Nash had a smashing time breaking records!

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that Curzon's title winning Evo-Stik Northern Premier League campaign has once again seen the champions break all manner of long-standing records at the Tameside Stadium, writes Ian Seymour.

The first is the First Division North title itself, Curzon’s first for 36 years and only the fourth in their history, the other three coming as an amateur club.

They won the Manchester Amateur League in two of their first three seasons, and gained the Manchester League title in 1977-78 to move them up to semi-professional football via the old Cheshire League.

Manager John Flanagan’s current side, pictured celebrating on Saturday after picking up the championship trophy from , have so far won 17 of their 19 away games, beating their previous best of 16 away wins in a season achieved in that 1977-78 season, and another record of ten consecutive clean sheets shattered the previous best of six, again achieved during that fantastic Manchester League season, when they kept six consecutive clean sheets twice.

In all, Curzon went 945 minutes, or 15 and three quarter hours without conceding a goal, a fantastic achievement. If Curzon can avoid defeat in their final two away games, it will also mean that they will have emulated the records of the three previous title winning sides of just one away defeat.

In addition, a goal at either Clitheroe on Saturday or Lancaster City the following weekend will see them complete the most number of away goals scored during an NPL season, which currently stands at 45 goals.

The Nash are also busy setting new records in appearances, personal and club. The game at Clitheroe on Easter Saturday will be Curzon's 2500th competitive game, consisting of 1900 league games and 600 cup games, while this season has also seen four more Curzon players reach the 100 appearance mark.

Simon Woodford reached his 100th game in December last year, the 1-2 defeat at Ossett Town. Signed at the start of the Flanagan revolution, he was an almost ever present during his first season but was beset by injuries the last time around.

Woodford had never scored more than one goal in a season before joining Curzon and he finished his first season with just one, the vital last gasp equaliser against Harrogate Town in a 3-3 draw.

Last term he scored twice in a season for the first time ever - in fact, he scored twice in the same game, a 4-2 win over Warrington Town, and having found the knack, repeated the feat with a brace in the 10-1 win over Wakefield.

Having now become almost prolific, Woodford has scored six times this season, including the all important only goal in the 1-0 win over Darlington in October. He then did the same at Farsley last month.

Connor Hampson reached his 100 games in the 1-0 win over Burscough on Tuesday 4 March. Having come through the ranks at Curzon, he left the club after failing to make the first team under Gary Lowe's tenure but he returned in the summer of 2011 to become an integral part of the defensive unit under John Flanagan.

Like Woodford, Hampson was plagued by injuries last season and he has also had to fight for his place with the up and coming Dale Minor but having won his place back he has produced some consistent performances to put himself in possession of the number three shirt. His only goal for the club so far came in the 3-1 win at Durham City on 17 March 2012, a terrific left foot strike.

The third new '100 club' member is Jonathan Hunt. ‘Jonno’ has been an almost ever present since signing at the beginning of last season, his consistent, unassuming displays quickly winning over the Nash faithful.

He won't forget his 100th appearance in a hurry either, as it was in the title-winning 1-0 win at Harrogate last Monday.

Finally, Andy Watson became the seventh Curzon player to pass the 100 game milestone in two seasons as he made his 100th start in Saturday's 2-3 defeat against Warrington.

After scoring more than once against the Blues while playing for the likes of Mossley, Rossendale and Woodley Sports, he has become a mainstay of the Curzon defence in his time at the Tameside Stadium to the point where it's no surprise that Curzon's fantastic run of clean sheets coincided with ‘Watto's’ return to the side after injury.

Image courtesy of Aaron Flanagan