ST; 29yo; he/him]; 10. Takeshi Honda [ST; 29yo; he/him]; 11. James Heath [RM; 22yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. Josh Baines [GK; 20yo; he/him]; 13. Nigel Vincent [CB; 22yo; he/him]; 14. Alex Lander [CM; 20yo; he/him]; 15. Edward Ruthan [LB; 21yo; he/him]; 16. Bill Simpson [LM; 24yo; he/him]; 17. Eva Wellesley [RM; 33yo; she/her]; 18. Libby Freeman [ST; 25yo; she/her]
• Manager and tactics: Rachel Schanke [46yo; she/her]: It would be extremely easy for me to copy and paste last year's tactical preview here, given the complete and utter lack of change, but then Schanke is a fairly conservative manager who sticks by her players - especially Morlock, who shows no sign of giving up in her mid-thirties and is no longer the weakest of the defenders. The relative absence of the Kandorese FA may be a concern to her, but there has been nothing in recent seasons to suggest that any of their contingent at the club has dipped in quality. At this point, Rick Goldsmith - so good he got on the national team - and Maria Morgan are easily the best of the local bunch, although the substitutes bench is young as expected and the consensus is that any of them could hold a candle to most SEL players in their positions. Just maybe not the ones at Hiyashi Celestia, though.

Newbanks United - "United;" "The Students" - the club of eastern, non-coastal Saint Eleanor city (and Squidroidia)

• Home stadium: Eastern Fields, Newbanks district (capacity 24,184)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-2): 1. Carla Hawkins [GK; 32yo; she/her]; 2. Polly Ground [LB; 31yo; she/her]; 3. Michael Dean [CB; 28yo; he/him]; 4. + Daiki Fujiwara [CB; 29yo; he/him]; 5. Harriet Farnham [RB; 26yo; he/him]; 6. Emma Francis [CM; 29yo; she/her]; 7. + Hamnet Borysov [LM; Inkling; 30yo; he/him]; 8. Rachel Woodhouse [CM; 29yo; she/her]; 9. Rachel McNamara [ST; 30yo; she/her]; 10. + Nobuyuki Ishida [ST; 29yo, he/him]; 11. Tash Banbury [RM; 34yo; she/her]
• Substitutes: 12. Damian Rhodes [GK; 25yo; he/him]; 13. + Kōji Katou [CAPTAIN] [CB; 39yo; he/him]; 14. Catherine Morrison [LB; 23yo; she/her]; 15. Noah Halford [CM; 27yo; he/him]; 16. James Pittam [RM; 24yo; he/him]; 17. Palerenala vaEplanera [LM; 22yo; he/him]; 18. Simon Smith [ST; 21yo; he/him]
• Manager and tactics: Ian Graham [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 73] [62yo; he/him]: Graham surely accepts that this will be his final rodeo with Newbanks, having repeatedly commented about how he does not see a future beyond the club's current IFCF run. Everywhere you look, there is despondency and confusion: there are no trialists from the Community School; Kōji Katou has said he intends to seek retirement "eventually," although will be on the bench to see Michael Dean through the new order; even Ishida is slowly stepping back, in the interests of giving way to Simon Smith, perhaps for the lower-stakes match-ups. Hawkins and McNamara are past thirty, although they have not lost their mojo yet. There is hardly anyone else of note in the team who is not either past their peak or approaching it.

Sword and Shield - "Arsenal;" "The Collegiates" - the club of the University

• Home stadium: University Grounds, Collegiate district (capacity 35,174)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-2-1-3): 1. Michael Hall [GK; 31yo; he/him]; 2. Gordon Pratt [LB; 28yo; he/him]; 3. Christine Terrence [CB; 30yo; she/her]; 4. John Alexander [CB; 24yo; he/him]; 5. Evan Kilkenny [RB; 33yo; he/him]; 6. Joe Watts [CM; 25yo; he/him]; 7. Hugh Roanoke [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CAPTAIN] [LM; 34yo; he/him]; 8. Lucas Barrow [CM; 28yo; he/him]; 9. Olympia Woodward [ST; 20yo; she/her]; 10. Rosa Strong [CAM; 21yo; she/her]; 11. Naclé Öhân [RM; 21yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. Àlfôn Qâerês [LM; 22yo; he/him]; 13. Ed Jackson [GK; 22yo; he/him]; 14. Rebecca Daniels [CB; 20yo; she/her]; 15. Bella Gray [RB; 29yo; she/her]; 16. Pakelana Vezara [CM; 21yo; he/him]; 17. Luke Barring [RM; 26yo; he/him]; 18. Alexandra Marcus [ST; 28yo; she/her]
• Manager and tactics: Emma Steele [48yo; she/her]: Steele has now been at the helm of Sword and Shield for one-fifth of her life, which is not a bad achievement for someone who had never worked in football before. Woodward acquitted herself wonderfully last year, scooping up fourteen goals, and will be looking to make a similarly permanent mark in the years ahead. Hugh Roanoke, a good if not quite stellar all-rounder, persists on the wing, while Rosa Strong - the unofficial heir to Maddie Gordon - is still trying to match her in accomplishments if not in style, which is not all that bad a thing. The defence is average, but Kilkenny and Terrence should see it through for another few years, unless yet another golden generation emerges - something that Steele shouldn't count on.

Golden Unicorn - "The Unicorn" - the club of northern Saint Eleanor city's middle-class (and the odd aesthete or two)

• Home stadium: Dignity Cross, Brightway district (capacity 27,587)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-1-1): 1. Georgia Wood [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CAPTAIN] [GK; 37yo; she/her]; 2. Gavin Laker [LB; 27yo; he/him]; 3. Keith Bartlett [RB; 25yo; he/him]; 4. Samuel Lewis [CM; 27yo; he/him]; 5. Aaron Francis [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CB; 33yo; he/him]; 6. Logan Hughes [CB; 37yo; he/him]; 7. Peter Walker [LM; 23yo; he/him]; 8. Natalie Monaco [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CAM; 33yo; she/her]; 9. Jaclyn Foley [ST; 28yo; she/her]; 10. Wanar-Xalan Tla [CM; 28yo; they/them]; 11. Gionata Mariani [RM; 28yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. Katie Masterson [GK; 23yo; she/her]; 13. Michael Burns [LB; 21yo; he/him]; 14. Ganelarana paValetara [CB; 25yo; she/her]; 15. Alisha Peters [RB; 22yo; she/her]; 16. Natasha Wallis [CM; 25yo; she/her]; 17. Adam Hall [RM; 34yo; he/him]; 18. Parecava gaExhecela [ST; 25yo; she/her]
• Manager and tactics: Justin Wood [51yo; he/him]: Having led his beloved club to their first top-half finish in six years, Wood's reward is to become the Unicorn's permanent boss. He may be hoping to bring the team to a higher level, but it's not clear that this team has what it takes quite yet. Wanar-Xalan is now rapidly establishing themselves as a mainstay of the Qusma national team, Monaco is just about still at the peak of her powers, Foley has proven herself to be a quality striker, and the other Wood remains legendary in just about every sense imaginable. But Francis is not quite at his best, there are doubts about the rest of the defence, and Mariani's long-held commitment to stay at the Unicorn until at least 2010 might not be as useful as he once swore it was - but we'll see.

Occidental Olympic - "Olympic;" "The Westerners" - the club of western and north-western Saint Eleanor city

• Home stadium: Parkside Stadium, Parkside district (capacity 26,285)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-2 diamond): 1. Neil Rourke [GK; 37yo; he/him]; 2. Rachel Curran [LB; 27yo; she/her]; 3. Lynul-Sevet Pul [RB; 28yo; they/them]; 4. Kieran Hyatt [CB; 28yo; he/him]; 5. Mike Pringle [CB; 27yo; he/him]; 6. Glenn French [CDM; 27yo; he/him]; 7. Lily Emmerson [LM; 23yo; she/her]; 8. Brian Hurd [RM; 23yo; he/him]; 9. David Key [ST; 27yo; he/him]; 10. Steve Pilchard [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CAPTAIN] [CAM; 32yo; he/him]; 11. Dekamela weMexala [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [ST; 34yo; she/her]
• Substitutes: 12. David Johnson [GK; 26yo; he/him]; 13. Jack Owen [LB; 26yo; he/him]; 14. Diana Gray [CB; 19yo; she/her]; 15. Andrew Card [CDM; 24yo; he/him]; 16. Heather Blake [CAM; 27yo; she/her]; 17. Ella Pinkman [RM; 20yo; she/her]; 18. Wendy Smith [ST; 23yo; she/her]
• Manager and tactics: George Dunbar [50yo; he/him]: Normally criticised for being a fairly stagnant manager, Dunbar has evaded criticism this year not only because of the slow transfer market, but also in the hope that he can prove last year's seventh-place finish to be an unwelcome, blinding flash in the pan. There is still no need to explain why Pilchard, weMexala and Key are some of the best at what they do, although Wendy Smith might emerge from time to time to add a bit of oomph. Rourke is 37 years old, which is hardly a career-ending age for a goalkeeper - but as he is hardly on the level of someone like Georgia Wood, it may be time for Johnson to step in. Curran, the inexorable ex-cheerleader, is the centrepiece of a defence in its prime - and I cannot go without mentioning how Emerson and Hurd have adapted amazingly to Dunbar's new, more wing-oriented approach to the game. All of them will be needed for a return to the IFCF.

Army and Navy - "The Soldiers" - the club of the Eleanorian Army (which all players are members of)

