Awards: Nobody does them better!

Loud and proud, of course. Slick and professional from start to finish, definitely. The best in Non-League, very possibly.

From the return of the giant 20ft high LED screen on stage and monitors around the room showing the season’s stars and highlights to the sounds of the Jersey Boys and the room rising as one to salute every award winner on to the stage, last Saturday night’s event was the latest in a long line of triumphs for the newly rebranded EVO-STIK League’s secret weapon, long-time organiser and referee’s liaison officer John Jones.

The spectacular was no secret either, the event later recording more than half a million views and shares on social media after being broadcast live on Facebook and Twitter for the first time with guests driving the astonishing traffic figures from their seats and the dancefloor using the hashtag evostikawards17.

Along with other sponsors and partners - Integro, Macron, Eliteform, Pitchero, FWP, Chryso and league accountants Boardman Conway – the representatives of Bostik, parent company of title sponsors EVO-STIK, will certainly have been impressed, the exposure coming only hours after the lunchtime announcement at the league’s AGM of an extension of their six year partnership by at least another two years to eight in total.

Fittingly for a league that takes great pride in community and now honours the best exponent among its clubs annually, those watching proceedings from inside or outside on socials will have seen proceedings start with an impeccably observed minute’s silence for the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. A raffle and auction later raised a total of £1,100 for the British Red Cross’s London Fire Appeal.

Nearly 400 hundred guests hailed the 2016-17 campaign’s champions, play-off winners, cup kings, star players and best behaved sides as they were introduced by compere Kevin Lynch and presented with their silverware by EVO-STIK League chairman Mark Harris and his directors and officers.

After a season that saw them go on a record-breaking run to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, Stourbridge had more than most to carry home after being named 2017 Community Club of the Year. Gary Hackett's side later collected the top flight's fair play award and golden boot in successive seasons, Luke Benbow's 32 goals also earning the striker a share of the overall golden boot with Farsley Celtic's James Walshaw.

Celtic, runners-up and top flight-bound EVO-STIK League North play-off winners, were responsible for two of the night’s most remarkable moments - veteran chairman John Palmer and 80-year-old former secretary Margaret Lobley drawing sustained applause and standing ovations, not to mention many a hardened football manager struggling with dry eyes as the latter was escorted to and from her seat to collect long service awards.

EVO-STIK League North champions Lancaster City were among the other big winners, the Dolly Blues hailed by their peers for winning the championship ‘the right way’ after they were honoured as the league’s best behaved side and fair play kings.

Bidding goodbye to the competition, Blyth Spartans chairman Tony Platten rounded off the ceremony with an emotional speech on behalf of the champions saluting their fellow clubs and the league.

EVO-STIK League Roll of Honour 2016-17

Northern Premier League Divisional Fair Play Awards
Premier Division Winners Stourbridge FC
First Division North Winners Lancaster City FC*
First Division South Winners Lincoln City FC
*President’s Cup presented to the overall fair play winners
Integro League Challenge Cup winners
Bamber Bridge FC

The Golden Boots
Premier Division Luke Benbow, Stourbridge FC (32 goals)
First Division North James Walshaw, Farsley Celtic FC (32 goals)
First Division South Gavin Allot, Shaw Lane AFC (26 goals)

Long Service Awards
Margaret Lobley, Farsley Celtic
John Palmer, Farsley Celtic
Michael Cummings, Ashton United

The Peter Swales Trophy, Community Club of the Year
Stourbridge FC

First Division North runners-up
Farsley Celtic FC

First Division North play-off winners
Farsley Celtic FC

First Division South runners-up
Witton Albion FC

First Division South play-off winners
Witton Albion FC

Premier Division runners-up
Spennymoor Town FC

Premier Division play-off winners
Spennymoor Town FC

First Division North champions
Lancaster City FC

First Division South champions
Shaw Lane AFC

Premier Division champions
Blyth Spartans FC

County Cup winners
Barwell - Leicestershire Challenge Cup
Blyth Spartans - Northumberland Senior Cup
Carlton Town - Nottinghamshire Senior Cup
Farsley Celtic - The West Riding County Cup
Lincoln United - Lincolnshire Senior Cup
Matlock Town - Derbyshire Senior Cup
Market Drayton Town - Shropshire Senior Cup
Prescot Cables - Liverpool County Cup
Shaw Lane AFC - Sheffield & Hallam Senior Cup
Whitby Town - North Riding Senior Cup
Workington - Cumberland Senior Cup

Images courtesy of Rob Lock

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