Rams are first in the queue for accolades

Ramsbottom United will be the first of October’s EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Club of the Month winners to be presented with their accolade after being named alongside Norton United and Darlington 1883 on Thursday.

The NPL’s Respect manager and vice president Phil Bradley and a representative of sponsors Bostik, parent company of the league’s title sponsors EVO-STIK, will present the club with a 4.5 litre bottle of Bells Whiskey and an inscribed certificate to mark their achievement before the Rams kick off against Workington at the Harry Williams Riverside Stadium next Tuesday (Nov 4).

The Rams were standout winners of the top flight’s accolade after joint managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley guided them to five straight wins in the league with their side netting 14 goals and conceding just three times.

Norton United will be the second of the trio to be honoured when they collect the First Division South award before kick off in the biggest game in the club’s history, at home to Conference Premier Gateshead on Sunday week (Nov 9) in the FA Cup’s First Round Proper.

Along with the BBC’s cameras, NPL operations manager Alan Allcock and a representative of the sponsors will be at their Norton Cricket Club & Miners Welfare Institute ground to make the presentation.

The Staffordshire club, newcomers to the league this season, were named as the division's performance kings after taking maximum points from all three of their league outings and also winning 5-2 away at Runcorn Town in the FA Cup’s Third Qualifying Round before knocking out Shildon in Tuesday night’s Fourth Qualifying Round replay in the North East.

EVO-STIK NPL representative Mark Ogley and a representative of the sponsors will make the final presentation to First Division North winners Darlington 1883 before they host Whitby Town in the First Round of the Doodson Sport Cup on Wednesday 12 November.

Martin Gray’s side were run close for the award by Warrington Town, another of the league’s FA Cup flag bearers, but won the vote of judges for their record of six league wins and a 2-0 victory at Radcliffe Borough in the FA Trophy’s Preliminary Round. Along the way, the Quakers netted 20 goals and conceded only twice.

After their success in reaching the FA Cup’s First Round Proper by first overcoming Colwyn Bay and then North Ferriby United, Warrington Town were serious contenders for October’s honour but missed out after drawing one of only two league games and exiting another national competition when they were knocked out of the FA Trophy at the Preliminary Round stage by divisional rivals Mossley.

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