High-end stars from lower tiers

STEP 3-4 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

PROMOTION pictures are beginning to get clearer after an epic campaign – and it’s fair to say the leagues at Steps 3 & 4 haven’t disappointed this year.

All season, the players have provided the entertainment on the pitch and now we need your help to recognise the stand-out star for this year’s Step 3/4 Player of the Year at our National Game Awards, in association with Isuzu.

The winner will be presented with their prize at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane stadium on Wednesday May 22, as we celebrate another thrilling campaign.

Naturally, there are a lot of players in contention to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner Liam Hughes, inset, so here are just a few suggestions.

The champagne is on ice for a plethora of Step 3/4 clubs who can see success on the horizon. Joint bosses Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley returned to the dugout at Radcliffe and they have led Boro to the verge of the Northern Premier League Premier division title at their first attempt.

Much of that is down to the goals of experienced duo Jordan Hulme and

Josh Hancock.

Hornchurch, too, have been dominant in Isthmian Premier Division under, first Steve Morison, and now Daryl McMahon.

Take your pick here as there have been a number of notable performers for the Urchins this season, such as Liam Nash, Lewwis Spence, George Saunders and goal-getter Femi Akinwande.

Kevin Horlock’s Needham Market have been fantastic in Southern Premier Central – Luke Ingram, Kyle Hammond and the Morphew brothers Dan and Kieran to name but a few – similarly Chesham United in Premier South, led by 26goal top scorer Ricardo German.

Ramsgate striker Joe Taylor is the top goalscorer at Step 4 so far this season with 32 as the Rams look to clinch the Isthmian South East title, while Rob Stevenson at Leek Town and Harborough Town’s Tendai Daire are firing their respective clubs to top title pushes after storming campaigns. Don’t forget also the FA Cup heroes from Cray Valley PM, Sheppey United and Horsham, who shot to fame overnight in front of the live TV cameras. All are worthy candidates indeed.

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

Do you have someone in mind?