It turned into a long old summer for fans of all football colours and all creeds with everything else going on with the planet, but finally and eventually (after the continuing nonsense that goes on at Premier League level with their spending and version of the beautiful game) the National League season was finally back, and there remains something pure, historical and more loveable about it.
Even though some fans continue to have their own issues given the owners we now see come into this level. But that’s besides the point, the true football season is back, as are pies, Bovril and a few cheeky pints and with us now well into the month of September, it is time to dish out the Vanarama sponsored monthly awards and you can Click here to play now when it comes to who might shine following Augusts fixtures.
Beginning with the National League North, as football always proves, expectations amongst the fans might be everything, but that does not always transmit to the pitch.
Scunthorpe United had a summer of investment designed to make their spell at this level a short one, and they were well tipped this year to achieve just that. Right now, it is working out even if they have become the team everyone else is obviously determined to beat. Five wins and two draws from their opening eight, with a plus 12 goal difference, is not to be sniffed at.
Midfielder Will Hayhurst is certainly playing his part for Curzon Ashton, as so far, he has four goals and two assists to his name and come the end of the opening month, he is already tied with perennial Golden Boot winner Glen Taylor and Danny Whitehall.
Scunthorpe manager Jimmy Dean understandably takes the opening gong of the season, and with performance levels like that, Hayhurst takes the Player of the Month gong for the North – and now we simply see if they can keep it up.
As for the South, two sides had very eventful opening months and for most, these gongs would certainly not have been predicted before the big opening kick off took place. But here we are, merit is earned at this level and whilst some fans of other clubs will possibly disagree with the Vanarama decisions here, others will understanding the reasoning.
Ahead of the season kicking off, better backed full timers Torquay United, Yeovil Town and Maidstone took the headlines, but Aveley, Weston-super-Mare and Worthing also featured. So after a self described ‘fierce panel debate’, they finally awarded Manager of the Month to Adam Hinshelwood as Worthing finished top of their table, with five wins from six, and as well as picking up some notable wins, they also kept four clean sheets which will be a massive boost for their fans this early on in the season, and it sort of shows there is no hangover from last year.
As for the Player of the Month, they ultimately decided on Scott Wilson who has continued his own form last year into this one. The Bath City forward chipped in with four goals and an assist in the opening month of the season, and Bath became the ‘great entertainers’ promising goals galore as they scored 15 whilst conceding 11.
Let us see what next month brings.