• Home stadium: New Barracks, Oaktree district (capacity 32,200)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-2): 1. Rose Carter [GK; Lance-Corporal; 26yo; she/her]; 2. Alan Eldridge [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [LB; Lance-Corporal; 36yo; he/him]; 3. Victor Bone [RB; Private; 31yo; he/him]; 4. David Green [CM; Private; 27yo; he/him]; 5. Adam Shilling [CB; Lance-Corporal; 30yo; he/him]; 6. Denise Livingston [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CAPTAIN] [CB; Sergeant; 28yo; she/her]; 7. Mark Gould [LM; Private; 28yo; he/him]; 8. James Walter [CM; Lance-Corporal; 26yo; he/him]; 9. Isabella Bright [ST; Private; 20yo; she/her]; 10. George Murson [ST; Lance-Corporal; 23yo; he/him]; 11. Sarah Wallace [RM; Private; 27yo; she/her]
• Substitutes: 12. Nathan Smith [GK; Private; 23yo; he/him]; 13. Paul Jones [CB; Lance-Corporal; 28yo; he/him]; 14. Kevin Bryson [LB; Private; 25yo; he/him]; 15. Olivia Silver [CM; Lance-Corporal; 24yo; she/her]; 16. Johanna Spencer [ST; Private; 21yo; she/her]; 17. Natalie Evans [RM; Private; 22yo; she/her]; 18. David Porter [RM; Private; 19yo; he/him]
• Manager and tactics: Luke McCarthy [50yo; Colonel; he/him]: "Unpredictable" has never been an appropriate word to describe Army and Navy, but this year, there really is no telling where the team may end up. David Porter arrives, although purely as a next-generation backup. Bright will be looking to continue her short but successful tenure up front, and the midfield behind her knows exactly what they are doing - something that can be rarely said. One point of note is that Eldridge is preparing to retire, having ceded the captaincy to the ever-stable Livingston and stated that he wishes Bryson to "enjoy his playing time." His experience will be needed - and it might well throw a spike into their IFCF hopes, at least for this season.

Grand Beach - "The Dolphins" - the club of coastal Saint Eleanor city

• Home stadium: Albion Road, Grand Beach district (capacity 24,815)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-2): 1. Volnavera xaParelanara [GK; 29yo; she/her]; 2. Christina Fulton [LB; 31yo; she/her]; 3. James Benson [CB; 25yo; he/him]; 4. Gary Milton [CM; 29yo; he/him]; 5. Sam Newbridge [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [CAPTAIN] [CB; 35yo; he/him]; 6. Owen Cartwright [RB; 22yo; he/him]; 7. Liz Harris [LM; 33yo; she/her]; 8. Rachel Coulter [CM; 22yo; she/her]; 9. Sara Halbrook [ST; 31yo; she/her]; 10. Esther Vaughan [ST; 21yo; she/her]; 11. Tim Brandon [WINNER AS PLAYER: CUP OF HARMONY 84] [RM; 33yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. Anthony George [GK; 19yo; he/him]; 13. Richard Booth [RB; 21yo; he/him]; 14. Bill Kendall [CB; 20yo; he/him]; 15. Olivia Herbert [LB; 23yo; she/her]; 16. Jack Brewer [RM; 22yo; he/him]; 17. Michelle Tallard [ST; 26yo; she/her]; 18. Adam Charles [CM; 22yo; she/her]
• Manager and tactics: Nathaniel Jenkins [54yo; he/him]: It's unlikely that Grand Beach will be one of the first two teams to be relegated into the new second division, but then it's not obvious if Jenkins has done anything of note to prevent the Dolphins' slide into irrelevancy. It doesn't help that Vaughan, hardly one to complain, has gotten increasingly sarcastic at the press conferences she's appeared at. The midfield can be amazing at times - Brandon is fast as ever and Coulter has made a seriously good first impression - but it is often little, if anything, to write home about. Bill Kendall is the club's first new defender for a while, but even he might be "too little, too late" given the continued necessity of Newbridge.

Good Hope Club - "The Seasiders" - the club of the dockworkers

• Home stadium: The Good Hope Stadium, Trident district (capacity 22,174)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-1-4-1): 1. Hannah Downing [GK; 31yo; she/her]; 2. Tina Falconer [LB; 27yo; she/her]; 3. Keith Barnett [RB; 21yo; he/him]; 4. Yusuf Sofyan [CB; 24yo; he/him]; 5. Carrie Holliday [CM; 27yo; she/her]; 6. Laura Brown [CAPTAIN] [CB; 38yo; she/her]; 7. Aaron Burrow [LM; 27yo; he/him]; 8. Charlotte Bryant [CDM; 35yo; she/her]; 9. Alexandra Barrett [RM; 25yo; she/her]; 10. Naferala paVepexala [CM; 27yo; he/him]; 11. Amanda Cleveland [ST; 27yo; she/her]
• Substitutes: 12. Darren Barker [GK; 22yo; he/him]; 13. George Anderson [LB; 20yo; he/him]; 14. Steve Harbrough [CB; 27yo; he/him]; 15. Rachel McEwan [RM; 20yo; she/her]; 16. Owen Blackwater [CM; 20yo; he/him]; 17. Terry Smith [CM; 23yo; he/him]; 18. Oliver Samuels [ST; 22yo; he/him]
• Manager and tactics: Mary Kirkport [48yo; she/her]: 2009 is very much the year of the warning sign for Eleanorian football - not only with promotion and the likely return of the Charles Trump Shield, but also Laura Brown's stated intention to retire next year. Kirkport should have no reason to be concerned, however, given the team's relative strength in depth beyond that: Sofyan would be a more-than-able defensive leader in her stead and it is a wonder that he has never been capped. The fact that Barnett has operated without any criticism for a couple of years is also a good sign that he is one for the future. Cleveland is a consistent striker, although one who has often been overshadowed by other Eleanorians. The midfield - other than the well-established, near-celebrity Bryant - is largely a quantity that the entire country has slept on, possibly including most GHC fans.

