Only hours left to nominate stars

More than three hundred players and officials are expected to attend the 2016 EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Players of the Year Awards in April and supporters must register up to three of their top stars before the nominations deadline of 11.59pm on February 29 or see them miss out on the chance to collect one of the most coveted accolades at the four star Brooklands Holiday Inn near Barnsley.

Won last season by Robbie Dale at Blyth Spartans, the NPL Facebook Group Fans Player of the Year is the only footballing honour in the UK run soley by supporters. This season's contest to make a nominations shortlist of five players is looking like one of the closest yet before fan representatives from all 68 clubs vote on a successor to Dale who was among more than 30 players honoured in front of their peers last April by England C manager Paul Fairclough.

The countdown to the 2016 EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Players of the Year Awards got underway in January when voting forms went out with a mid-March deadline for managers to choose a 'player of the year' and 'young player of year' in each division along with eleven more in three EVO-STIK NPL 'teams of the year'.

The annual awards are returning to Barnsley on Sunday 17 April for the fifth year running since World Cup referee Howard Webb handed out the inaugural accolades in 2012 alongside BBC 5 Live and Non-League Show presenter Caroline Barker.

The brainchild of former Manchester City keeper and NPL man Alan Ogley, the EVO-STIK NPL Players of the Year Awards are a unique celebration at the top levels of Non-League football with the focus on recognising the impact of players on the campaign.

To Vote:
Via Facebook - on the NPL Facebook Group's page www.facebook.com/groups/theNPL. Please use the pinned post at the top of the page.
Via Twitter - Using the Hashtag #NPLSP16. Please note the hashtag #NPLSP16 must be used to be counted.
Via email - Email your picks to NPLSP16@Hotmail.com.

Fans are only able to nominate via one method. Any other nominations, or nominations that do not meet the rules, will not be counted.The deadline for nominations is 23.59 on 29 February with the five finalists announced on the 18th March on the NPL Facebook Group's social media platforms, the EVO-STIK NPL's website and that week's NPL Show Extra podcast.

Rules
Fans may nominate up to three players, however only one player per club is allowed.
Nominated players must be active in the EVO-STIK NPL and must not be on a short term loan, unless from another EVO-STIK NPL club.
Players who have joined a club on short term Loan, youth loan or work experience are ineligible unless they have joined from another team in the NPL.
NPL Academy players are eligible for the award providing they have played one first team match in the EVO-STIK NPL during the season.
Players are not allowed to nominate themselves.
Any Player currently suspended by the FA for breach of betting rules cannot be nominated due to the terms of the suspension.

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley

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