Season's stars can start dusting down their suits!

The countdown has started to the 2015 EVO-STIK Northern Premier League Players of the Year Awards.

The annual awards are returning to the four star Brooklands Holiday Inn near Barnsley on Sunday April 19 for the fourth 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 and since last season, the league's number one fan.

The clock started ticking down in earnest towards this season’s event after a secret ballot of managers at the league’s 68 clubs got underway. Voting forms went out with a March 16 deadline at the weekend 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 NPL Facebook Group’s administrators have also launched the annual poll among their 4,000 plus members to nominate the group’s top star of the season with a deadline of a second to midnight on February 26 for supporters to ensure their favourites get enough support to make a five man shortlist.

Fan representatives from all 68 clubs will then vote on a successor to Darlington’s Steven Thompson who was named as the NPL Facebook Group Fans Player of the Year in 2014, North Ferriby United’s Ryan Kendall in 2013 and inaugural winner, former Hednesford hot-shot Cheyenne Dunkley.

The NPL Facebook Group's accolode is the only footballing honour in the UK run by fans. For the first time, the accolade is being sponsored by Pitchero and spokesman James Heyes is expecting another close contest with three ways for supporters to vote - via email, on Twitter and naturally, Facebook.

Heyes said: "We at the NPL Group are honoured once again to been chosen to help run the award and look forward to a close fought contest.

"The award is the only one given on the night that is truly decided by the fans from the nominations to shortlisting and the final vote and one of the only awards in the English FA to have this selection process.

"Winners of the award in the past have called this one of the most important ones to win as its not given by peers or media members but by the people who love and support them week in, week out.

"Coming from the fans we know the players see it as one of the highest they can win at the awards and we're looking forward to crowning this year's winner and the two runners-up."

Last year’s award were hosted by former England striker and Manchester City and Oldham Athletic manager Joe Royle while former Doncaster Rovers and Wales manager Brian Flynn took charge of proceedings in 2013.

Organisers say another big name from the game is being lined up to hand out the accolades in 2015 and will release more details in the coming weeks.

Whoever takes charge will also have the honour of announcing the EVO-STIK NPL Supporter of the Year Award which was launched last year and won by Mossley AFC fan Kath Field.

NPL Facebook Group Fans’ Player of the Year 2015

How to vote:

Visit www.facebook.com/groups/theNPL and comment on the awards post at the top
Via Twitter by using the Hashtag #NPLSP15 (the hashtag must be used due to the counting system used)
Via email to: NPLSPOTS2015@hotmail.com

Rules
Fans may nominate up to three players, however only one player per club.
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.
The deadline for nominations is 11.59pm on February 26.
Players who have joined a club on short term Loan, youth loan or work experience are ineligible for award 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.

* Look out for updates on the 2015 EVO-STIK NPL Players of the Year Awards over the coming weeks on the league’s official website and on the pages of individual club websites.

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley

Follow us: @evostikleague on Twitter | The NPL group on Facebook by clicking here: www.facebook.com/groups/TheNPL/