Voting gets underway to crown the fans choice

Voting is underway to choose the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League 2014 Fans’ Player of the Year from a shortlist of five finalists named on Sunday night.

Won last April by North Ferriby United’s Ryan Kendall, the accolade is being run by the NPL facebook Group for the third year running.

The winner will be unveiled in Barnsley at the third annual Evo-Stik NPL Players of the Year Awards on Sunday 6 April from a final shortlist of Frickley Athletic’s Gavin Allott, Belper Town’s Johnathan Froggart, FC United of Manchester’s Tom Greaves, Worksop Town’s Leon Mettam and Darlington 1883’s Stephen Thompson.

A number of players who narrowly missed out in the poll were also ‘highly commended’ by supporters. See below. In total, 103 players were nominated to follow in the footsteps of Kendall and the accolade’s inaugural winner, Hednesford's Cheyenne Dunkley in 2012.

After being nominated, the five were chosen by a panel made up of fans from every league club and supporters now have until 11pm on Sunday 16 March to register their online vote for the overall winner and runners-up.

Fans can only vote once with further votes disallowed. Follow the on-screen directions at: Evo-Stik NPL facebook Group Supporters Player of the Year Vote

The brainchild of former Manchester City keeper and NPL man Alan Ogley, the awards are a unique celebration at the top levels of Non-League football with the focus on recognising the league’s stars after a secret ballot by the managers and coaches at all 68 clubs which closed last week.

As well as the NPL Facebook Group's accolade and the new Evo-Stik NPL Fan of the Year Award, launched this season to honour the league’s top supporter, the event at the four star Brooklands Holiday Inn will see two players named as Player of the Year and Young Player of Year in each division along with 11 more in three Teams of the Year.

An individual’s outstanding contribution to the league off the field of play will also be recognised with the Evo-Stik NPL Merit Award, won last year by Matlock Town’s Keith Brown and for the first time in 2012 by Marine’s legendary former manager Roly Howard when World Cup referee Howard Webb handed out the honours. Doncaster Rovers and former Wales manager Brian Flynn handed out the accolades last year, pictured, when nearly forty players were recognised by the league's managers and coaches for their impact on the campaign.

This season's guest of honour is set to be unveiled in the coming days and the event’s organiser John Jones is expecting another sell-out when the awards return to Barnsley for the third year running. For more information on tickets for the dinner and league deal on accommodation available to players, officials and fans attending, email: jjones@evostikleague.co.uk.

NPL facebook Group Fans’ Player of the Year
Highly commended:
Sam Ashton - Chorley
Aaron Burns - Nantwich Town
Robert Dale - Blyth Spartans
Phil Dean - Ramsbottom United
Tom Denton - Worksop Town
Matthew Hughes - Skelmersdale United
John Johnston - Leek Town
Cieran Kilheeney - Warrington Town
Amar Purewal - Darlington 1883
Matthew Warburton - Curzon Ashton

Image courtesy of Graham Lindley