Hello my dear friends, time for the announcement I was talking about yesterday. Most of you know that this blog has been around for a year now, I started it on the 28th of December 2008. I’m very thankful to all of you for what it became today, a popular blog with a great community of readers. That is why I’m constantly thinking about how to improve it and give you more interesting features.
OK, I guess that’s enough for an introduction, let me tell you what will happen here starting… now!
Opening Up
I already said that I think I learned more from you than you did from me, your input has always been great. On the other hand I know that many of you have great Football Manager stories to tell. I’m very happy that you are reading my stories but I thought that it would be great to open the blog for other authors. The bottom line is that any of you will have the chance to get an account and publish his stories here, you will have a numerous readership right away plus a few other benefits:
- your own name@footballmanagerstory.com email.
- the possibility to insert your own ads in the posts you’ll be publishing. (Don’t worry, you won’t get rich
But you could earn a few honest pennies.) - the possibility to advertise your own websites inside your posts.
- …and all that is for free, the hosting bills and all the other expenses will continue to be my problem.
There are a few benefits for me too: this community will grow even bigger and I will have the comfort of being sure that this blog will go on even without me. I won’t retire soon but I might consider that in a few years, so then the blog will be handed over to people that I like and respect.
There are a few requirements though, not anybody will get an “author” account here, I will try to maintain the standard that you got used to. The authors that will get their stories published here must have:
- Good writing skills and knowledge of the English language.
- True passion for the greatest game on earth, Football Manager.
So, if you want to apply you can do that by writing me an email at johnny[at]footballmanagerstory[dot]com.
New Author
Indeed, we already have a new author! Most of you already know him and his blog, it’s Kevin and his fine Swindon Town story! He agreed to continue his story here, I’m delighted to host him as an author on this blog. He is already writing a new post and you will see it published here shortly, in a few hours. (Give him a warm welcome, I know you can 
)
Stay In Touch
Another new feature is something that I created to make it easier for you to keep in touch with all the stories and the people in here. It’s a community toolbar that you can install in your web browser (it works with Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari). That toolbar will show you the updates in real time, latest posts, comments, twitter updates but it also has a great feature, a chat room!
You can download the toolbar from here and install it into your browser, it will only take a few seconds. After installing it you will see something like this:
The toolbar is 100% safe, I tested it for a whole week, but I recommend un-ticking all the check boxes in that window that will pop up and then click “finish”. After you do that you can enjoy all the features safely, here’s how the chat room will look like:
I won’t be online there 24 hours a day but I will try to be there as often and as long as possible.
Over to you now, what do you think about all these changes? Would you like to see new features added to the toolbar? Let me know! I would also love to hear your suggestions about the things that you would like to be implemented here, I would be very grateful if you would share your views.
Lye (393)
Sears (331)
martin (261)
Ravenie (183)
TheZiggy (111)
eddie eddie (110)
Ahmed Shah (65)
Wow, sounds quite good. So just to get myself clear.. you are going to host other peoples blogs and show up their posts.
It is a shame that I use Chrome so I can’t use your toolbar
Good idea Johnny!!!
So will your story and Kevin’s story both appear on the homepage.
Great ideas
@Calum and Matthew
Thanks for the comments. The people will get accounts here, they will log in and write the posts and then their posts will be published here just like mine. That’s how it will work. Indeed, Kevin’s story will appear on the home page, just like my episodes do.
I’m busy creating more content for another post. I hope everyone likes it.I’m feeling the pressure already.LOL!
> Martin
I replied to your “getting bored” with Charlton comment in Johnny’s previous post if you want to take a look
So what do we put in the e-mail to apply?
Some details about who you are and also a writing sample, published articles or if you don’t have published stuff you could write a piece about the game or football in general.
Hi Johnny,
I was hoping you would add my new blog that i started a few days ago:) After i read your blog and a few others i found on your link page by Kevin, Lye and a few others i thought i’d give it a shot myself…thanks
thecareerofafootballmanager.blogspot.com
Ash, I remember that I already added your blog to the links page, check it out.
Great Idea Johnny, will make everything easier to access and means this site will be even better!
That’s what I hope for, a better site and a big happy community of Football Manager addicts!
I might try my own blog, I will make sure that it is decent before I ask you to put it on your links page. Also I think you should promote your forums some more because that could also be very big if alot of people used it.
I tried with the forum, it seems that it does not work, it will be closed down soon.
What is wrong with it? I was on it earlier and it seemed to be working.
It is working technically, I did promote it here quite intensively a couple of months ago but it seems that people prefer to do all the commenting right here on the blog instead of going to the forum. That’s what I meant by “it’s not working”.
Oh ok then mate.
I really like this new toolbar and yipii for your idea to get more authors and enhance your community!
All the best for your community Johnny!
I have made a blog if some people can check it out, leave some comments on how I can improve it and if you think it’s good enough Johnny can you add it to your links page. Thanks mate.
http://footballmanagertime.blogspot.com/@dinthead
It will be added to the links page soon, good luck!
@Radu
Thanks mate, I’ll continue to try to improve the website.
I like your new feature. This means more interesting articles!! I think you should consider opening the forum up again.
Thanks Bilal. I didn’t delete the forum files from the server, so it could be opened up again easily. I don’t know if it would be the right decision, I might make a poll and ask the readers about that.
Hi Johnny,
My name is Fikri, i’m quite new in writing a fm blog. But i’m trying to do it because i really like to share my experience in Fm to other gamers. So, i am hoping you could add my blog to your linkin your website. You also can give comment, something i need to improve. Thanks
Opss.. i forgot to put my blog’s link.
http://www.dailyfm2010.blogspot.com..
Thanks..
@Fikri Hafiz
Sure mate, your blog will be added to the links page. One quick suggestion, maybe you could change the site menu to English, it will be easier for the international audience. Good luck!
Thank Johnny for the added.
I have changed my site menu to English..
Hi Johnny,
I interested to join your group. But i think you judge my writing by visit my blog. Hope you ok with that.
@Zam
I did visit your blog before a few times. If you want to join the team please drop me an email and we’ll discuss things there.
Hey mate
Nice blog
I have started my own Football Manager Experience and have added your blog to my list http://myfootballmanagerexperience.blogspot.com/
I would appreciate a link back
Good luck with everything
I added a link to your blog, good luck!