VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE- PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Danny Rowe – AFC Fylde
The warning signs are pretty ominous for National League defences. Danny Rowe is only getting better as he gets older.
If he carries on like this, he could go on to be a legend of this level. But maybe the good news for goalkeepers is his desire to make a name for himself in the EFL burns bright.
He arrived from the National League North in 2017 with a fearsome reputation. Just the 47 goals – unsurprisingly a competition record – made him a marked man after AFC Fylde’s promotion.
Two years on, teams are still struggling to get the hang of it.
The free-scoring frontman took the division by storm last season, scoring 24 goals in what he calls his first proper campaign in the league.
That goalscoring record and his all-round performance earned him the Player of the Year award.
He just missed out on the Golden Boot award to Tranmere’s Andy Cook, but this time there was no stopping him.
Rowe has plundered 27 goals and is in better shape than ever as the Coasters’ play-off campaign begins on Wednesday against Harrogate Town.
The former Stockport County and Fleetwood Town forward is more determined than ever to walk out in the Football League.
He may be 30, but he’s only improving as the years go by. Now, he has another accolade to sit on a rather populated mantelpiece.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH- PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Glen Taylor- Spennymoor Town
Spennymoor Town supporters and their Manager are well aware that if things were different, they would be saying goodbye to their legendary leading scorer in a few weeks’ time.
School teacher Glen Taylor has been handing out lessons to defenders for years.
“Make no bones about it,” his manager Jason Ainsley said after convincing his striker to sign a new two-year deal in January.
his manager Jason Ainsley said after convincing his striker to sign a new two-year deal in January.
“If Glen didn’t have a great job and a baby, we would be losing him this summer.
“There has been plenty of interest from National League and Football League clubs so we’re lucky his life has a great balance.”
We’ve all seen players’ form dip once they get a new deal, but Taylor was never going to tail off.
After 19 goals last year in this division, he has 25 to his well-respected name this time around.
He says: “Happiness comes before the status of being able to say you are a professional footballer”, and Spennymoor fans will drink to that.
Taylor has it made after securing the National League North Player of the Year. Now he wants promotion to go alongside it.
VANARAMA NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH- PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Jamie Reid- Torquay United
It’s been a season which has seen the records tumble at Torquay United.
First, of course, incredibly the Club won their first ever championship as they got their hands on the National League South title.
Then on Saturday’s final day the Gulls notched the quickest goal in their history – straight from kick-off against St Albans City.
Now, for the first time in many moons, one of their Club’s heroes has his hands on a Player of the Year award.
Torquay and their striker Jamie Reid didn’t know what to expect when they found themselves in a place the Club never thought they would be.
They went into the unknown but, sometimes, a surprise in football isn’t such a bad thing!
The forward found the net no fewer than 29 times in the National League South alone, it came at a rate of a goal every 115 minutes and handed him the Golden Boot accolade too.
His partnership with on-loan Saikou Janneh brought about a joint tally of 46 goals.
With a forward-line like that, it’s no shock fingers are on prizes down in deepest Devon in what was a season to remember for Gary Johnson’s Gulls.