Awards night rocks Blackpool!

Even after the confetti guns and customary razzmatazz of recent years, the 2015-16 awards would take some beating, a giant 40ft LED screen the centrepiece of a stunning display to honour the season’s stars before more than 300 guests danced in the aisles to hit Motown tribute band The Jersey Boys.

With the Evo-Stik NPL expected to be named within days by the Football Association as the best behaved competition in the senior levels of Non-League football for sixth time in seven years, the league’s fair play kings led the way on the night - Stourbridge, Bamber Bridge and Rugby Town collecting glass trophies and cheques for their share of nearly £7,000 in league prize money for sportsmanship and fair play.

After collecting a single red card last season – and not a straight one either – Rugby Town are also in the running to be named by the FA as the country’s best behaved club and continue the NPL’s monopoly of the accolade at Step 1-4.

The league’s hot-shots were next to be hailed on stage by compere Kevin Lynch, NPL chairman Mark Harris and Mat Whitehouse representing title sponsors Evo-Stik. While Kidsgrove Athletic’s Anthony Malbon and Romulus star Luke Keen were forced to share the First Division South’s golden boot, Stourbridge’s Karl Hawley collected the Premier Division’s honour for his 27 goals and Warrington Town’s Ciaran Kilheeney walked away with both the First Division North and overall hot-shot accolade for his 37 strikes.

Like Darlington 1883’s championship winning boss Martin Gray who was unveiled as the NPL’s manager of the year, Farsley Celtic were named on the night as the league’s community club of the year, proud chairman Joshua Greaves collecting the Peter Swales Trophy.

Marine, who lifted the NPL’s Integro Doodson League Cup for the fourth time in April to become the most successful club in the competition’s history, were next up, the Mariners receiving some of the loudest cheers at the black tie event for their record-breaking achievement.

As always on the Fylde coast, the NPL like to leave the best until last, divisional champions Darlington 1883, Stafford Rangers and Warrington Town all honoured along with their runners-up and play-off winners Salford City, Coalville Town and Spennymoor Town.

EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Roll of Honour 2015-16
Premier Division champions Darlington 1883
Premier Division runners-up Blyth Spartans
Premier Division play-off winners Salford City

First Division North champions Warrington Town
First Division North runners-up Spennymoor Town
First Division North play-off winners Spennymoor Town

First Division South champions Stafford Rangers
First Division South runners-up Shaw Lane Aquaforce
First Division South play-off winners Coalville Town

Integro Doodson League Challenge Cup winners Marine
Manager of the Year Martin Gray (Darlington 1883)
The Peter Swales Trophy, Community Club of the Year Farsley Celtic

Premier Division Golden Boot Karl Hawley (Stourbridge) 27
First Division North Golden Boot Ciaran Kilheeney (Warrington) 37
First Division South Golden Boot Anthony Malbon (Kidsgrove Athletic) & Luke Keen (Romulus) 28

Premier Division Player of the Year Karl Hawley (Stourbridge)
Premier Division Young Player of the Year Matthew Kosylo (Nantwich Town)
First Division North Player of the Year Ciaran Kilheeney (Warrington Town)
First Division North Young Player of the Year Scott Harries (Clitheroe)
First Division South Player of the Year Gavin Allott (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)
First Division South Young Player of the Year Dean Freeman (Coalville Town)

NPLFA Player of the Year Sam Weston (Belper Town)

Long service awards Neville Wigglesworth (Ossett Albion), Stuart Garside (Ossett Albion), Steven Hanks (Ossett Albion), Mike Joiner (Chasetown)

Fair Play
President’s Cup (overall fair play winners) - Bamber Bridge
Premier Division 1st Stourbridge, 2nd Blyth Spartans, 3rd Ashton United
First Division North 1st Bamber Bridge, 2nd Northwich Victoria, 3rd Witton Albion
First Division South 1st Rugby Town, 2nd Lincoln United, 3rd Newcastle Town

Images courtesy of Rob Lock

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