Some players and fans alike believe being a football manager is one of the hardest jobs to do.
With such fine margins in today's game, a managers job is a lot like a poison chalice one-minute you're on top of the world. But if the results don't follow things can turn very sour very quickly.
If you get it right it opens the doors to many, many possibilities as it did for Chester born Martin Fitzsimons.
In June of this year, Fitzsimons was appointed the new manager of Chester FC Women following a spell as Crewe Alexandra reserves head coach and head of development.
In his first job in team management, Martin gives us an exclusive insight into life as Chester FC Women manager.
He gives us his highs and lows of his first season in charge of the Blues and his five-year plan to take Chester to the National League,
Like any kid, Fitzsimons was attracted to football from a young age something that stuck with him throughout his school years.
" Football is something I've always wanted to be involved in, in some capacity, it's always been something that's drawn my attention in any way".
"Since leaving school, I've had family members become teachers so I've always had that environment around me, but the only thing I was ever interested in was football. So I guess it's really a combination of the two!".
Before making the switch to Chester FC Women, Martin was based in Crewe, working as their head of reserves and head of development.
"Before Chester, I was at Crewe Alexandra Ladies, working with development squad there, so this is my first job in first-team management and I'm loving every minute of it.
Being a football manager can be one of the most tiring jobs, sleepless nights thinking of tomorrows opposition, have they got the team sheet right. And with this being his first job in the hot seat Fitzsimons has had to adapt quickly to life as a manager and the responsibilities it brings.
"There's been a lot of headaches and a lot of lessons have had to be learnt fast. But I've been fortunate enough to inherit a brilliant group of players on and off the pitch which was helped to no end".
Throughout his first season in the job at Chester Martin has implemented many changes to the team on the off the pitch, something that he felt was needed when he arrived at the club. Something that isn't easy to do.
"When we came into the club, we've changed a lot about the team, both behind the scenes and on the pitch. So it was always going to take time to settle into our methods" said Fitzsimons.
"We set high expectations and a new style of play, so at the stage, we have been able to compete with teams above us (in terms of league standings) has proved that we are ahead of schedule".
Chester's story of the season is inconsistencies have happened in far too many games this season than Fitzsimons would have liked something that has stopped his side challenging the top two in the league.
"Our season so far has been full of ups and downs, we've had some brilliant performances that have sent out messages to other teams that we mean business. However, unfortunately, inconsistencies in performances have meant we haven't been able to stay in around the top two in our league".
"Nevertheless, we have positives in every single game we have played something I feel is important even if the result isn't".
Fitzsimons described this season as a 'rollercoaster of emotions' during this season he's had a lot of highs and some really low lows.
"High's this year - I'd have to put the 3-1 victory at home to Salford, I still regard that as our best performance of the season, and at that point of the season we needed to win to keep up with the pacesetters in the league".
"I'd say our media team and player recruitment have been massive positives for as well! Being able to bring in the players like Ashleigh Bullock, Kim Sands and more recently Anna Jones just shows how far we've come as a club to be able to attract players of their quality".
"Lows - we've had a few, lost one or two players that could have had an impact for us throughout the season. We've lost games that we feel we could and should have won, or at least go a positive way. The 2-1 defeat against West Kirby after being 1 up at half-time".
"The 2-2 with Warrington at home after being 2-0 at half time, and then there's the 2-0 defeat to Manchester Stingers in the cup, we put everything into that game and still came out the wrong side of the scoreline. So those were three defeats that were hard to take".
With a lot of positives to take from his first full season in management Fitzsimons admits he has big plans for Chester FC Women in the future.
"Long term plan is we want to compete regularly in the National League. That's where we feel a club like ours should be competing, with the backing we have from the men's club. So we're in the process of developing a five-year plan that aims to get us there and put us in a good place to consolidate".
"Obviously there's a lot of external factors that will impact that, finances being one, but we are in a healthy position. In the more immediate term, we're looking to develop a more effective training programme, which will include more strength and conditioning work, game analysis and ultimately more contact time between us and the players".
"But as I've said, we're still in a cup competition which we have a good chance of winning, and still in with a chance of finishing in the top three which will be an amazing achievement".
Despite there being many positives to take he believes there are still many things he could improve on for next season.
"I'm sure the players would give you a lot of things I can improve on! it's hard at times whilst the season is still going on to identify common themes that have popped up throughout the season. You can't afford to focus on one result for too long win or lose, because there's another game just around the corner that you need to prepare for".
"It's not the case of strolling up and throwing the ball out. That said when we don't get the result we want it ruins my weekend! But I'm looking forward to taking a break and looking back at the season with the staff as well and looking back over games and developing a football program for next year.
It remains to be seen if Chester FC Women will make the step up to the National League in the future, but what we do know with Fitzsimons at the wheel they're sure heading in the right direction.
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