Nova Aegis - "The Pink Falcons" - the club of the worst-off, especially from Sunset Gates to Buckhead

• Home stadium: The Workers' Coliseum, Bramblewood district (capacity 20,874)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-2): 1. August Wills [GK; 24yo; he/him]; 2. Lauren Smith [LB; 27yo; she/her]; 3. Simon Donald [RB; 22yo; he/him]; 4. Rick Street [CAPTAIN] [CB; 28yo; he/him]; 5. Stephen Shepley [CB; 29yo; he/him]; 6. Amelia Lane [CM; 34yo; she/her]; 7. Matthew Wrekin [LM; 27yo; he/him]; 8. Alessio Lombardo [CM; 25yo; he/him]; 9. Paul Ronson [RM; 22yo; he/him]; 10. Deborah Dennis [ST; 23yo; she/her]; 11. Bill Murphy [ST; 21yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. Charlotte White [GK; 19yo; she/her]; 13. Richard Trincham [LB; 19yo; he/him]; 14. Louise Morgan [CB; 21yo; she/her]; 15. Tommy Grant [LM; 20yo; he/him]; 16. Keith Albert [CM; 23yo; he/him]; 17. Nick Ellison [ST; 20yo; he/him]; 18. Patrick Trout [RM; 23yo; he/him]
• Manager and tactics: Darren Smith [57yo; he/him]: One of very few eighties legends for Aegis, "Big Daz" has been forced to step up following yet another eleventh-place finish - although "forced" may be the wrong word, as James made club history yet again by actually resigning with grace. His first act as manager was to finally get Bill Murphy into professional football, four years after his Charles Trump Shield heroics; this was quite the interesting decision and time will tell whether it pays off. White and Trincham are also brought in straight from youth level, although they are unlikely to get minutes any time soon and this might just be a play to delay the inevitable. Street is the centrepiece of the defence and, with Lenham and Bryant having retired, the entire team, meaning that his sensible approach to life and football will need to pay off fast. Lombardo is still way too good for this level.

Polytechnic Institute - "The Poly" - the club of the Polytechnic

• Home stadium: Polytechnic Sports Centre, Buckhead district (capacity 6,088)
• Teamsheet (preferred formation 4-4-2): 1. Ian Black [CAPTAIN] [GK; 22yo; he/him]; 2. Ivica Slabinac [RB; 21yo; he/him]; 3. Lily Bruton [CB; 19yo; she/her]; 4. Edward Broad [CB; 21yo; he/him]; 5. Chloe Roland [LB; 20yo; she/her]; 6. James Salt [CM; 19yo; he/him]; 7. Michelle Addison [RM; 20yo; she/her]; 8. Gisken Aldra [CM; 19yo; they/them]; 9. Beatrix Hillman-Tower [ST; 19yo; she/her]; 10. Bill Wood [ST; 20yo; he/him]; 11. Alan Brinkley [LM; 20yo; he/him]
• Substitutes: 12. David Tanner [POS; 19yo; he/him]; 13. Nate George [RB; 20yo; he/him]; 14. Jennifer Wright [CB; 22yo; she/her]; 15. Leah Conroy [RM; 20yo; she/her]; 16. Charles McDonald [LM; 19yo; he/him]; 17. Êber Tóxo [ST; 19yo; he/him]; 18. Emily Anderton [CM; 19yo; she/her]
• Manager and tactics: Mike Adamson [54yo; he/him]: Adamson was very much an appointment of necessity; although an understudy of Paul Dennis, the long-suffering coach of Juventud, he insists that he is fully on-board with the Polytechnic Institute's new mission to cultivate under-25s, and promises to leave "next year, after we get a proper manager in here." The obvious names that stand out are Ivica Slabinac, considered to be a serviceable fullback; and Gisken Aldra, an energetic - almost enthusiastic - playmaker, the first two overseas players in the club's history. Black, arguably the best of the survivors from Juventud, has won widespread praise and will be crucial if the team is to concede less than fifty for the first time in over a decade. There are a few notable names from Charles Trump Shields past, too - Bruton, Addison and Salt have all been on winning teams - but this is by and large a good, inoffensive team that will help to keep the club's ambitions alive right as they're about to sprout.

RESULTS OF THE 2009 LEAGUE

▼▼ The Saint Eleanor League of 2009 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 
►►  1 Independence 1975 22 12 5 5 50 30 +20 41 Champions' League 21
►►  2 Athletic Saint Eleanor 22 11 8 3 27 15 +12 41 Champions' League 21
►►  3 Hiyashi Celestia 22 11 5 6 35 30 +5 38 Challengers' Cup 21
►►  4 Sword and Shield 22 10 7 5 44 35 +9 36 Challengers' Cup 21
►►  5 Occidental Olympic 22 11 3 8 43 39 +4 36 Challengers' Cup 21
►► 6 Golden Unicorn 22 10 5 7 40 35 +5 35
►► 7 Good Hope Club 22 9 2 11 24 23 +1 29
►► 8 Newbanks United 22 7 6 9 35 39 −4 27
►► 9 Army and Navy 22 6 8 8 20 21 −1 26
►► 10 Polytechnic Institute 22 5 5 12 44 58 −14 20
►► 11 Grand Beach 22 5 5 12 24 41 −17 20 Relegated
►► 12 Nova Aegis 22 3 6 13 30 50 −20 15 Relegated; Cygnus Cup 69

