THE Non-League Paper are once again supporting the Football Association‘s Respect campaign by naming the best behaved clubs – and shaming the sinners.
Our FA Respect Fair Play table is back for the new season with the same rules applying. Dissent cautions as well as abusive language and violent conduct sending offs are tallied up to give clubs an amount of NLP Fair Play Points.
Skelmersdale United were the best behaved club last season, ending the campaign without a single point, and were rewarded by picking up our Fair Play award at the National Game Awards in May.
They just beat Nuneaton Town, Bromley, Hereford United and Sutton United, who also ended the season without any penalty points, while at the other end of the spectrum, Eastbourne Town and Wrexham ended joint-bottom.
Skem were also honored by the FA and the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and boss Tommy Lawson says discipline will continue to be something his side focuses on.
“We won the best technical area award in the Evo-Stik League last season and went down to Wembley to pick up the Respect award as well,” Lawson said.
“As a club we are very proud of those achievements and we’ve always kept a close eye on that side of things because it’s important.
“Sometimes it can be very difficult when you’ve got a poor referee as that’s something you have no control over. It’s important that the players keep their heads when they could easily get frustrated.”
Lawson’s men finished just a place outside the play-off places last season and have started the new Evo-Stik NPL Premier campaign well, losing just once so far.
They’ve scored just eight times and conceded four in their nine league games and the Skem boss is happy to see more clean sheets.
“Skem have always been known as an attacking team who score and conceded a lot but we’ve tightened up at the back which could make the difference this season,” Lawson added.
“If we could retain the Fair Play award and also get promotion it would be a perfect season. If I can have that in writing now, that would be great!”
