Legends list heads down to 40s!

After thousands of votes and nominations from fans, clubs and members of the media for the Northern Premier League's legends over the course of the historic 50th anniversary 2017-18 season, the winner and the stars in second and third place will be named at Blackpool's Hilton Hotel in less than 24 hours time after the countdown kicked off on Monday night.

Ten more NPL stars of the last five decades in descending order from 50 to 41 are revealed tonight at 7pm on the competition's official website and social media channels before the top 40 are named on Saturday in the run-up to the EVO-STIK League's annual party for more than 400 guests on the Fylde coast.

Giant screens at the event, as well as the competition's social media channels broadcasting the celebrations live, will reveal the top seven players live on the night while clubs and players collect their accolades before EVO-STIK League chairman Mark Harris brings the week long countdown to a climax with the top three and a salute to all the legends.

Launched last September, the online poll to choose the top 100 players to feature in a specially commissioned book charting the NPL's proud history since 1968 captured the public’s imagination within hours of opening with more than 2,000 players nominated and thousands of votes subsequently cast.

NPL50 Top 100 Players
50 to 41 ...

50 Steve Howson
Known to have played for: Radcliffe Borough, Ramsbottom United, Salford City
Kicked off his career as a striker when he joined Radcliffe and later scored 41 goals in a season to win the club’s 'Golden Boot' before switching to the back line in a utility role. In total, he made 187 appearances for the Boro, scoring 55 goals, including 36 in his first season in 2007-08. Howson, who also turned out for Ramsbottom United, was also a member of the Salford team that won promotion to the Conference North and the scorer of a famous last minute goal against Hartlepool in the 2015 FA Cup.

49 Steve Dickinson
The veteran keeper and fans' favourite was known as ‘Dicko’ and is probably best known for his time at Southport. Dickinson, who also played for Ossett Town, Bradford Park Avenue and Kendal Town, is considered a Sandgrounders legend having played for the club 273 times, including a run of 126 consecutive appearances. After moving on to Guiseley, he was a key figure in the elevation of the Lions from the NPL to the Conference.

48 Harry Dunn
Now 64, Harry was a stylish defender who represented his home town club Scarborough for almost two decades after making his debut in 1965 against Grantham in the Midland League. Was a near ever-present over the next 18 years, making a club record 901 appearances, including four in FA Trophy finals at Wembley and 463 NPL matches. Left Scarborough in 1983 for a spell with Frickley Athletic but returned to Boro as player-manager in November 1984. Remained in charge until being replaced by Neil Warnock in May 1986. A perfect gentleman, he was only booked three times in his long and illustrious career.

47 Alan Zelem
A member of Macclesfield’s 1986-87 treble winning side, he was considered one of the best NPL keepers of his era and will be always be number one for Silkmen fans. Alan made one first team appearance for Stalybridge Celtic in a 3-1 defeat to Welling United in January 1995. He also played for Chester City and Preston North End and after leaving Celtic joined Winsford United, Macclesfield Town and then Hyde United. He was player-manager with Curzon Ashton and in 1993 joined Mossley to make five appearances in the 1993-94 campaign.

46 James Walshaw
The prolific goal-scorer signed up for his second spell with Farsley Celtic in the summer of 2016 having previously played for the club in the Football Conference. Walshaw went on to play in the Football League with Darlington FC and has also had spells with Altrincham, Guiseley, Ossett Town, Halifax, Harrogate Town and Leek Town in his time away from the Celts. He was in the form of his life in 2016-17, hitting 50 goals before becoming their first player to sign on for the 2017-18 campaign. Nominated for the Supporters' Player of the Season in the League in 2016-17 and also won the First Division North Player of the Season.

45 Matthew Wolfenden midfielder
The midfielder started out at Oldham Athletic, his hometown club, before moving to Wales to play for Wrexham in the summer of 2009. Signed for FC United of Manchester in 2010 before spending seven years with Rebels and becoming a club icon in July 2017. Helped FC United win the NPL's Premier Division after defeat in four successive play-off appearances to finally earn promotion. In total, the 30-year played 243 times for the Manchester-based side before joining Stalybridge for the start of the 2017-18 season.

44 Gavin Skelton
Currently the academy coach at Carlisle United, Skelton's playing career including a seven year spell at Gretna as well as stints at Carlisle United, Workington in two spells, Kilmarnock, Hamilton Academical, Barrow and Queen of the South.
Now 36, the midfielder first joined Workington in 1997 before making the move across the border to Gretna in their last few seasons in the NPL and then on their run to the Scottish Cup Final and three successive promotions to the Scottish Premier League and entry into the UEFA Cup before the club fell on hard times. Returned to Cumbria in 2013 to take a player-manager role with Workington and led the Borough Park club to the NPL's play-offs. After leaving the Reds in 2015 to be the assistant manager at Queen of the South he went on to manage the club before resigning for personal reasons and taking up his current post at Carlisle in May 2017. Skelton's sister, Helen, is the popular former Blue Peter television presenter!

43 Graham Heathcote
No collection of Alty Legends would be complete without the inclusion of Heathcote, a man said to eat, drink, breath and live Altrincham who will forever be associated with Moss Lane. Playing in a total of 14 seasons for the club at all levels and now 63, during his playing career he won just about every trophy available to him, including two Alliance titles in 1979-80 and 1980-81, an Alliance League Cup winner's medal in 1980-81, two North West Football League medals in 1974-75 and 1972-73, an FA Trophy winner’s medal in 1977-78 and a finalist's medal in 1981-82, an NPL runners-up medal in 1978-79, and a Cheshire Senior Cup winner's medal in 1985. After spells at Trafford, Northwich and a final playing season at Witton Albion the dead ball specialist quit playing at the age of 31 to move seamlessly into management at a number of his former clubs including Barrow and Altrincham. In 2002 he was made a Freeman of the Borough of Altrincham for his services to the town.

42 Neil Marshall
The late club great made 486 appearances for the Dolly Blues over a 10 year career and was one of a handful of stars who stayed loyal to the club despite the financial difficulties which led to them dropping out of the NPL's top flight. After being awarded the captain's armband for his consistent performances and unwavering dedication, the City skipper led the Dolly Blues to the President's Cup final in 2011. During his time at the Dolly Blues, the defender played in 435 out of a possible 506 competitive games, an inspiring 86 percent of all matches. A local lad and huge favourite with the fans at the Giant Axe, the defender was widely mourned throughout football when he lost a brave battle with cancer at the age of 31 in November 2016.

41 Ian Woan
The midfielder was known to have played for Barnsley, Caernarfon, Miami Fusion, Newtown AFC, Notingham Forest, Runcorn, Shrewsbury Town, Swindon Town and Syracuse Salty Dogs.
Woan was a stand-out player at Runcorn to earn his move to Nottingham Forest after five seasons with Welsh sides Newtown and Caernarfon Town in the HFS Loans League. Left Runcorn for a £80,000 fee to join First Division Forest in 1990 before going on to enjoy a long career at a number of Football League clubs and abroad in the United States. Helped spearhead Forest to a third place finish in 1994 and a subsequent run to the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup. Ended his career over in America in the developing MLS with the Syracuse Salty Dogs.

Main image courtesy of Rob Lock

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