⪐ ⪐ ⪐ ⪐ ⪐ ⪐ ⪐ ⪐ ⪐ ⪐

RESULTS OF THE 2009 SHOWCASE

Round of Sixteen
Eleanorian Academy (Indy youth team) 3–5 Sword and Shield
Athletic Saint Eleanor 0–0 Army and Navy (0–1 AET)
Atlas CS (independent CTS team) 0–2 Newbanks United
Good Hope Club 1–2 Golden Unicorn
Nova Aegis 2–1 Army School (independent CTS team)
Hiyashi Celestia 0–2 Grand Beach
Independence 1975 1–1 Occidental Olympic (2–2 AET) (3–1 pen.)
Polytechnic Institute 4–1 Boys' Preparatory (independent CTS team)

Quarterfinals
Nova Aegis 2–2 Golden Unicorn (3–3 AET) (4–2 pen.)
Newbanks United 2–0 Independence 1975
Sword and Shield 1–2 Army and Navy
Grand Beach 2–0 Polytechnic Institute

Semifinals
Nova Aegis 4–3 Newbanks United
Army and Navy 0–0 Grand Beach (1–1 AET) (4–1 pen.)

THE FINAL
Nova Aegis 1–0 Army and Navy

* * * * * * * * * *

Oneshot: Just Hitched!

6:40pm - Friday 9th October 2009

Gisken Aldra had enjoyed a good first season, all things considered. For starters, they had finally broken free of Chalesm's substitutes bench and managed to play every single minute for the new, shiny, upcoming Polytechnic Institute. They had scored five goals, and set up no less than eight others, in their increasingly dynamic, exciting setup. They pretty much smash-and-grabbed that late victory against Hiyashi Celestia, early on in the season, on behalf of the rest of the team. They got that last-minute equaliser against Newbanks United, much to the almost-retired Kōji Katou's detest. They only got one booking all year, and actually apologised for it, which is a nicer touch than you'd expect from them or almost any other player. All of this would eventually come to not matter.

"So, tomorrow's the big day. Is there anything worth doing?" Suzy Woodacre had lodged Aldra since the start of the year; they didn't exactly earn nothing at Chalesm, but they must not have thought it was enough to keep them afloat here. She was working as a convenience store attendant, helping to stack the shelves and sometimes taking orders, while Aldra did their job. In a twist of fate, they had gone out with each other quite a few times, and had feelings for each other.

"I mean, we could go out together." Told you so.

"What were you thinking?"

"Lansome's over in St Paul do some very good pizza. It'll cost a fair amount, but I think we've earned it. Besides, the last time we went to the cinema, you didn't like it; I'd rather do my research first."

"I've never been!"

"I haven't, either. The store's frozen pizzas are nice, but I strongly doubt they're this nice. Anyway, it's a fancy place, so I'll need to change and get my handbag, you'll need to do the same, we need to get to the taxi rank in time... hurry up, please."

8:12pm - Friday 9th October 2009

And it was very good pizza indeed. "Yes... I'd also like the chocolate gelato brownie or whatever it is. Hot please."

"And you, madam?"

"Also hot."

"Great idea. It's not as good when it's cold. I'll be there in a moment."

Picture the scene for a moment: the nicest, candle-lightest restaurant in the most obviously working class town you can imagine. They're wearing the only pantsuit they have, and a pair of boots, and really nothing else of note. She's wearing a nice, white, luscious dress, almost-towering heels. The perfume, to the extent it exists, is masked by the beautiful aroma that the managers have spent way too much time designing. Life is altogether more beautiful than it is a quarter of a mile away, in any direction.

"So... is there anything else, Suzy?"

"Nooooo...?"

A few seconds later, the service bell rang. Aldra turned their head, looked to their handbag for a second, and muttered to herself "Order's ready..." These were their words, not the bellhop's. It was completely aberrational for the bellhop to just not call this out.

"Please." The box unfolded. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes! Oh, my God... yes!" Flash.

"Same! I love you!"

"I LOVE YOU!" Mmmmmwah

"Your other order, please." Flash flash flash

"Take this, Suzy..." Flash flash "Suzy Woodacre, love of my life!" Flash flash flash flash

"Real flowers!" Flash

"That is amazing. I hope you have the best start in life." Flash

"Wow. Congratulations, you two." Flash flash flash

"I saw you on TV!"

"Great! Can you put a face to my name?"

"Griska Aldern!" Flash

"So close." Flash

"Happy marriage!"

"I came here from Crownedhead. Normally I'm down at the oil field. I took some pictures..."

"I don't mind. I relish in the limelight."

"They're right, you know. Do as you please. Show your family."

"They're right? There's only two of you."

"I am Suzy. I'm a woman. This is my fiancée, Gisken Aldra. Gisken likes to be called 'they - so they are non-binary. They play in midfield for the Polytechnic Institute football club."

"Yeah, I've heard of them. Team's not been doing so well, haven't they?"

"It's their big day tomorrow. They have to do better than Grand Beach if they want to be in the top division next year."

"It's their big day today, girl. This one's sticking around for a few years."

