MOORS ARE MERRIER AS NEAL LANDS TOP AWARD
OCTOBER is usually the month when we see the cream start to rise to the top – so it’s no surprise that Neal Ardley’s Solihull Moors are starting their charge in the National League.
Ardley is already making his mark at Damson Park. Moors ended September with a 5-1 hammering at Dagenham & Redbridge ringing in their ears and it may prove to be the hard-todigest moment that transforms their season.
Since then, Ardley’s team haven’t looked back – and five wins from their seven games, with the other two well-earned goalless draws – underlines their improvement.
Victories against Southend United, King’s Lynn Town, FC Halifax Town and Altrincham means nobody wants to play them at the moment and Ardley, as a result, has been named the V Manager of the Month for October.
Moors have October’s Player of the Month, too.
Ryan Boot has been a backline bedrock and the goalkeeper has been feeling indescribable lately after having kept clean sheets in six of Solihull’s last seven games.
In 630 minutes, he had conceded just one goal – after Saturday’s excellent FA Cup draw at Wigan Athletic, you can make that 720!
Volunteer of the Month goes to King’s Lynn Town’s Stuart Gallon.
Helping the under-13s flourish, he also lends the first team a hand - organising the youngsters for ball boy duties, while also making sure the social side is strong.
In the North, York City boss Steve Watson won the Manager’s prize.
Big progress in the FA Cup before the weekend was helped by three wins from four in the league as Southport, Chester and Blyth Spartans were put in their place.
Joining the Minstermen in the play-off pack are Kidderminster Harriers – and Ashley Hemmings epitomises what the club are trying to do under manager Russ Penn.
He now has six for the season and found the net against Chorley and Bradford PA last month.
Volunteer of the Month is Boston United’s Christian James, who is founder of the club’s popular @bostonutdstats twitter account and has tireless work as the club said an emotional goodbye to York Street.
Meanwhile, Ebbsfleet United’s Dennis Kutrieb is continuing the trend of German managers flourishing in English football by scooping the Manager of the Month award in the South.
In October, Kutrieb’s team won all five matches, including two FA Cup ties and they took nine points from nine in the league.
After a few tough seasons, the club appears to be on the up once more.
Player of the Month award went to St Albans City striker Shaun Jeffers after he found the net no fewer than six times, including a hattrick against Billericay Town.
And busy Beaver Alistair Bruce claimed the Volunteer award after chipping in with everything at the Beveree from laying concrete at the club to painting fences and helping cut the pitch.