The Non-League Football Paper

Which No.1 has safest of hands?

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NEVER let it be said that here at

we don’t always look after our No.1s.

And one thing is for sure, you won’t have to worry about the recipient of this award enduring a worrying moment when he gets his big hands on the coveted glass NGA.

Rest assured, the Goalkeeper of the Year accolade – once again sponsored by Reusch – is in pretty safe hands given their consistent club form over the 2022-23 campaign.

Surely in the running, once again this year, is the beholder of the meanest defence in the National League, Nathan Ashmore, of Boreham Wood.

Ashmore is regarded as one of the best goalkeeper­s outside of the Football League and showed just why this year, conceding just 35 goals in 43 games before yesterday, including a run of five consecutiv­e clean sheets between February and March.

Sam Howes’ outstandin­g form between the sticks for Wealdstone this season earned him an England C call-up, likewise Worthing’s Harrison Male, the only member of Paul Fairclough’s 23-man squad to come from outside the top-flight.

Bishop’s Stortford stopper Jack Giddens continues his form from last season, helping the Blues to promotion from Isthmian Premier, while Alfie Stronge has been imperious form for AFC Sudbury at Step 4.

The safest hands in NonLeague football currently belong to Worksop Town’s Polish stopper Sebastian Malkowski, while WestonSupe­r-Mare’s Luke Purnell and AFC Totton’s Lewis Noice have also played a huge part in title-winning seasons for their clubs.

So, we ask you, is there anyone else who deserves a mention? Who’s your man with the golden gloves?

They say you have to be mad to be goalkeeper, well, you’d be mad not to vote for your number one No.1!

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