First fair play kings crowned

Covering both August and September, traditionally the inaugural accolades are always the hardest to win with consistency the key after the totting up of red and yellow cards divided by the number of fixtures clubs have played since the season kicked off.

Where clubs are tied on points, marks awarded by referees over the month for behaviour in the technical area are taken into account.

After being named ahead of the weekend's action as the league's best behaved sides, the three clubs are now looking forward to being presented with inscribed certificates to record their achievement and bottles of Pol Roger Champagne to toast their success and support for the FA's Respect campaign and the EVO-STIK NPL's own efforts to promote sportsmanship and fair play.

Despite being under pressure at the wrong end of the Premier Division table, Grantham Town under manager Adam Stevens topped the fair play league for the opening weeks after posting the lowest disciplinary points total of 0.90 for the six cautions and single dismissal they picked up in 10 outings.

After being named on Friday, they will be the first to be honoured on Tuesday (October 6) when EVO-STIK representative Mark Ogley will make the presentation before they kick off at home to Buxton.

Ogley will also be on hand to present the First Division South award to Newcastle Town next weekend before they kick off against Kidsgrove Athletic at The Aspire Stadium on Saturday 10 October.

Ivan Lodge's side recorded a disciplinary average of 0.89, their eight cautions from nine outings setting the pace in the division's behaviour stakes.

Fittingly, EVO-STIK NPL vice-chairman and FA Respect manager Phil Bradley will present Northwich Victoria with the First Division North award before they kick off against Mossley at Wincham Park on Wednesday 14 October.

As league leaders, Jim Gannon's side have became the latest EVO-STIK NPL club to prove you can play fair and win consistently by posting the lowest disciplinary score of all of just 0.60 for their six cautions in 10 outings.

* 2015 was another award winning year for the EVO-STIK Northern Premier League after it was named as the best behaved competition in the top levels of Non-League football for the fifth time in six years.

Premier Division play-off winner Curzon Ashton also completed a ‘Respect double’ at the Football Association’s 2015 Fair Play and Respect Awards when they were named as Non-League’s best behaved club to continue the league's monopoly of the accolade.

The Nash's triumph saw an EVO-STIK NPL League club win the FA’s National League System Step 1-4 Respect and Fair Play Club Award for the sixth year in a row since the accolades were launched, John Flanagan's men following in the footsteps of inaugural winners Garforth Town in 2010, Lancaster City in 2011, AFC Fylde in 2012, Nantwich Town in 2013 and Skelmersdale United in 2014.

To view the latest Fair Play Tables click on the 'League Info' button on the home page and then 'Press Releases' under the downloads tab.

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