Hello. Welcome back to Benidorm where Adibas beats Adidas every single time. Last time out we had Kirkby committing a crime against a refs car in light up trainers after some very controversial decisions in a game. In this update It’s Fiesta season in Benidorm and we all get involved.

October

We have a big game coming up in the 2nd leg of our Copa Del Rey game against Toledo. The week leading up to the game training is intense. Pete has put together a ruthless routine but everyone steps up. The 1st leg is still fresh in everyone’s mind after the hurt of some of decisions. Kirkby is quiet in training, which is really unusual. He has a steely determination to everything being thrown at him.

What. A. Performance. Firstly, Kirkby is unplayable! He runs the game from start to finish. 2 assists for Micky and his corner ends up being converted as well. Micky is lethal in front of goal. I don’t know how he does it. He’s so quiet but on the pitch he’s a beast! Everyone stepped up to right a wrong. We go on to the next round.

Blimey it’s another crazy game. Hercules are top of the league and they race into a 2 goal lead. Tom gets one back for us just before the half but in truth we’ve struggled. In the 2nd half Kirkby goes down and has to be stretchered off. That puts a rocket up us and we swing the game our way to lead 3-2. Giner then gets Hercules level again. I’d take a draw but this team won’t lie down. Paul Teather comes off the bench for an assist for Micky to win the game for us.

The team is flying at the moment. There is a big festival in Benidorm this week. There is a re-enactment of the Moorish invasion of Benidorm with a battle at the castle as well. Denny, of course, has managed to steal a costume and is in the thick of it despite being injured! The whole team and staff are out enjoying the day. Next morning Pete has the players in early. He says to celebrate the festival the whole team will be running up to the Benidorm cross for some fitness training. Some of players start vomiting before they’ve even made it past the Stadium! There is bad news waiting when the guys get back.

This is such a hammer blow for us and for Sean. He’s been sensational so far and he’s been a huge driving force for this team. I go to visit him in hospital and it’s one of the most depressing sights I’ve seen since taking over. He’s a broken man.

We lose our next league game. The team are down after the Kirkby news and you can see it in their performance. I give the team a day off to take some time to process what has happened. They come back in looking better and sharper. They are going to have to be as we have La Liga opponents next in the Copa Del Rey 3rd round.

It’s another scalp for us. Micky steps up and takes us to the win. The whole defence was brilliant tonight.

We finish the month with another win over Toledo and i get message from the league saying I’ve won manager of the month. We have an afternoon session tomorrow so Brian invites me and the staff out for a meal and few drinks to celebrate.

November

We are getting battered with injuries at the moment. Denny goes down this time. We were terrible in the first half and tried a comeback in the second half but left far too much to do. I blame the curse of the manager of the month.

Massively outclassed by Espanyol. Just shows the gap to get in among the topflight. We’ve had a fantastic run in the Copa Del Rey. Brian pays for all of us to stay an extra night in Barcelona. It’s a brilliant night down Las Ramblas.

November sees Benidorm come out for one of the most famous festivals. The Fancy Dress Day. Pete & I have had an idea for this since the summer and today’s the day we put it into action. It’s Mickey’s birthday on the same day and we know the lads have a big night out planned. I call Mickey into my office for a chat about his recent performances in games and training. In the changing room, Pete has everyone else getting changed into full kit with masks of Mickey’s face. Mickey absolutely hates attention and the limelight so he’s going hate this immensely.

Everyone is waiting in full fancy dress for Micky to arrive. We’ve got his family in on the gag as well. Micky arrives to blaze of noise and instantly looks like he wants the floor to swallow him whole! It’s a fantastic evening topped at the end of the night in the taxi on the way home by a stag do dressed as traffic lights and cones closing down the Avenida del Mediterráneo.

November is a bad month for us. We have so many injuries and suspensions we struggle to put a full team out at times and with the transfer window closed there isn’t a lot we can do.

We still look good for promotion and we are getting players back all the time so hopefully we can push on from here. Join me next week for a trip to a palace & a Kirkby update.