"Ooooooh, congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Here are yourrrrrr desserts. Enjoy."

"Don't steal!"

"Gissy... don't be a sore winner."

"Right. I'll keep that in mind for tomorrow."

"Oh, rest assured that I am still waiting on my main course."

"I'm eating!"

"Bless that young boy. He makes a lot of sense."

"Proposing to me in front of fifteen or twenty middle-class people? Which we're most certainly not. Are you sure this was the right decision, Gissy?"

"As I said, Suzy, limelight."

"Yes, but you could have done this somewhere else."

"This was the best place I could think of. And noooo, I will go public about this. If nobody else notices, it'll be my little surprise for tomorrow."

The morning of Saturday 10th October 2009

$Gary Milton$ loved his daily Reporter almost as much as anything in the world other than football and family, so you can imagine his shock when he had to read a story about Grand Beach's fierce relegation rivals. "BLISSKEN ALDRA! What has this world come to?"

"Darling, it's the Reporter. They want the best and the most ridiculous for people. Asking "will you marry me" in front of twenty or thirty people is a pretty big deal when we have half a million citizens. Besides, you asked me in your back garden."

"I know it's the Reporter! These people have gone a bit raving mad about her, don't you think? You don't normally see them fawning over anyone who isn't Esther Launceston."

"About them. And yes, I do think they have a lot of potential. They aren't wasting it. I've read before that they're staying in with Suzy because it helps with their finances and they can find a new friend. That friend's now a girlfriend. Great! It's only our business when they visit us, as is the Eleanorian way."

"Really, though?"

"Gary, not every footballer makes fifty or sixty thousand a year. You need to understand this. People come here because it's fairly affordable, there isn't any tax, and we have some of the best football in the world."

"And a second division next year. I don't think she's really interested in staying up. All we need to do is beat them and when the central midfielder on that team's busy having a night out, the rest of the team's probably really distracted. They're going down, girl."

"*sigh*"

It suffices to say that $Jon Harp$ was no more impressed. "Dad. Come on, Dad. This is a new person."

"Yes, lad. but I think it's a bit silly for you to be having a fun time, doing things like this, before the biggest night of your life."

"Not just silly. Really, Dad. I've seen people do a lot worse before, maybe not in Indy, but in other clubs, other leagues. I feel like this was a massive misjudgment. They won't be at their best, I think."

"Well, I've always been sceptical of the kinds of people who make a big show of everything. I've never seen such a big primadonna in football before, and I've been around for a few years."

"Yes, but it's in the papers. That is just going to fuel their attention, isn't it? New country, everything's unfamiliar, you have friends and you play about with them a bit much until it gets out of hand. You're not focusing on the football that way. Have you wondered why so many of our young players stay here to get minutes? This is why!"

"Don't worry about them. You're playing Good Hope today. It's the title decider I know you're probably on the bench again, but give it your best shot. You never know what you could do."

"Aren't Athletic way ahead of us in the IFCF?"

"I've watched the Cygnus Cup before. It's not that good a tournament. You made the quarterfinals of the Associations Trophy, same as them. You even scored the winning goal in one of those games."

"Yeah... Sleepers Club! Say what you like about Gisken Aldra. Nothing, absolutely nothing, in the world of football beats scoring against a team called Sleepers Club."

"You jolted them awake, son. Time to do the same to Hannah Downing."

"If I get subbed on!"

Meanwhile, $Harriet Farnham$ was just a bit confused. "That guy's right. It does feel like winning the lottery, Brian, doesn't it?"

"I don't play. I bought one scratchcard and didn't win anything. But I think these people felt blessed. You don't see someone popping the question every day."

"Phantasmic... fantastic? Both of those words would do nicely. It's amazing to see them live a wonderful life together."

"They've only been together for not even a year. I'm not sure if the relationship is just going to blaze out as fast as it's come into life."

"Yes, but it's all the time they've spent here. I'd do the same, too. Also, it's Gisken. I know them well - they're a bit impulsive but very funny and very sensible. Everything they do has to hit the spot. I think this just did."

"I think I can agree with you. I'll need to do some more research on the internet."

Naturally, though, $David Tanner and Edward Broad$ took it cool as ever. "Dave, I knew they were going to marry, but not this soon!"

"Just you wait, Ed. Just you wait. I think we'll be invited."

"How do you know that?"

"One, teammates. Two, they're cool with us."

"Ohhhhh, press conference at eleven. Better be there, Dave!"

"Yeah, it'll be a firecracker. How often do you go to a football press conference and all the questions are nice distractions from the beautiful game?"

"Well, it'll certainly be a sight to see. Happy wife, happy life... perhaps even happy strife."

"Hahahahaha! Amazing."

11am - Saturday 10th October 2009

The answer to David Tanner's question is "very rarely." But that is more or less exactly what happened at the Poly Sports'' purported media complex, still not improved much on the days when Juventud were mismanaging it.

"Congratulations on your engagement to Suzy Woodacre. How do you think the Eleanorian public will react to a high-profile lesbian marriage?"

"I'm not a lesbian. I am a happy, fulfilled non-binary person who fell in love with my roommate. Back in my schooldays... *sigh* I just didn't feel like being a girl suited me any more. Don't get me wrong, though - this is a marriage of love, not of necessity. Although I love her enough that a marriage is necessary."

