NATHAN CARTMAN had reasons to smile last week, experiencing a double celebration after watching his hometown club FC Halifax Town win the FA Trophy at Wembley on Sunday.
Days earlier, Cartman picked up the SK Kits Step 3 & 4 Player of the Year at the National Game Awards alongside wife Vicki after a stunning season with Darlington.
The striker won promotion with the club for a second successive year after joining from Harrogate Railway Athletic in January 2015 as the Quakers romped to the Evo-Stik NPL Premier title with 104 points.
His 19 league goals, as well as one in the cup, beat off the likes of Michael Walker, Moussa Diarra, Robbie Dale, Jason Prior and Ciaran Kilheeney to claim the gong at Stamford Bridge.
It was Cartman’s second accolade of the week having also been named as Darlington’s Away Player of the Year at the Darlington FC Supporters’ Group annual awards.
Speaking last Wednesday, the 26-year-old said: “I’m a Halifax boy so will be in the stands at Wembley to cheer them on. Hopefully it caps off the perfect few weeks, after winning the league and then being here at Stamford Bridge.
“It’s great to be named as Step 3 and 4 Player of the Year. It’s nice to show that I have that character and belief in myself to show the fans what I can do. I’d like to thank those who nominated me for the shortlist and then the fans who have then again nominated me for the award.
“I’ve enjoyed the last 15 months at Darlington. For the last 23 days of the season, we played nine games – Tuesday, Friday, Saturday – and I think we won every game and then obviously won the league.”
Since reforming as Darlington 1883 in 2012, the Quakers have gone from Step 5 where they won the Northern League Division One all the way through to Step 2.
Darlo will be a National League North side for the 2016-17 season and will be returning to the town too, groundsharing with Darlington Rugby Club.
Cartman added: “The club has got a great fan base. I had a bit of a sticky start when I first signed but I’ve come past that now and hopefully I’ve made a lot of the fans happy and sent them home happy.
“I’m sure our gaffer (Martin Gray) will be saying we’ll be up there in the play-offs again next year trying to get promotion.
“I think the recruitment is key, bringing in the right players. If we can get that right then there’s no reason why we can’t go back to where the club belong.”
