Star graduate scored top goal

An overhead kick from the Yellows youngster won the vote of fans who viewed ten contenders more than 52,000 times on social media in a close race before the online poll closed on Sunday.

Graduate Woods, pictured collecting the NPLFA's Golden Boot in consecutive seasons from his coach Keith Southern, banged in 26 goals last term and scored an incredible 53 league and cup goals during his time as a student.

It's been a great year for the 18-year-old striker, on and off the pitch after achieving his BTEC in Sport Level 3 qualification and making his first team debut back in January. That was followed by scoring the winning goal in the NPLFA Cup Final and contributing to the league and cup double of the EVO-STIK League club's reserves.

The NPLFA graduate's father Paul paid tribute to the NPLFA's coaches and tutors in a post he wanted to share online with fans and parents after seeing his son win the poll of supporters.

He wrote: "I would just like to thank the NPL Football Academy for the past two years for Euan. Before he joined the programme he was a heartbroken 16-year-old boy, who had just been released from a Football League club after being with them for five years. They released him on the last day giving him no chance to find another club. Through the NPLFA, he has grown in confidence and enjoyed the last two years. Not only playing football but also with the education.

"He came to you as a young boy with no clue what was going to happen in his life, and left as a two time 'Golden Boot' winner, voted twice in the NPLFA 'Team of the Year' where he finished as runner up in the 'Player of the Year' award on both occasions, as well as scoring the winning goal in the cup final last month. I would like you to share this message with other lads with ambitions to succeed. Once again, thank you and all the best."

NPLFA hot-shots season 2016-17
Euan Woods (Warrington) 26 (18 league, 8 cup)
Jordan Lee (Matlock) 18 (17 league, 1 cup)
Jake Dickinson (Mickleover) 18 (17 league, 1 cup)
Billy Whitehead (Matlock) 17 (15 league, 2 cup)
Scott Taylor (Belper) 15 (14 league, 1 cup)
Yakeef Murphy (Mickleover) 14 GOALS (14 league, 0 cup)
Adam Leach (Radcliffe) 12 (12 league, 0 cup)
Owen Wynne (Witton) 12 (12 league, 0 goals)

* The EVO-STIK League’s ground-breaking academy was founded with the backing of the Football Association at five pilot clubs in September 2014 to provide career pathways into the football industry.

Expanding to 13 clubs catering to more than 400 students for the 2017-18 season in September, the NPLFA is still the only league wide academy in English football combining sport with education. Thanks to the new higher education partnership with Loughborough College, youngsters currently studying with the NPLFA on two year BTEC courses or embarking on them this Autumn will also be able to continue their education to degree level while developing their football careers within the EVO-STIK League.

When not studying, students train on a daily basis with UEFA qualified coaches while competing in the NPL Youth League and the FA Youth Cup. In April, Mickleover Sports won the NPLFA's youth league for the third season running while Warrington Town's stars of the future lifted the inaugural NPLFA Cup at Stole City's Bet365 Stadium.

The exploits of the NPLFA’s stars are not going unnoticed either. Since last season the NPLFA has been recording all its matches for coaching and publicity purposes, the footage shot by FilmMyMatch before the clips are edited into highlights packages for viewers on the academy’s website and busy social media channels.

To see the NPLFA's latest promotional videos and success stories, follow on Twitter at @NPLFA or visit: www.nplfa.co.uk. For more information on the degree courses contact: sam@nplfa.co.uk.

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