# Squad History Feature

## Overview

The squad history feature preserves historical match squad data when resetting for a new match. Previously, when the squad was reset, all player data was lost. Now it's automatically archived to a dedicated history table.

## What Changed

### Before
- Squad reset would delete or overwrite previous squad data
- No way to view who played in previous matches
- Historical squad information was lost forever

### After
- Squad data is **automatically archived** before being cleared
- Complete historical record preserved with match date and fixture number
- New admin interface to view all historical squads
- Easy lookup of who played in any previous match

## How It Works

### When You Reset the Squad

1. **Automatic Archival**: Before clearing the current squad, the system:
   - Copies all players to the `squad_history` table
   - Stores the match date and fixture number
   - Records when the archive was created

2. **Clean Reset**: The current squad table is cleared for the new match

3. **Confirmation**: Shows how many players were archived

### Database Structure

**New Table: `squad_history`**
```sql
- id (primary key)
- player_number
- player_forenames
- player_surname
- player_nickname
- match_date
- fixture_number
- archived_at (timestamp)
```

## Using the Feature

### Resetting the Squad (with History)

1. Go to **Admin Dashboard** → **Match Squad Management**
2. Click **"Reset Squad"**
3. System automatically:
   - Archives current squad with match details
   - Clears squad for new match
   - Shows confirmation message

### Viewing Squad History

1. Go to **Admin Dashboard** → **Squad History** 
2. See summary of all historical squads
3. Click **"View Details"** on any fixture to see the full squad
4. Scroll to see detailed player lists for each match

## Migration

The migration has been **automatically completed**! ✅

The `squad_history` table was created successfully.

For future databases or if needed again:
```bash
python add_squad_history.py
```

## Features

✅ **Automatic Archival**: No manual steps needed  
✅ **Complete Records**: All player details preserved  
✅ **Easy Navigation**: Summary view with drill-down details  
✅ **Match Context**: Linked to match date and fixture number  
✅ **Safe Reset**: Squad clearing only happens after successful archive  

## Admin Interface

### Squad History Page Shows:

**Summary Table:**
- Fixture Number
- Match Date  
- Player Count
- Quick view button

**Detailed View:**
- Full squad rosters grouped by match
- Player numbers, nicknames, and full names
- Archive timestamp for audit trail

## Benefits

1. **Historical Reference**: See who played in any match
2. **Team Analysis**: Track player participation over time
3. **Data Integrity**: No more lost squad data
4. **Audit Trail**: Know when squads were archived
5. **Reporting**: Export or analyze squad patterns

## Technical Details

### Files Modified

1. **`database.py`** - Added `SquadHistory` model
2. **`main.py`** - Updated reset function and added history route
3. **`templates/squad_history.html`** - New history viewing interface
4. **`add_squad_history.py`** - Migration script

### Safety Features

- Transaction-based: Archive completes before deletion
- Error handling: If archive fails, squad is not cleared
- Flash messages: Clear feedback on what happened
- Rollback capable: Can restore from history if needed

## Future Enhancements

Potential additions for future versions:
- Export squad history to CSV/Excel
- Compare squads between matches
- Player participation statistics
- Squad restoration from history
- Search/filter historical squads
- Visual squad timeline

---

**Implementation Date**: October 2025  
**Status**: ✅ Active and Working