Bosses start choosing their stars!

The online poll for a 'Player of the Year' and 'Young Player of Year' in each of the EVO-STIK League’s three divisions, as well as the line-ups in three 'Teams of the Year', opens on Monday night before they are unveiled at the 2018 Northern Premier League Players of the Year Awards.

The countdown continues to this season's glittering awards night in Barnsley on Sunday 15 April after kicking off last Monday night when fans started nominating their choices for the next EVO-STIK NPL Show Fans Player of the Year.

The successor to Whitby Town's Dale Hopson for the coveted accolade, along with two runners-up and the players chosen by the EVO-STIK League's managers and coaches over the next four weeks, will be honoured on stage at the plush Brooklands Holiday Inn near Barnsley by Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder.

Still unique in the top levels of Non-League Football with the spotlight on the competition's star players, the event will also see the next generation of stars coming through the Northern Premier League Football Academy recognised on stage for the third year running by ex-Oxford United boss Wilder.

As guest of honour at the awards, 50-year-old Blades boss Wilder will be following in the footsteps of World Cup referee Webb in 2012, Manchester City and Everton legend Joe Royle, former Wales boss Brian Flynn, Mansfield Town manager Steve Evans, England C manager Paul Fairclough and former Welsh international Dean Saunders last season.

Originally the brainchild of former Manchester City keeper and NPL stalwart Alan Ogley, the ceremony is also set to be broadcast live on Facebook for the second year running as the NPL's marks its historic 50th anniversary season. As part of the ongoing celebrations to mark the milestone campaign, fans also started nominating their choices as the competition's top bosses of the last five decades last week.

Like the top 100 players of the last five decades, they'll be honoured in Barnsley before being included in the new book charting the competition's proud history. Entitled '50 Glorious Seasons - A History of the Northern Premier League 1968-2018’ and currently being written by the EVO-STIK League's official historian Dominic McKenzie, the book is due out at the end of the season.

EVO-STIK NPL Show Supporters Player of the Season 2017-18 Nomination Rules

Votes will only count via the Surveymonkey Voting Poll and will not be accepted on other media. Only one ballot can be made by any person. Anyone voting more than once will have all ballots removed.

Fans may nominate up to three players. However, they may only nominate one player from any member club (including players from the NPLFA's league). If votes are cast for more than one player per club, only the first player nominated will count and the others will be removed.

Any player who has played for more than one NPL club will have all clubs count towards this rule

Nominated players must be active in the NPL at the time of the nominations period.

Players who have joined a club on the following terms are ineligible for the award, unless from another NPL: Short term loan, youth loan, emergency loan and work experience.

Players who are dual registered to play in the NPL or are on long term Loans are eligible for the award providing that they are not recalled to the parent club during the nominations and voting period.

NPL Academy players are eligible for the awards providing they have played at least one first team match in the EVO-STIK League, FA Cup, FA Trophy or Integro League Cup during the 2017-18 season.

Players are not allowed to nominate themselves.

Any player currently suspended by the FA for any incident not relating to a matchday sanctions, for example a breach of FA Betting Rules or discrimination for example, are ineligible for the award.

The Northern Premier League 50th Anniversary Greatest Managers Poll Nominations Rules

Nominated managers must have been at the helm in the NPL for a minimum of three seasons.

There are no restrictions to the number of managers picked from any one club.

Managers who have brought the game, NPL or a club into disrepute for their actions away from the pitch for non-footballing reasons, for example match-fixing and criminal behaviour, are ineligible for the award.

The award will be restricted to a maximum of 100 managers. If more than 100 managers are selected, a judging panel will shortlist the choices.

Fans do not need to vote in the EVO-STIK NPL Show Supporters Player of the Year Award to take part.

To start nominating in either category, simply click here: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SPOTS2018

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | Facebook www.facebook.com/evostikleague