Season 4

Before Season 3 had even finished, I knew my league was going to be expanded.  In the MLS in America, the league is split into the Eastern and the Western Conferences, to help clubs with travelling.  There are no such problems in a Subbuteo solo league, but I did like the idea of having the league split into two conferences.  Mine became, somewhat predictably, the Northern and the Southern Conferences.

Each conference would have ten teams in it, and I liked the idea of each team only playing each other once per season, so this stayed, making nine regular season games.

Team colours were also considered. Each home team plays in their usual home kit, whereas the away team plays in their usual AWAY kit, unless there is a colour clash, where the away team plays in their HOME kit as well. To add some measure of detail, I also put each of the teams into one of the US states, with one Northern conference team being based near Montreal in Canada, and one Southern conference team being based in Mexico City, with a suitable Spanish sounding name, which literally translates to "Star Socks"!

Each matchday, there are four Northern Conference games, four Southern Conference games and two Cross Conference games .

Currently all the regular season games have been played in Season 4. Here are the standings. Darkwell Stingers are the new holders of the Supporters' Bowl.

North
Darkwell Stingers 21  Supporters' Bowl Winners and Playoff qualifiers
New York Cosmos 20 Playoff qualifiers
Engledon Avalanche 16 Playoff qualifiers
Seagull Valley Surf 16 Playoff qualifiers
Waldburg Courage 13
Alnerwick Arrows 11
Montlodge Mounties 10
Caelkirk Grizzlies 8
Urmfield Wolves 6
Indy Eleven 4 Relegated

South
Beachmore Pirates 20 Playoff qualifiers
Calcetinas Estrellas 17 Playoff qualifiers
Peltagrew Hurricanes 16 Playoff qualifiers
Larnstone Marvels 14 Playoff qualifiers
Tulsa Roughnecks 12
Pacifica Coasters 10
Stathford Wasps 10
Hadwater Angus 9
Rocky Mountain Menace 9
San Antonio Thunder 7 Relegated

At the end of the season, the four top teams in the conferences will each go to the play offs as before, and the winner of the North will play the winner of the South for the Half Century Trophy. The Supporters Bowl will go to the team with the most points over both conferences. The bottom team in both conferences will be relegated.

Before the season began, the Season 3 Half Century League Winners played the Golden Cup Winners for the Champions Shield, similar to our Charity Shield. The game was played in the Red Bull Arena, home of the New York Red Bulls.

Champions Shield
Urmfield Wolves 2 FC Toronto 2

The Wolves won in a shoot out.

Immediately following the relegation of Indy Eleven and San Antonio Thunder, their respective head coaches were fired the same day! Tony Mulgrew and Brad Wilkinson are now both seeking new jobs!

In better news, the Las Vegas Lights have won their league, and will take the place of San Antonio Thunder in the South Conference for Season 5. The New England Teamen won their league, and will replace Indy Eleven in the Northern Conference.


Play Off Quarter Finals :

North
Darkwell Stingers 3  Seagull Valley Surf 2 (After extra time)
New York Cosmos 5 Engledon Avalanche 3

South
Beachmore Pirates 3 Larnstone Marvels 4
Calcetinas Estrellas 1 Peltagrew Hurricanes 0

The play off Semi Finals are switched to the grounds of two MLS teams :

North 
Darkwell Stingers 4 New York Cosmos 2

South
Calcetinas Estrellas 2 Larnstone Marvels 3

The Final took place at CenturyLink Field, home of Seattle Sounders.

Darkwell Stingers 2 Larnstone Marvels 3

The Half Century League Championship goes back to Richmond, Virginia!

Golden Cup Final

New Mexico United 3  Los Angeles Galaxy 1
Final played at University of Phoenix stadium, home of the NFL team, the Arizona Cardinals.

An interesting story here is that the USL team, New Mexico United disposed of MLS teams DC United, Philadelphia Union, Orlando City and Columbus Crew to reach the Final and then beat Los Angeles Galaxy!