Former Huddersfield Town and Clyde striker Jack Boyle in his fourth season with Brighouse Town has been voted the `Fans Player of The Season’.
He beat off stiff competition from fullback and centre back Sam Reed, and at the Presentation Evening at the Clubhouse on Saturday week, May 13 (7.0) he will also receive the Golden Boot award having bagged 13 goals this time and provided numerous assists.
The other major awards will be unveiled on the evening, but the `Fans Goal of the Season award has gone to Josh Grant for his strike at Ossett United on Easter Monday just two minutes into the second half. Town had gone in leading 1-0 from a Corey Gregory shot after Javelle Clarke had opened up the home defence and then provided a superb ball for his midfielder. From the kick-off on the resumption of the second half the ball was played down the right and it then proceeded to be played around at speed amongst seven players before being squared to Grant some 20 yards out from goal who made no mistake.
In third place for the goal of the season was Boyle whose free-kick in the first half at Tadcaster Albion was out of the `Bend it like Beckham’ text book!
Talking of awards and Town, despite finishing the season with a 3-0 defeat at Long Eaton United, took the April Form team award beating off champions Worksop Town, runners-up Stockton Town who lost in the play-off final to Long Eaton, who Town also pipped, but now go into the NPL Premier Division.
Shildon, Tadcaster Albion and Lincoln United have been relegated to Step 5 but Nottingham club Carlton were saved from a play-off game as North Shields after one season are out owing to ground grading rules. The club, with Malcolm McDonald as president, raised £50,000 but notified the NPL and FA a week too late of the March 31 deadline. They appealed but were rejected and must now return to the Northern League Divsion One.
Lincoln United lost 2-1 in their home play-off tie with Greater Manchester Step 5 club Avro and Glossop United in their play-off game lost 3-0 at home to Ashington from Northumbria, the birthplace and junior club of the famous Charlton brothers, the late Jack and Bobby. Despite Shildon dropping out Town will still also have to travel to a club in that area of Durham, Newton Aycliffe, champions of the EBAC Northern League Division One, and, of course, Ashington, north of Newcastle.
In the Division One West, Ramsbottom United, Colne, Glossop and Skelmersdale United are also relegated. With `Skem’ not meeting round grading requirements it prevented Widnes going into the play-offs with a Step 5 club.
Toolstation Northern Counties East League Division One Champions Campion from Manningham, Bradford and managed by former Brighouse Town player-assistant coach Lee Ashforth, won the West Riding County FA Cup Final on Friday night at reigning champions Liversedge 2-1 in front of 1,381 crowd.
Brighouse Town Girls U14 Orange team are champions of the West Riding County FA Girls League Division one and celebrated taking the title with a 3-1 victory over Rothwell.
