AS the fixture pile-ups across the country continue to cause problems, it’s fair to say teams will be hoping they can keep as many players on the pitch as possible.
Suspensions are the one thing you don’t want at this time of the season as we start to approach the business end and the best behaved club will be honoured at our bash at Craven Cottage on May 13 with the PFA Fair Play Award.
Fair play is often downplayed but if you take a look at our fair play table that we print every week in The NLP, you may see that many of the most sporting sides are also near the top of their respective league table.
Currently leading the way in the fair play league are Evo-Stik NPL Premier side Skelmersdale United.
Tommy Lawson’s side were just a point adrift of leaders Chorley coming into the weekend and are hoping for a second successive promotion.
Skem currently have zero fair play points and another side who also have a clean slate are Ryman North Soham Town Rangers.
Like United, they are second in their league and will be looking to bridge the six point gap between themselves and leaders VCD Athletic.
Bromley are another club on zero points and they currently lead the Skrill South with promotion to Non-League’s top-flight a real possibility.
Kidderminster, who beat Newport County and Peterborough United in the FA Cup, Nuneaton Town, Sutton United and Northwich Victoria are the other teams who are yet to record a point on their record.
.With many of those clubs fighting for promotion, it could be easy to assume that teams at the other end of the table can sometimes let their league positions get the better of them on the pitch.
However, last year’s winners Harlow Town finished second bottom of the Ryman North after a ten point deduction for breaking a league financial rule.
But boss Danny Chapman, who has led his side to third this term, said at the time: “It’s been a disappointing season for the whole club.
“At least it has ended on a high with this award. It’s always nice to be rewarded and discipline is something I have always put an emphasis on. Hopefully we can use that as a base for next season.”