"I'm Dan Hollings from The News Letter. Our investigative journalism team looked into the menu prices and talked to one of the witnesses and everything points to the fact that you spent over $250 on dinner."

"Well, no, it was a three-course meal. I also didn't spend $250. My girlfriend's on 23,000 a year. I'm on 20,000. That's a shared experience and we have roughly the same income, so it made sense for us to split the bill. It's like how we each pay half of the rent for the house because we're almost on poverty wages after all the other spending; I can tell you it was absolutely crushing Suzy. Normally we have fun, cheap dates, but I thought to myself I've saved enough, we haven't really had a fancy dinner that often, so why not?"

"You've been dating Suzy since the start of this year, but the proposal took everyone by surprise. How did you do it?"

"I wanted to surprise her, so I told her a few days ago I was going to the shops. I did that, then I popped in, arranged the arrangements, and booked the table. It worked, because she genuinely thought I was just treating myself for finishing the season like this. The staff at Lansome's were really sweet, by the way."

"So, there's been a lot of discussion about you and Suzy, but now it's over. When are you having the wedding?"

"We'll need to talk about that. She's angling for the New Year but I'd like to see where that fits in my schedule, between that and family back home and everything."

"Some people have said this whole process is a bit rushed. What if you get divorced?"

"Good question. By the time that happens, I'd probably be making enough money to tend her some alimony, get my own place and keep having fun on my own terms."

"Would you call yourself bisexual?"

"No, I'm called Gisken Aldra. Yes, actually; just my luck I've been dating a woman all this time."

"Yes."

"You were pictured with a bottle of wine last night. Do you normally drink?"

"Every Saturday night, I go to the shops and drop a fiver on a six-pack of lager. Yes, it's supermarket own-brand; yes, it's 3½% alcohol. But it's the closest thing we get to a bit of harmless fun."

"That suit you were wearing last night - how did you afford it?"

"Funny question. I'm wearing it right now. It's just about the only formalwear I can afford. As I said, $20,000 salary."

"Your mind was on your girlfriend-now-fiancée last night. Are you sure it'll be on the game when the time comes?"

"I know, right? You'd think getting the biggest question of my life out of the way would make me more focused on today's game, not less."

"Where do you see yourself in five years? In ten years?"

"At another club, possibly another league. I'm literally playing for Club 18-25, what did you expect?"

"The Polytechnic Institute has won just one of their past thirteen games. That is one game in the entire second half of the season. One win in the past six months, and that was against Nova Aegis! Are you nervous about today's game at all?"

"I was. But after recent events, I think I can afford to be a bit more relaxed here."

"Relegation's going to be introduced next year and the bottom two teams are going down. If you're going to stay up, you need a point against one of the best teams in the league, and you need Grand Beach to slip up against another IFCF challenger. Do you really think the Polytechnic Institute has what it takes to get there?"

"Where were you on Friday morning? Were you thinking to yourself 'Gisken Aldra is going to be engaged to Suzy Woodacre?' You didn't, did you? I'm ready for a second big surprise in 24 hours, if I'll be completely honest with you."

"You keep talking about Suzy. Could you possibly give an answer to any of these questions, at all, that doesn't mention her or what you did last night?"

"Yes. It wouldn't be engaging and you wouldn't want to quote it."

11:45am - Saturday 10th October 2009

Meanwhile, the mood at Justin Wood's press conference was more serious; more focused; more... oh.

"As you know, Justin, there was a big media storm earlier today when Giskra Aldra proposed to their girlfriend. This came as a complete surprise and, as I'm sure you can understand, has diverted everyone's attention from the final round of games. Do you have anything to say about the situation?"

"I'm not concerned with what other people on other teams are doing, only with the people on my team. Gionata, Aaron, Jaclyn, Georgia - these people are my concern. Not some Squornshelan teenager who gets herself into a new headline every three or four days."

"Aldra's pronouns are they/them, if you weren't aware...?"

"Yeah. I said it's not my concern."

"This isn't only a must-win game for the Polytechnic Institute, because the Unicorn could all but seal their place in the IFCF for the first time in seven years with a win today. Can you do it?"

"I think we all know that the end-of-season Poly isn't the start-of-season Poly. They've repeatedly stalled to draws, often losses, and I think we'll be able to easily pick them off. Who's the talk of the town today? Not any of my folk. We're all focused on the game."

"Now, I know you must have done a bit of team planning, what with Peter Walker being suspended for today's..."

"Stop talking bullshit. The suspension was overturned and that yellow card the other day was manifestly unjust. That was never an obvious foul, never. Maybe an accident, but obvious? No, no, no."

"Do you have anything to say to Gisken and Suzy about their upcoming marriages?"

"No. It's a free country. I'm just thankful they're acting like it rather than being scared."

"It's being reported that Aldra's marriage is going to be able to take place in Saint Eleanor as they're non-binary, so technically it's not a same-sex marriage. This is what one top judge has said. Do you have any thoughts on this?"

"Good. Mitcham's too conservative on this sort of thing."

