Who will be named the main man?

THE agony and ecstasy of this season’s run-in still needs to be settled – but the Buildbase National Game Awards doesn’t necessarily wait for the trophies to be lifted before honouring its winners.

Indeed, we’re already putting our plans in place for the big day (at a time and date yet to be confirmed) and part of our job is to give you everything you need to know for when you feel ready to cast your vote.

This week, we bring a run-down of the Our Game Football Player of the Year and the Sportsbeat Young Player of the Year, back after a season away due to the Covid hiatus.

We certainly don’t envy you decision-makers when it comes to picking the person who takes the crown this year!

Player of the Year, remember, is an award which covers every player numbered two and above from the National League and the National League North and South – Goalkeepers and Step 3 and 4 have their own separate

NGAs – and there’s plenty to choose from.

Rightly or wrongly, when picking any Player of the Year, the mind naturally often drifts towards the top of the scoring charts with the golden boys up and down the country grabbing the gongs as well as the goals.

Recognition

It doesn’t have to be that way of course but the net finders have certainly set the tone for another thrilling season at Steps 1 and 2.

Chesterfield’s Kabongo Tshimanga still leads the top-flight scoring charts with 24 goals despite suffering a fractured leg and dislocated ankle in mid-February.

And he is being hotly-pursued by Wrexham sharp shooter Paul Mullin, who has netted 22 in just 31 games for the Red Dragons.

FC Halifax Town’s Billy Waters, Notts County’s Ruben Rodrigues and Michael Cheek, of Bromley, have also shone up top – there’s plenty of big guns to pick from.

But it’s not always just the strikers who stand out, however. Centre-back Ash Palmer and midfield pair Will Collar and Ryan Croasdale have led Stockport County’s rampant title charge, while the likes of Halifax’s Matt Warburton and Boreham Wood’s Will Evans have also marshalled stellar campaigns.

How about the likes of Brackley Town skipper Gaz Dean, Kidderminster’s Omari Sterling-James and Gateshead’s Greg Olley who have shone in National League North, or, likewise, Dorking’s Alfie Rutherford, Maidstone’s Joan Luque and Hungerford’s Ryan Seager in the South.

The choice, as always, is yours, so get your votes in and give your club’s star man the recognition he deserves.