League does the double again at FA awards

The EVO-STIK League has been named as the best behaved competition in the top levels of Non-League Football for the fourth time in five years.

And Premier Division Skelmersdale United are celebrating after playing their part, completing the double for the EVO-STIK League in the Football Association’s annual Fair Play and Respect Awards when they were unveiled on Wednesday as Non-League’s best behaved club.

Skem’s triumph means an EVO-STIK League club has now won the FA’s National League System Step 1-4 Respect and Fair Play Club Award every year since the accolades were launched in 2010, Tommy Lawson’s men following in the footsteps of inaugural winners Garforth Town, Lancaster City in 2011, AFC Fylde in 2012 and Nantwich Town, pictured collecting last year's honour.

As well as collecting £3000 in prize money, Skelmersdale United’s chairman Arthur Gore and manager Tommy Lawson will be heading to Wembley in August to collect the Premier Division club’s accolade before the FA Community Shield kicks off between Arsenal and Manchester City.

The EVO-STIK League’s Respect manager Phil Bradley and other proud representatives of the league will also be at the national stadium on Sunday 10 August for the presentation of the FA National League System Step 1-4, League Respect and Fair Play Award.

Lawson and his chairman are both thrilled that the club beat 276 others from the league, Ryman, Southern and Football Conference to the FA’s top honour to continue the EVO-STIK's domination of the annual award.

Lawson said: "It is a fantastic achievement and is a terrific reflection on the way the management, staff and players look upon football. Everyone has shown that Skelmersdale United don’t just play football in the right way, we play it with the right attitude and morals. It is not easy to go through a season without dissent bookings and a big thank you is due to all concerned."

Gore added: "I am delighted. This is a major award, a massive achievement and substantially enhances the reputation of the club. We had to make a written submission to the FA, highlighting what we do as a club to maintain a good level of behaviour, including a list of do’s and don’ts at the beginning of the season, which the players actually sign for, including the FA regulations on betting and a fine structure for bookings and sending’s off."

He added: "It is judged by an independent panel of people. As President I must say a big thank you to Tommy and his players and staff."

Respect Manager Bradley said: "Skem’s success just shows what can be achieved when there is a will to do so. In the first half of 2011-12 season they were, without doubt, a problem club on Respect issues. But the club’s board and in particular secretary Bryn Jones said enough is enough and implemented a zero tolerance policy to dissent.

"In 2012-13 they had only three such cautions with two of those coming in the same incident very late on in a game at the end of the season which, ironically, I attended. Last season they did even better and didn’t have a single dissent caution at all.

"Tommy Lawson’s Technical Area team achieved the second highest average marks for Tech Area behaviour in their division two seasons on the bounce to help create a very strong nomination that has been rewarded by the FA with the award and a £3,000 cash prize.

"I am thrilled for them particularly as it maintains a 100 per cent record for the league in this category and is a great reward for a board and management team prepared to buy into Respect."

He added: "We also had some other very strong contenders and it is my understanding that both Curzon Ashton [who also did not have a single dissent caution all season] and Belper Town reached the final judging stage.

"Commiserations to both those clubs and I hope their near miss will only serve to make them even more determined to win the FA national award next season – they certainly have an excellent base to start from."

To follow: Bradley hails league's managers and coaches