Dolly Blues win again to lead pack

The Dolly Blues, who collected the combined inaugural awards of the 2016-17 campaign covering August and September and last month's laurels for January, are celebrating a hat-trick of accolades in EVO-STIK NPL First Division North after being unveiled on Monday alongside Ilkeston FC in the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight and Newcastle Town in EVO-STIK NPL First Division South.

Nothing can be decided until the final fixtures of the season are played and all three clubs are now in the running to share in the £5,000 in prize money the EVO-STIK NPL hands out annually to the season’s best behaved clubs to back the Football Association's Respect campaign promoting sportsmanship and fair play.

As in previous seasons, the winners in each division collect £1000 with the runners-up banking £500 and the third placed clubs £250. Like last season’s overall fair play champions Bamber Bridge, the best behaved side across the EVO-STIK NPL’s three divisions will also be presented with the President's Cup at June’s annual awards night at Blackpool’s Hilton Hotel.

The fair play tables are generated after a totting up of red and yellow cards divided by the number of fixtures clubs have played each month. Clubs must play at least four league games to be eligible for the monthly honours and where tied on points, marks awarded by referees for behaviour in the technical area by the EVO-STIK NPL's managers and coaches are taken into account.

Lancaster City have been topping the fair play tables in EVO-STIK NPL First Division North for much of the season and cemented their position last month, collecting just three cautions in five league outings under the guidance of manager Phil Brown to post their division's lowest disciplinary average of 0.60. With an overall score of 0.88 after 33 fixtures, their closest rivals are Clitheroe on 1.14 and Tadcaster Albion on 1.15.

Ilkeston FC's new manager Shaun Goater was expected to fire up Ilkeston FC after taking the helm at the New Manor Ground last month. The Manchester City legend looks to be achieving his aims and without his players sacrificing their reputation for fair play, the Robins topping the EVO-STIK NPL Premier Division's fair play table with a score of 0.75 for their three cautions in four outings.

Goater and his side will need to on their best behaviour for the rest of the season with Emirates FA Cup kings Stourbridge on course to retain the title they won last season's as the top flight's most sporting side, pictured. Well clear at the top of the division's table, this time around the Glassboys are also hard on the heels of Lancaster City for the EVO-STIK NPL's overall title with a current season-to-date score of just 0.89.

Kidsgrove Athletic head the overall fair play table in EVO-STIK NPL First Division South with a disciplinary average of 1.41 after 33 fixtures. Under the guidance of manager Scott Dundas, Newcastle Town, first time winners of a monthly accolade like Ilkeston FC, climbed the table by posting a divisional best average of 0.80 for their four cations in five EVO-SIK NPL outings.

To see the season's monthly fair play tables, including February's, click on the 'information' tab on the home page and then the 'downloads' tab.

Image courtesy of Rob Lock

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