NPL Awards 2023: Star players recognised at celebration event

Among the awards given out on the night were Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season for each of the four divisions, as well as the winner of each Golden Boot and the overall Goal of the Season.

Below is a breakdown of the big winners on the night...

Player of the Season

Northern Premier League -

The experienced Clayton Donaldson took the demands of Northern Premier League football in his stride and proved to be a thorn in the side of every other club in the division.

His Gainsborough Trinity side finished the regular season fourth before suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Bamber Bridge in the play-off semi-finals.

NPL East Division -

With an abundance of goals to his name, Worksop Town's Liam Hughes scooped the top prize in the East Division.

His Tigers side won their division by a mammoth 21-point margin - helped in large part by a league-record unbeaten run.

NPL Midlands Division -

A force in front of goal, Jonathon Margetts was crowned Player of the Season after firing Stamford to the Midlands Division title.

He has since moved onto pastures new with Matlock Town.

NPL West Division -

It was a season to remember for young Macclesfield forward James Berry, who helped Macclesfield become champions of the West Division.

Such good form also saw the young forward become the highest-paid player in club history when he signed a new deal at the beginning of January.

Young Player of the Season

Northern Premier League -

A stand-out year for Fin Sinclair-Smith saw him clinch Young Player of the Season in the Northern Premier League.

He proved to be a potent threat in front of goal, scoring 18 goals as the Brig made it to the play-off final before falling to a 1-0 defeat away at Warrington Town.

Sinclair-Smith was also recognised with the league's Rising Star award.

NPL East Division -

Worksop Town's Luke Hall scooped the Young Player of the Season award in the East Division.

Hall, who first joined the Tigers in February 2022 from Sheffield FC, made a total of 48 appearances - three more than any other team-mate.

NPL Midlands Division -

Sporting Khalsa's Miracle Okafor was crowned Young Player of the Season after a prolific year in front of goal.

He helped the club to the play-off semi-finals and scored in that match against Spalding United, although it wasn't enough to see them overcome Spalding United, who were 2-1 winners in regular time.

NPL West Division -

Mossley's Mason Fawns scooped the West Division Young Player of the Season award.

However, his performance wasn't quite enough to guide Mossley to a play-off spot, with the Lilywhites two places and five points adrift of a top-five spot.

Golden Boot

Northern Premier League -

Clayton Donaldson finished the 2022/23 campaign as top scorer in the Northern Premier League, having been a major part of Gainsborough Trinity's promotion push.

Regan Linney's 20 goals saw him come second, prior to his move to full-time football with National League side Altrincham.

Claiming joint-third were Marske United's Adam Boyes and Fin Sinclair-Smith.

NPL East Division -

Worksop Town's Liam Hughes made it a double at the NPL Awards as he scooped the Golden Boot in the East Division, to go alongside his Player of the Season award.

Hughes netted 33 goals during the 2022/23 campaign - 12 goals ahead of Long Eaton United's Jamie Walker, with Pontefract Collieries' Adam Priestley four further back.

NPL Midlands Division -

The Golden Boot race in the Midlands Division was a fare closer affair, with Jonathon Margetts' 33 league goals seeing him top the pile.

Coleshill Town's Kai Tonge picked up second, with Sporting Khalsa's Miracle Okafor rounding off the top three.

NPL West Division - A stand-out 2022/23 campaign saw Macclesfield's James Berry score 25 goals en route to their title triumph - eight clear of the nearest challenger.

There was a four-way tie for second in the division, with Workington's David Symington, Skelmersdale United's Elliot Morris, Mossley's Mason Fawns and Clitheroe's Sefton Gonzales all scoring 17 goals.

Goal of the Season

This stunning acrobatic finish from Matlock Town's Kallan Murphy scooped top prize in the Goal of the Season category.

The award was selected by a panel of judges and made up from the 27 goals in the top three of the Pitching In Goal of the Month award.

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Photo credit: Darren Murphy