Managers have chosen their stars!

17 Mar 2016 By David Watters

The EVO-STIK Northern Premier League’s managers have finished casting their votes for their stars of the season.

More than 30 players can start looking forward to being honoured at the 2016 EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Players of the Year Awards after the managers’ poll closed at midnight on Wednesday.

Set to take place for the fifth season running at the four star Brooklands Holiday Inn near Barnsley on Sunday 19 April, this year’s event will see Leeds United manager Steve Evans handing out the accolades to a 'player of the year' and 'young player of year' in each division along with eleven more in three EVO-STIK NPL divisional 'teams of the year'.

The brainchild of former Manchester City keeper and EVO-STIK NPL stalwart Alan Ogley, the awards are unique in the top levels of Non-League football with the winners being chosen by the league’s managers and the focus purely on recognising talented players.

The EVO-STIK NPL’s fans are also playing their part again this season after nominating five finalists for the coveted NPL Facebook Group’s Fans Player of the Year.

Won last season by Robbie Dale at Blyth Spartans who collected his accolade from England C manager Paul Fairclough, pictured, the fans’ poll closed last weekend with this year’s nominees set to be unveiled on social media by members of the 5,000 strong NPL Facebook Group at 7pm on Friday.

Nearly 130 players were put forward by supporters to make the final and after tomorrow night fans will have until a minute to midnight at the end of the month to vote for their first, second and third place stars.

The annual awards are returning to Barnsley for the fifth time since World Cup referee Howard Webb handed out the inaugural accolades in 2012 alongside BBC 5 Live and Non-League Show presenter Caroline Barker. This season's star-studded night will also see the best young players from the NPLFA, the EVO-STIK NPL's ground-breaking league wide academy, honoured.

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | Facebook www.facebook.com/evostikleague | The NPL Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL/

Where next?

Wednesday's First Division North action review Scarborough Athletic have improved in recent weeks and they gave leaders Warrington Town`s EVO-STIK Northern Premier League First Division North title hopes a massive boost by winning 1-0 on Wednesday night at second-placed Northwich Victoria, writes Pitc

Last day beers on tap from now on! Wherever they finish from now on, Marine's fans can look forward to having a good drink on the final day of the season after their EVO-STIK Northern Premier League club announced plans to stage their first ever beer festival.