Countdown starts to awards night

17 Nov 2015 By David Watters

Another big name from the game is expected to be on stage handing out the honours at the 2016 EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Players of the Year Awards after the date of the end of season star-studded event was confirmed.

For the fifth year running the awards are returning to the four star Brooklands Holiday Inn near Barnsley on Sunday 17 April, only days before the climax to the season.

The brainchild of former Manchester City keeper and NPL man Alan Ogley, the EVO-STIK NPL Players of the Year Awards are a unique celebration at the top levels of Non-League football with the EVO-STIK NPL's manager and coaches voting to recognise more than 30 players for their impact on the campaign.

Nearly 300 players and officials saw England C manager Paul Fairclough hand out the accolades to the EVO-STIK NPL's top stars at the 2015 event in April. He was following in the footsteps of former England striker and Manchester City, Oldham Athletic and Norwich manager Joe Royle in 2014, former Wales manager Brian Flynn in 2013 and World Cup referee Howard Webb at the inaugural awards at the venue in 2012.

Robbie Dale at Blyth Spartans collected the NPL Facebook Group's Pitchero sponsored Player of the Year gong in April along with the Premier Division's Player of the Year accolade. His former teammate Jarret Rivers was named as the top flight's Young Player of the Year.

Mickleover Sports also doubled up, Andy Dales taking home the First Division South's junior laurels and Liam Walshe the senior honours. In First Division North, Darlington Nathan Cartman's took the top award with Farsley Celtic's young keeper Tom Taylor named as the division's top young star.

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley

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Where next?

Salford sign super scout McClelland Former Mossley manager Gareth McClelland has joined the backroom team at EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Salford City.

Trophy hunters paired at Wembley! The EVO-STIK Northern Premier League's flag-bearers in the FA Trophy are running the rule over their next opponents in Non-League's showpiece competition after the draw for the final qualifying round was made at Wembley at lunchtime.