Counting underway after fans vote for top star

Voting closed on Sunday night in this year’s poll to choose the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League 2014 Fans’ Player of the Year.

Organised for the third year running by the NPL facebook Group, the online vote by the league’s fans to see their number one star unveiled at April’s 2014 Players of the Year Awards closed at 11pm.

Former Oldham Athletic, Everton, Manchester City and Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle is handing out the accolades at this year’s event in Barnsley on Sunday 6 April. The former England striker will crown one of the five players who made the final shortlist drawn up and voted on by supporters - Frickley Athletic’s Gavin Allott, Belper Town’s Johnathan Froggatt, FC United of Manchester’s Tom Greaves, Worksop Town’s Leon Mettam and Darlington’s Stephen Thompson.

Apart from presenting the NPL Facebook Group Supporters’ Player of the Year, Royle will also crown the inaugural Evo-Stik NPL Supporter of the Year from one five 'super fans' nominated by their clubs. As a result, organisers have announced that a limited number of fans are being invited to attend the awards dinner for the first time with tickets on sale since Friday on a first come first served basis.

The brainchild of former Manchester City keeper and NPL man Alan Ogley, the event is a unique celebration at the top levels of Non-League football with the focus on recognising the league’s stars after a secret ballot by the managers and coaches at all 68 clubs.

Taking place once again in the banqueting suite at the four star Brooklands Holiday Inn, the awards will see two players named as Player of the Year and Young Player of Year in each division along with 11 more in three Teams of the Year.

Royle, 64, won six England caps as a lethal striker playing for Everton, Manchester City, Bristol City and Norwich and is being accompanied to the event by his son Darren. He is following in the footsteps of World Cup bound referee Howard Webb and Doncaster Rovers Director of Football and former Wales manager Brian Flynn who handed out the accolades in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

For more information on the ticket offer for supporters and sales to club players, officials and sponsors, contact the event's manager John Jones at: jjones@evostikleague.co.uk.

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley