Nuptials hold up bursary award!

The most pressing of engagements kept Coalville Town coach Stephen Guest from collecting his EVO-STIK Northern Premier League bursary last month, his wedding and honeymoon!

After missing out on the funding for 50 per cent of his UEFA B course to marry his fiancee Ashley and enjoy a romantic trip to Iceland in November, the 30-year-old was finally presented with his bursary award in time for Christmas before the Ravens beat Stocksbridge Park Steels 2-1.

Pictured with the league's coaching development officer Mark Ogley after an earlier presentation in front of fans on the pitch at Owen Street on Saturday, Guest was awarded £360 from the EVO-STIK NPL's Coaching Development Fund for the course he's enrolled on at Shrewsbury Sports Village.

A full-time coach with the Burton Albion Community Trust, the newly married Guest was delighted to become the second coach to benefit from the scheme this season after Nantwich Town's head coach Matt Fisher was presented with his award in November. As well as the support he's received from the league, his First Division South club also donated a further £300, which left him just £60 to find himself to embark on his studies.

Guest, who joined the coaching team of Ravens Tommy Brrokbanks soon after his appointment last season and hopes to go on and take the UEFA A licence course, said: "I think it is fantastic that the league supports coaches like this, to help them get their qualifications and badges so they can can go out and improve standards and be in a position to be able to go on to bigger and better things.

"I'm very grateful for it and hopefully we'll see many other coaches taking advantage of this kind of support and benefiting like myself. Tommy and the club have also been a great help with the funds the chairman gave me and the time off I've needed to get married of course!"

As the man charged with administering the EVO-STIK NPL's successful scheme which is underwritten by the Football Association, Ogley celebrated a hat-trick of successes earlier this season when he presented three coaches with their qualifications after they were successfully funded.

After heading to Stourbridge in September to honour Steve Fellows and then Stamford the same month to present Ian Evley with his formal qualifications, Ogley was at Mickleover Sport in October to congratulate sports physio and coach Dave Hoole on his graduation.

Guest and Fisher are the first of a fresh crop of coaches taking advantage of the scheme to attend the latest FA affiliated courses. Over the course of the last campaign, six coaches benefited from bursaries which give students up to three years to complete their studies at a variety of venues including the Football Association's St George's Park. Other venues include Curzon Ashton’s Tameside Stadium and York College.

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Where next?

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Hill wows guests at Christmas party EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Carlton Town are already taking bookings for their next Christmas lunch after former Nottingham Forest keeper Alan Hill left guests spellbound at this year's festive get together.

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