Facebook group looks to future fans

The fans behind the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League’s NPL Facebook Group are hailing its growing success and urging even more people to join their online community which aims to show the league at its best to the world.

Set up back in 2009 by two fans watching an FA Trophy tie between FC Halifax Town and Shepshed Dynamo - ironically both former Evo-Stik NPL teams now - and initially known as the UniBond Group, it has steadily grown to become one of the best supported online communities in football with more than 2,500 members and nearly 2000 followers on Twitter.

The NPL Facebook Group has been making its mark to continue growing. For the last two years it has coordinated league-wide fundraising efforts during ‘Movember’, in the process helping to raise thousands of pounds for charities and good causes.

Its success in bringing together fans, players and officials was also acknowledged by the league itself in 2012 at the inaugural NPL Players of the Year Awards when members were asked to present the first NPL Facebook Group Fan of the Year Award, now an annual accolade.

Most recently, it was invited to play a key role in the launch of the Evo-Stik NPL’s new official monthly podcast. Produced by the successful team behind FCUM Radio, the show has taken off with every episode so far featuring the group’s James Heyes as one of a team of regular pundits.

Although it continues to go from strength to strength as it steps up efforts to attract even more members, one of the NPL Facebook Group’s twin founders, Bradley Dobson, says that when it comes to motivation and spreading the word, numbers are only a means to an end and a part of the story.

He said: "The NPL Group brings supporters, players, managers and officials together so we can unite as one. That’s our number one aim. We want to attract new members and followers to the group because we want to show they are the best there is out there and why the NPL is the best league in the land frankly.

"It’s more than about getting the numbers up. It help to get noticed but if we can just keep bringing people together and everybody carries on doing what they are already are for each other, their clubs, charities, communities and the league itself, then the NPL Group will be something to be even more proud of than we already are.

"We’re part of a fantastic league and with so many good people doing great things, our aims will always be the same - let the world know about our fantastic fans, their clubs and the unsung heroes who run them."

"The next time people who don't already know the group need help with an appeal, directions to a ground, anything really, they should look us and they'll soon find out what a fantastic and thriving online community there is behind the league."

To learn more about the visit: www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL or follow on Twitter at: @TheNPLGroup