(LIONS’ PRIDE: Last year’s winner Jake Gallagher with his parents at Stamford Bridge)
There aren’t many greater achievements for young Non-League players than pulling on the England shirt – which is exactly why the England C Player of the Year award has returned.
Backed by the FA, the prize will go to the one player who has stood above his colleagues and consistently shown the qualities you expect from somebody wearing the famous Three Lions on their chest.
As always, England C boss Paul Fairclough has picked the winner and they will be crowned at our awards ceremony at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, May 16.
Aldershot Town‘s Jake Gallagher took home the award last year, following in the footsteps of Andy Yiadom, who now plays in the Championship for Barnsley.
While Non-League’s Three Lions have played only two games this season, they’ve both been big games with plenty of key contributions.
Fairclough’s men were beaten in the International Challenge Trophy final in Slovakia in November where they evenutally went down 4-0 to their slick hosts.
But a tremendous 3-2 victory over old rivals Wales C followed in March when Dagenham and Redbridge‘s Fejiri Okenabirhie bagged a stunning hat-trick to sink the Dragons.
What makes this award one of the hardest to win is that performances for the national team aren’t the only criteria.
Fairclough, who is constantly out watching Non-League games for the next big talent, has also taken club form into account.
And most importantly of all, that deserving player must have demonstrated qualities off the pitch that are sometimes missing at the top end of the game. Once you’ve been capped by England C and received your cap after belting out the national anthem, you are considered a flag bearer.
Plenty of former Three Lions players have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the Football League and the winner of the England C Player of the Year award could well be next on the conveyor belt.
How to vote
Please email [email protected] to cast your vote or use #NGAvotes on Twitter or via post to The Non-League Paper, Tuition House, St George’s Road, Wimbledon SW19 4EU
