All down to teamwork, say modest managers

The Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s first managerial awards of the campaign were won today by Ashton United’s Danny Johnson, Stamford’s Graham Drury and Skelmersdale United’s Tommy Lawson.

All three have seen their teams record one hundred per cent records and earlier each was named as Evo-Stik NPL Manager of the Month in the Premier Division, First Division South and First Division North respectively.

The league’s top managers for August are due to be presented with their awards at forthcoming matches by representatives from sponsors Bostik and Evo-Stik NPL officials. Each receives a certificate recording their achievement and a personalised polo shirt and bench top from the league’s official kit supplier Errea.

The three managers made the task of the competition’s judges easier than usual with their teams making flying starts to the season. Ashton United are top of the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division with four wins from four, two coming at home and two on their travels. Skelmersdale United are third in Evo-Stik NPL First Division North with two wins from two and are also through to the next round of the FA Cup after winning 3-1 away at NWCL Formby on Saturday in the Preliminary Round. They sit just a point behind Trafford who have drawn one match and have played a game more.

Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Stamford are also through to the Cup’s next round and have notched up three wins from three in the league to leave them sitting pretty at the top of the table with the division’s best goal difference of plus seven.

All three managers were delighted with news of their personal awards today but modestly put their success down to their players and backroom staff. In Stamford's case even their fans were praised directly by manager Graham Drury.

Robins manager Danny Johnson hopes the honour marking their flying start to the Premier campaign will inspire his team to reach the FA Cup’s First Round and insisted the success was down to his players and his staff.

Johnson will be honoured next week when Ashton welcome AFC Fylde to Surrey Street on September 5 and he said: "We are top of the league but that’s on goal difference and it's very early days. We’ve done well so far but it’s not about me. Our success so far is down to the players and the management team I’ve got behind me and we’re all delighted. There is a long way to go still but I hope we can do something special in the FA Cup like reaching the First Round proper with the confidence this has given us."

Stamford anager Graham Drury also played down his role in picking up one of the season’s first honours, heaping praise on the club’s staff and supporters for playing a key role before dedicating the award to former chairman Ken Joynson who died last year.

"It is always an honour to get an award," said Drury, who is due to receive his honour when Stamford take on Newcastle Town at home on September 22. "That wouldn't have been possible without the contribution of everyone; the coaching team, the players, the new chairman, the committed board and all the volunteers who do a great job to make sure this club runs properly.

"You need a team effort to achieve anything and we're all working towards making sure this is a season of achievement. The challenge now is to follow that start into the next month and then to go from there.

Dedicating the award to Stamford's late chairman, he added: "I would really like to dedicate this award to the memory of our former chairman Ken Joynson. He passed away last year and I was unable to attend his funeral because I was ill at the time. Ken was a great bloke and did so much for this club. I'll always regret not being able to go and have the chance to say goodbye so this one is for you Ken."

Like his colleagues, Skelmersdale United’s manager Tommy Lawson refused to see the award as a personal honour, instead insisting that it represented league wide praise for the success of his staff and players.

"It reflects on the club which is great and is really encouraging," said Lawson, who is due to pick up his award during Skelmersdale’s home match with Clitheroe on September 8.

"We’ve all done well so far and the award recognises the hard work everybody has put in. That’s what I'm really happy about, what the award says about our club."