Cyclones F.C.

Cyclones F.C is a Hattrick football club from Queensland, Oceania. The club was formed on the 1st of February, 2009 and was originally known as Nat's Rats before changing name to Cyclones F.C on the 28th of September, 2009. Cyclones F.C. are managed by NatTheRat1 and have thus far had reasonable success. Twice winners of Div VI, four times winners in V, and once champions in Div IV, the Cyclones floundered for a few seasons, but recent seasons have seen a surge in the team. Season 36 saw the highlight of the team's history, being defeated in the Final of the Oceanian Cup. They now reside top in Div III.9 in their second attempt at level III.

Cyclones F.C. (419536)
Managed By:	NatTheRat1
Location:	Queensland, Oceania
Founded:	2009-02-01
Ground:	The Eye of the Storm (Capacity: 72,000)
Fan Club:	The Crimson Horde
Highest Ranking:	40
Coach	'Frankie' Della Valle
Prize Shelf
Home Kit:
Away Kit:
Other Honors	Most supported team in Oceania

History

Season 26: Nat's Rats

On the 3rd of February, 2009 (Season 26), Nat's Rats were born. Starting in Div VI.311, in their first season they topped the league and lost a qualifier. In Season 27, they finished first again and were directly promoted to V.41.

Season 28: V.41

At the beginning of Season 28, on the 23rd of August, 2009, the Rats changed their name to the Cyclones F.C. In that season, they finished 5th and survived a qualifier.

Season 29 saw an amazing run of luck, and the Cyclones finished 1st and were directly promoted to Div IV.35.

Season 30: IV.35

Unfortunately, in Season 30, the team was only just taking shape, and was simply not up to the task. Playing a combination of 3-4-3 and 2-5-3, while continuing to train Scoring, the Cyclones did manage to get a qualifier, but suffered a humiliating 2-6 defeat in a match many pundits thought they should have won. Check it out for yourself: (285872718)

Season 31: V.224

Due to various commitments, Season 31 in Div V.224 saw Nat's interest in the game fall away, however the team still won its division and were directly promoted.

Season 32: IV.48

Promotion from V back to IV revived Nat's interest, along with an audacious gamble to switch to Playmaking training. Still within reach of a qualifier on the last day of Season 32, the Cyclones were demoted automatically, despite their best efforts and many closely fought games throughout the season. Season 32 will always be remembered fondly by NatTheRat1, due to the outstanding Series Forum contributions by fellow managers JaceTheAce, RevTonka, and Jebbyc, the loss to whom in Week 14 was ultimately responsible for the team's demotion. Week 14 match: (309135367)

Season 33: V.106

In season 33, the Cyclones topped Div V.106. A deliberate loss in the qualifier saw them 'camp' in the division for one more season. This, in Nat's opinion, was called for to stop the rot of 'yoyoing' between divisions. It should be noted that this decision had the wholehearted support of the rest of Div V.106, without whose agreement Nat would have promoted.

Season 34: V.106

The Cyclones won the Division and were directly promoted. "Time to go up," is how NatTheRat1 described the team's progress over the journey. Remarkably, they were promoted to what would become the top Div IV in Oceania.

Season 35: IV.5

At the end of the season, the Cyclones were sitting pretty on the top of the table, with 13 wins from 14 matches. The season was one heck of a fight with 6 of the 8 teams capable of 300+ hatstats, and the division being ranked No.1 in Oceanian Div IV's. Still, the Cyclones romped home in a season that Nat described as 'surreal'.

Season 36: III.9

Prior to the season starting, Nat was excited about the teams prospects, but realistic enough to know it would be tough. Week by week the Cyclones carved through their opposition, collecting a 5 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss record on the way to the mid-point of the season. At this stage Nat was getting even more excited but also concerned that some of his best players were being undertrained and played twice a week, as a Cup Run was brewing. It was soon apparent that it was getting difficult to choose between the League and the Cup. "We need to get knocked out of the Cup soon," he was heard murmuring. Unfortunately, or fortunately, that didn't happen until close to the end of the season! (see 'Cup Runs' below)

Season 37: III.9

Season 37 currently sees the side 8 points clear at the top of the table after 9 rounds.

Cup Runs

The Oceanian Cup

In seasons 33 and 34, the Cyclones made it to Round 7.

In Season 33, the Round 7 match vs. Infinite Monkeys (Div II) was an absolute cracker, and Nat was extremely pleased with the eventual 2-3 scoreline, despite the loss. You can check it out here: (331299314)

In season 34, the Cyclones put up their best ratings to date, amassing an impressive 315 hatstats (MOTS) in their Round 6 win over Div II team, Pukeko HFC. You can check it out here: (346684157) As expected, they were eliminated in the following match (Round 7) by Pacific Premier team, Hewish FC. Training won out on a coin toss, according to NatTheRat1. "We'll be back," were his final words.

Season 35 saw the team eliminated in the 6th round.

