Author calls on clubs to contribute

The EVO-STIK League's official historian and statistician Dominic McKenzie is currently writing the definitive history of the competition - ‘50 Glorious Seasons - A History of the Northern Premier League 1968-2018’ - for publication within weeks of the historic 2017-18 campaign ending.

With fans, players and officials still flocking to vote for the NPL's 'top 100' players and 'team of all time’ ahead of a December 22 deadline to see them feature in the specially commissioned book, the former teacher is calling on clubs in particular to take the chance to contribute with stories, images, press cuttings and archive material telling the league's story since its foundation in 1968.

As well as being packed with stats and facts covering every season and running to over 100 colour pages, the history is set to feature everything from the NPL's greatest cup sides and star graduates to legendary managers and McKenzie believes that some of the most important material is yet to come from fellow historians and statos at the EVO-STIK League’s clubs, past and present.

He said: “What I am really looking forward to from our clubs if they can help over the next few months is old records and pictures, match reports and other press cuttings when they've been on cup runs or just in the news. The further you go back the harder it can be so I'd be delighted to hear from any of our current clubs in particular about the early days of the league and the part they played in making history.

"I want to tell the whole story of the league from day one and also reveal the real story behind its formation which is fascinating. I know that two years before it was founded about 200 clubs held a meeting in 1966 which many see as the day it all started.

"Many of the key figures behind the formation of the NPL like Peter Swales and John Nash, the then chairman of Kettering and the Southern League, were there and I'd love to hear from any clubs who can shed more light on the meeting and subsequent events linked to it like the launch of the FA Trophy a few years later.

“More generally, I’ll be very grateful for anything at all from all the club historians and 'stattos' and archivists out there - pictures, newspaper cuttings, programme notes, anything that people still have on the personalities and players who helped make the league what it is and would like to share with the football-loving community."

McKenzie started on the research for his mammoth task last season and also wants to reassure potential contributors that anything sent to him would be in safe hands and safely returned, adding: "I can guarantee that all original materials would be 'treasured', copied if required and returned either by recorded delivery or in person. I’ll also be making sure any and all assistance will be gratefully acknowledged in the book's pages.”

Over a thousand votes were registered by last weekend for the 200 players shortlisted in the legends poll after it opened earlier this month on the pages of the EVO-STIK League's official website and Facebook and Twitter pages.

They came from an original cast of nearly 2,000 players nominated by the public in October before they were subsequently whittled down by a panel of judges made up of fans and club representatives. Apart from featuring in the book, the chosen few will be honoured during the climax to this season's NPL50 celebrations at next June's end of season awards night at the Hilton Hotel in Blackpool.

To take part in the NPL50 vote via the website, click here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/X7NRP55.
Via Facebook: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7S5XP69.
Via Twitter: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/7RYG5TD.

To contribute to the research for the official history email: npl50@evostikleague.co.uk.

Image courtesy of @evostikleague/Twitter

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