NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE SO BRIGHT
League’s big night proves a spectacular success
THE Northern Premier League know how to do end of season awards nights – just ask anyone who was lucky enough to be at Blackpool’s Hilton Hotel for the 2017 edition of their annual celebrations!
The spectacular was no secret either, the event later recording more than half a million views and shares on social media after being broadcast live on Facebook and Twitter for the first time.
The representatives of Bostik, parent company of title sponsors EVO-STIK, will certainly have been impressed, the exposure coming only hours after the lunchtime announcement at the league’s AGM of an extension of their six-year partnership by at least another two years to eight in total.
Nearly 400 guests hailed the 2016-17 campaign’s champions, play-off winners, cup kings, star players and best behaved sides as they were introduced by compere Kevin Lynch and presented with their silverware by EVO-STIK League chairman Mark Harris and his directors and officers.
After a season that saw them go on a record-breaking run to the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, Stourbridge had more than most to carry home after being named 2017 Community Club of the Year.
Record-breaking
Gary Hackett’s side later collected the top flight’s fair play award and golden boot in successive seasons, Luke Benbow’s 32 goals also earning the striker a share of the overall golden boot with Farsley Celtic’s James Walshaw.
Celtic, runners-up and top flight-bound EVO-STIK League North play-off winners, were responsible for two of the night’s most remarkable moments veteran chairman John Palmer and 80-year-old former secretary Margaret Lobley drawing sustained applause and standing ovations as they collected long service awards. EVO-STIK League North champions Lancaster City were among the other big winners, the Dolly Blues hailed by their peers for winning the championship ‘the right way’ after they were honoured as the league’s best behaved side.
Bidding goodbye to the competition, Blyth Spartans chairman Tony Platten rounded off the ceremony with an emotional speech on behalf of the champions saluting their fellow clubs and the league.