IT HAS certainly been a rollercoaster year for Accrington Stanley.
It started so well - manager John Coleman was crowned manager of the month for December and the third round FA Cup tie against Colchester ended in a well-earned goalless draw at the Interlink in front of a record 4,368 crowd.
It didn't then go so well as Stanley were knocked out of the FA Trophy by Burton but the FA Cup had become the main focus.
But that dream ended days later in a stormy game at Colchester when Paul Mullin's late goal wasn't enough to keep their fairytale going.
"We are deflated but we want the play-offs and that has always been the main aim," said boss Coleman after the game.
But it wasn't quite going to plan in the league with the Reds hovering just outside the play-off spots and their away form was a big worry with just one victory in the league on their travels.
Still two Red players got the new year off to a good start as Peter Cavanagh and Jon Kennedy were called up to the England squad to face Italy and both got their caps.
But while they were celebrating, Coleman was bemoaning the red mist at Stanley as their poor disciplinary record kept coming back to haunt them with Steve Halford, Robbie Williams and Cavanagh all sitting out a lengthy run of games in the early part of the year.
By February, the Reds were on an unwanted run of one win in seven games but they were optimistic enough to be one of 10 clubs who applied to join the Football League next season if they got promoted.
"There is hope," said chairman Eric Whalley.
In came wing back Jerome Fitzgerald and loan man Darran Kempson as they looked to keep in the hunt and a 2-1 victory over Halifax in March kept them within touching distance of the play-offs.
And the club was further boosted with the news that they would become a full-time outfit next season - and the race was on to battle for contracts.
"I have got some decisions to make but I am not scared to make them," said Coleman.
However, they still couldn't manage to win on their travels with Margate coming out on top and Hereford celebrating a victory as Stanley fell 10 points behind the fifth place club.
With play-off hopes fading, there was still hope of silverware in their all-Conference Lancashire Marsden Trophy final clash although Morecambe celebrated a 1-0 win at the Interlink in the first leg - giving Stanley an uphill battle.
And it was made worse as they lost the second leg 2-1 in a bad-tempered game where Rory Prendergast and Dean Caclutt were sent off and this took Stanley's tally to 15 red cards for the season - and the club faced a £10,000 fine.
"It is diabolical," slammed the chairman. "The players will put their hands in their pockets."
Worse was to come as Coleman received a two game ban from the FA for the events in the Colchester clash and following a minor set-to with Aldershot boss Terry Brown.
And then the FA Cup run began to take its toll with three games in a week. Stanley beat Forest Green but lost to Telford and Scarborough and they slipped to tenth - ten points out of play-offs and any faint hope had gone.
And the season petered out with a 3-2 loss at Exeter with Coleman slamming his team despite finishing their first Conference season in 10th spot.
Six players were then released - including crowd favourite Jamie Speare and FA Cup hero Andy Gouck.
And Coleman began immediately planning for next season's full-time adventure - as the club once more re-wrote their history books by becoming full-time for the first time since 1962.
"Going full-time has been my highlight of the year," said the manager.
Coleman snapped up former loan player Lee McEvilly and Stuart Howson while he began a hot pursuit of Altrincham midfielder Ian Craney.
Australian keeper Jason Petkovic hoped to be on way to Stanley with no Speare or Jon Kennedy, who hadn't signed a new contract with the Reds.
There was a buzz around the club with season ticket sales at their highest and the fixtures came out in June with Burton first up.
Then Coleman continued to add to his squad, with Steve Jagielka, Paul Carvill and finally Craney.
"I am buzzing and can't wait for the season to start," said Craney.
But the worry was the lack of a goalie with no work permit for the Australian although Danny Alcock began to impress on trial.
The pre-season friendlies against higher opposition weren't a worry with Stanley putting on good performances against Burnley, Rochdale and Crewe. Losses to Stafford Rangers and Great Harwood though were minor causes of concern.
But the Reds dispelled any threats of taking it into the league when, with Kennedy back between the swings after a late swoop, they saw off Burton and Morecambe in a dream start to the campaign. New boy Craney scored a stunner and there was so much hope.
But then it was back to earth with a huge bump as Stevenage hammered the Reds 5-0.
"It's not doom and gloom," said Coleman "Six point out of nine is a good start in anyone's language."
Wins followed against Crawley and York and the Reds jumped up to the dizzy heights of second while long-serving striker Lutel James turned down an international call up to the St Kitts-Nevis squad - and was soon to go out on loan after handing in a transfer request.
Stuart Bimson, Jody Banim and Anthony Gerrard had played their part on loan while Jonathan Smith and Steve Flitcroft had gone to Barrow but both returned stronger than ever.
Stanley's defence stayed tight and went seven and a half hours without conceding a goal but then Leigh scored a late consolation - and a downturn began.
Northwich came back from 3-1 down to 3-3 and Coleman made long-term target Mike Flynn a Stanley player. Still things didn't go their way as Gravesend inflicted the first defeat at the Interlink and the fans became a bit jittery.
However, in between it all, a LDV Vans Trophy victory over league side Bradford gave the Reds plenty of optimism. And a good show -although defeat - against Oldham boosted the club.
Meanwhile, a win over Hereford on Sky looked like the start of something good in the league but it never quite happened and indifferent form has seen Stanley remain on the fringes of the play-offs - but only just.
And the defeat by Leigh in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup left manager Coleman "sick to the stomach" - and his chairman who missed out on a money-spinning adventure.
It's been topsy turvey since then with three wins from their last nine league games.
And the Reds know they need to turn it around if they are to challenge for a top five place with players, fans and management a like shouting for the need for "consistency" - and a run of wins which could make 2005 one of the biggest year in the Reds' history with a return to the Football League.