Season 36 was a dream. Somehow, the team kept winning tight matches, on PICs, and the run went from 'good' to 'unbelievable' very quickly. When it was all over, the Cyclones had defeated 4 Pacific Premier teams in a row, including the legendary Bondi 1893, on their way to a defeat in the Final to Seraph FC.

Highlights: Round 9 vs. Hoggs Hoes (first home match) (378128428) Round 10 vs. Bamboozled Symphony (PP team) (378328765) Round 11 vs. Cotchin (PP team) (378528837) Quarter Final vs. Bondi 1893 (PP team) (378729987) Semi Final vs Kals Krew (PP team - neutral ground) (378928638) Final vs Seraph FC (379127271)

Even from a layman's point of view, you can see why the Cup Run of Season 36 was so incredible. Unfortunately, it cost the Cyclones a chance at promotion, with the excitement of the Cup overtaking the League in importance.

Season 37 saw the team bundled out in Round 7. It was quite clear that management was focusing on the league, but was it a week or two early? There are rumours that money is tight at the club.

GMC Cup

Management would like it noted in the official Cyclones F.C. history that in Season 33, the team won the The GMC Cup. The Cyclones have competed in the GMC Cup for many seasons, and a combination of having relatively easy opponents in many league matches, and the opportunity to PIC all of them, allowed Nat to field his best team in the GMC Cup with good confidence and TS. Here you can see Luca Weingessl's heroics in the semi-final: (332846240) And here is the crowning glory of the final: (333044792) Both matches were at neutral venues.

The Crimson Horde

Currently there are 2938 paid-up members. Good results see fans currently joining the club at the rate of 6 per week.

Stadium

The Eye of the Storm has been regularly upgraded over the seasons. The previous stadium, at 48,073, was sold out in the Round 7, Season 33 Oceanian Cup match vs Infinite Monkeys (see above). As the following League match also sold out, further construction was ordered, and The Eye of the Storm then held 57,000 spectators. A minor adjustment to proportions was called for, bringing the stadium up to 60,000. A further adjustment was called for after several games in season 35, making the stadium a whopping 70,000. Yet another minor adjustment has been ordered at the beginning of Season 36 which will soon see the stadium stand at an impressive 72,000 capacity.

The name of the stadium, and indeed the team, is reminiscent of the sometimes cataclysmic weather in Queensland, and the Eye of the Storm refers to the one place where all is calm despite the whirlwind of emotions and anxiety surrounding the matches played there.

Season 36 Team

Players

		Player	Acquired	Age	Spec	TSI*	Place of Birth
GK		Gabriel Marmol	2012.03.05	20	Nil	57450	Kraków, Poland

		Player	Acquired	Age	Spec	TSI	Place of Birth
DEF		Pedro Valente	2012.01.12	28	P	99400	Porto, Portugal
DEF		Mario Biaritz	2011.08.25	26	U	76360	Linz, Austria
DEF		Stefan Vinander	2012.05.01	26	U	134250	Göteborg, Sweden
DEF		Konrad Sierocki	2012.01.24	29	Nil	66500	Warsaw, Poland

		Player	Acquired	Age	Spec	TSI	Place of Birth
WI		Gian Carlo Valerio	2011.04.07	26	H	87990	Santa Fe, Argentina
WI		Caetano Quindós	2012.02.23	27	Nil	111240	Bilbao, Spain

		Player	Acquired	Age	Spec	TSI	Place of Birth
IM		Andrea Careddu	2011.08.24	23	P	101960	Parma, Italy
IM		Luis Estupiñán	2010.12.28	23	H	95670	Madrid, Spain
IM		Gian Luca Zanon	2010.11.11	23	H	115600	Parma, Italy

		Player	Acquired	Age	Spec	TSI	Place of Birth
FW		Roluf Tschan	2012.03.20	23	P	91810	Berlin, Germany
FW		Mark Beaugrand	2011.07.18	23	T	73420	Toulouse, France
FW		Wolfdietrich Eisenhütten	2011.03.23	24	T	105230	Johanngeorgenstadt, Germany

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The Future

Who knows how far the Cyclones may go, and it's within reason to answer, 'Not far'. However, the future is bright for the team, with a 10SP in place and various upgrades planned for coming seasons.

Players To Watch

Nil youngsters at present.

Youth Team

Overview

For many (youth) seasons The Tornados youth academy competed in the GMC Youth League System, winning the Division 1 Championship in Season 3. Nowadays, The Tornados are more concerned with Training, and are no longer a part of the competitive GMC YL System.

The Tornados play their home games at the Edge of the Storm, the smaller and slightly less well looked after training ground next to the Eye of the Storm.

Players

Tornados is a well established youth academy and has produced many star players. Among them are: Jade Cranshaw, who has six caps for the U-20 Oceania national team [1] and who currently plays for Elf Shredders. Daryl Morehu [2], currently playing for Menchester Utd. Hori Morrison [3], currently playing for sv H'dorp. Takai Brown [4], currently playing for Timizii. Shawn Mallett [5], currently playing for Pembroke Kings. Gordon Wooders [6], currently playing for Bogan's Boys.