3pm (and its consequences) - Saturday 10th October 2009

The day's games started well enough, with a light flurry of goals. Athletic somehow found three in the first twenty minutes against Newbanks, which somehow ended the title race before it even began. Celestia were only one up against Aegis, but gave them a better pounding than the final scoreline suggested. Indy had gotten a goal ruled out against Good Hope Club, although not by Jon Harp, rotting on the bench as ever. Olympic's visit to Army was the exception, but you wouldn't be surprised to hear that.

This leaves us with the two major forecasts of the day. The forecast for Grand Beach was gloomy, despite Esther Vaughan giving them an early ray of sunshine, one that would have taken them clear of the Poly; Olympia Woodward, that other great young striker, got the equaliser and was dreadfully unlucky not to have won that penalty. Meanwhile, the Polytechnic were struggling a bit. They had gone one down thanks to Gionata Mariani, legend that he is, but Beatrix Hillman-Tower gave them a lifeline late in the first half. Both teams were all square at the break, but the Seasiders had the advantage.

Suddenly, they didn't. Thanks, Bill Wood, who nudged his way in from a corner kick of dubious veracity. And then they did. Thanks, Alexandra, twice over. So, step forward a few people. Firstly, James Benson, who was sensible enough to trip Bill Wood. And secondly...

Gisken Aldra themselves. They negotiated a bit and ended up getting the free kick, right there, 25 yards out with about thirty seconds to go. Then they curled it up and over the wall, possibly intending for Beatrix again, maybe Êber Tóxo. As it turned out, it ended up going past even Georgia Wood. And so everyone at the Poly - not least Aldra - became very, very happy, verging on deliverious. The Grand Beach was left deserted.

The heavy rain kept falling and falling and falling on all but a grateful few. Nate Jenkins resigned. Vaughan told everyone she wanted out. Tim Brandon didn't go that far, but was angry at everyone involved. Darren Smith was sacked, as all good Aegis managers are. Alessio Lombardo said he was mad, without acting like it. Justin Wood congratulated himself on not totally shitting the bed. Natalie Monaco very publicly disagreed. Gisken Aldra celebrated, had a couple of cans of beer in public, and witnessed as their entire team got rewarded in all sorts of ways. Mike Adamson himself said he'd stick around as a coach for a few years, while a new manager was found. A just reward for a just man.

11:59pm - Thursday 31st December 2009

Buckhead did, at least, have a nice, open Common Field going for it. There was still a bit of snow underfoot, as would be expected, but the stage had been set long after that had fallen and temperatures had picked up a bit. Normally, the wedding photographer is its own expense, but most footballers in the League don't exactly need one, as the press is there to cover everything.

As was the form, Woodacre wore a nice, flowy white dress of the kind she had no right to afford, and a more sensible pair of shoes than you'd expect, for obvious reasons. Aldra wore exactly the same clothes as they did when they proposed a few months earlier. And there was a priest of some sort, in his usual garb, trying his very best not to make this look too Evangelical.

"Do you, Gisken Aldra, take Suzy Woodacre to be your lawfully-wedded wife?"

"I do!"

"And do you, Suzy Woodacre, take Gisken Aldra to be your lawfully-wedded partner?"

"Yes. I do."

"Very well. You may now kiss the bride."

How lucky must these two women have been? Suzy has a job she likes that keeps her afloat. Gisken found their feet, kept their club in the top flight. They got married on the stroke of a new decade and fell in love with each other, at last, just as the fireworks went off. For once, the Eleanorian working class was back on top.

The morning of Friday 1st January 2010

Suffice to say that no less a man as Liam West himself was befuddled by these latest developments, or at least he was when he took an unscheduled break from the corner shop he helped run to show his wife the paper. "Hmmm... TENTH HEAVEN! Could they not have thought of a better headline, Cici?"

"Well, yes, but it's important for them. Gisken could earn more money in the future, for another club. Suzy could get some managerial responsibility. That, and you're both working at the convenience store."

"Not the same one, love. Come on."

The morning of Wednesday 13th January 2010

Aldra had their faults with The Reporter - they thought it was a bit too gossipy and that The Journal, the trusted local newspaper, had far better reporting about most matters. She decided that the back-page headline of the day was too tempting to ignore, however. "ALDRA MARRIED TO NEW CONTRACT... Gisken Aldra has said they are 'more than grateful' after they secured a $28,000 salary for the upcoming year, a 40% increase on their debut season. The 19-year-old star - who has spoken openly about their struggle to pay for their New Year's wedding with Suzy Woodacre, 21, and other personal expenses - originally asked for up to $35,000..."

"Well, I did ask for 35,000. I didn't tell anyone outside the club, though. The new manager really needs to start getting to the root of all of these leaks."

"You're lucky, Gissy. I'm only on 24 grand."

"We're both lucky. Anyway, I make that just over $4,000 a month between us. That's $3,000 after the household bills and everything. You're still paying off the loan from the wedding, so that's $300..."

"So they aren't your struggles? You could have told me(!)"

"When I promised you we'd live our life together, that didn't mean having the same weirdly nail-on-the-head sense of sarcasm. But yes. $2,700 after that, headmath says... $150 a week shopping... $2,100 after shopping. At least we don't have to pay tax here. So we spend half our income on what we need and the other half, we can do whatever we want with it, I suppose. Where to next?"

"Please. We are not going on a foreign holiday until 2012."