Superfans need a big shout out
RECEIVING a vote – or even a nomination – from your peers as NGA Player, Young Player, or Manager of the Year is one proud moment for those privileged enough to cross that white line on a Saturday.
But we believe there is an award category that means even more to the very people who help make the Non-League experience so vital to its community.
Each year we welcome managers, players, directors and personnel from all across the country to our annual NGA ceremony which returns this year for the first time since 2020 following a two-year Covid-driven hiatus.
Some put in extraordinary miles to make it to the capital, setting off from all four corners of the country in the early hours. Some don’t even know why we’ve asked them along!
Indeed, that’s often the case with our William Hill Fan of the Year award, which we don’t mind admitting is one of our favourite to present.
“We couldn’t do it without you” is a phrase mentioned a lot in acceptance speeches, but with this award it is quite literally the case – it just can’t work without your help.
It’s very rare that the Fan of the Year isn’t one of the most memorable of the NGA categories. Why? Because the winner has passion for the game flowing through their body.
Loyalty
That was certainly the case for our current William Hill Fan of the Year, Matt Allcock, the Kings Langley supporter who was posthumously recognised for his efforts following his tragic death just months before our last NGA ceremony, in 2019.
The 46-year-old collapsed and died in January just hours after attending the Southern League club’s league fixture at Weymouth.
Matt’s prize was collected by best friend Stuart Waggett, brother Daniel Allcock and club committee member Danny Perman at the Stamford Bridge ceremony.
“For us as a family and to the club this means an awful lot,” Allcock said.
“This is a recognition of Matt’s infectious personality and how much people loved him.”
Behind every great club is a great fanbase and, we are inviting you to honour the superfan who your club could not do without.
Have they raised the bar when it comes to unconditional loyalty, soldiered on against adversity or left no stone unturned when it comes to giving their full support? If so, let us know, and give them the recognition they deserve.
It’s our duty to ensure only the pinnacle of top fans leave with their name engraved on the coveted decanter so we welcome your input more than ever before.