First Division South Player of the Year

First Division South Player of the Year Ben Haseley reckons being recognised by the league’s managers is extra special for a late starter to the top levels of Non-League football.

The 27-year-old only stepped up to play in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League in January 2012 having spent the previous six years at Midland Combination outfit Heath Hayes, scoring 107 goals in 172 appearances after starting out at Great Wyrley. Haseley, who scored ten minutes into his Yeltz debut and has been finding the net regularly ever since, collected his honour from Doncaster Rovers manager Brian Flynn at the NPL's 2013 Players of the Year Awards in Barnsley, pictured.

The Yeltz star said: "I'm really pleased after taking a decision to move up. It makes it even more special with everyone else recognising that I'm having a good season and knowing the votes have come from the managers.

"I was at Heath Hayes for six years and Halesowen wanted to take a chance on me and I thought I'd to give it a go to give at this level before it was too late really. I finished last season, decided to stay on for another year and it's just worked out really well for me."

Halseley also paid tribute to his teammates and hopes more honours are still to come for the whole team before the end of the campaign. He added: "I'm really delighted that I have been recognised by this award because it is about all of us. Hopefully as a team we can push on. We have an outside chance of the play-offs and it has been a great season so we're all looking forward to the final games."

Haseley was one of 39 players who collected their trophies from Flynn, the other winners coming from divisional teams of the year, players of the year and young players of the year. In the only non-players award of the night, Matlock Town Chief Executive Keith Brown was presented with a Merit Award for his services to the Evo-Stik NPL and the Football Association.

Hednesford's Elliott Durrell and Curzon Ashton's Kristian Dennis were named as the Premier Division and First Division North Players of the Year. Kidsgrove Athletic's Jack Sherratt, fresh from also winning Samsung's 'Win a Pro Contract' competition last weekend, was named as the First Division South Young Player of the Year while the First Division North award went to Skelmersdale United's Gary Burnett. AFC Fylde's Sean Cooke was named Premier Division Young Player of the Year.

Hosted by John Jones and Evo-Stik NPL Chairman Mark Harris, the awards are now in their second year after last season's inaugural event also took place at the four star Brooklands Holiday Inn Barnsley. The brainchild of former Manchester City keeper and NPL stalwart Alan Ogley, the awards are unique in the top levels of Non-Football with the focus on recognising the league's star players and the winners chosen by managers and coaches. Guests enjoyed a three course dinner and entertainment from one of the North’s top comedians, Lea Roberts, the former Rugby League professional.

Media students from Barnsley College played a key role planning and running the event for the second year running, organising everything from the sound and lighting to filming the awards for internet highlights which will available to view from Monday on the homepage.

Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division Team of the Year
GK Ben Hinchliffe (AFC Fylde)
RB Kyle Jacobs (FCUM)
LB Mathew Wood (Witton Albion)
CH Adam Jones (FCUM)
CH Marc Roberts (Buxton)
M Elliott Durrell (Hednesford)
M Sean Cooke (Fylde)
M Michael Barnes (Fylde)
F Ryan Kendall (NFU)
F Anthony Wilson (NFU)
F Gavin Allott (Frickley Athletic)

Evo-Stik NPL First Division North Team of the Year
GK Samuel Ashton (Skelmersdale Utd)
RB Lewis Field (Skelmersdale Utd)
LB Louis Corrigan (Skelmersdale Utd)
CH Tom Hardwick (Skelmersdale Utd)
CH Nia Bayunu (Trafford)
M Carlos Meakin (New Mills)
M Samuel Walker (Curzon Ashton)
M Gary Stopforth (Ramsbottom United)
F Kristian Dennis (Curzon Ashton)
F Michael Oates (Trafford)
F Lee Gaskell (Ramsbottom United)

Evo-Stik NPL First Division South Team of the Year
GK Sean Bowles (Coalville Town)
RB Daniel Smith (Leek Town)
LB Cameron Stuart (Coalville Town)
CH Philip Gulliver (King’s Lynn Town)
CH Michael Nottingham (Gresley)
M Stephen Spriggs (King’s Lynn Town)
M Andrew Hall (Stamford)
M Daniel Shelley (Leek Town)
F Ben Haseley (Halesowen)
F Ricky Miller (Stamford)
F Ryan Robbins (Coalville Town)

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley