Secretary leads toast to Seasiders

When the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League's Secretary Angie Firth shows up at a member club's ground officials are normally sure of one thing - there's a good chance they're either in trouble or have won an award!

Thankfully for Whitby Town, the latter was the case on Saturday when the NPL's smiling Secretary arrived at the Turnbull Ground to see the Seasiders hold league leader Skelmersdale United to a 2-2 draw.

It was that kind of form before the turn of the year that prompted Firth's visit, manager Darren Williams and skipper Mark Robinson, pictured, collecting December’s Evo-Stik NPL Club of the Month Award from the NPL official before kick off. Currently ninth in the top flight’s table, the Seasiders are now just two points off the play-off spot after winning all five of their league outings last month to win the accolade.

The Seasiders were named alongside First Division North Ossett Town and First Division South Halesowen Town as the last winners in 2013 of the monthly accolade which sees clubs presented with an inscribed certificate to mark their achievement and a 4.5 litre bottle of Bells Whiskey to toast their continued success.

Halesowen Town flew into 2014 as First Division South leaders, John Hill’s side taking over spot to win the award after a run of six wins from six in the league, four of the victories coming away from home.

First Division North Ossett Town took their divisional honour for winning five out of six league outings to climb into the top half of the table after kicking off December with a 3-1 victory at Darlington in the Second Round of the Doodson Sport Cup.