The National League North Big Winners Are Announced

When just one point separated fourth place Brackley and ninth place Spennymoor come full-time on the final day, you get a sense of the incredible National League North season we just witnessed. 

Throw in a title and relegation race that went to the wire, and you won’t find a division with more going on! 

There were plenty of brilliant stories too, like the young manager who always knew age would be no barrier. 

When Calum McIntyre spoke to us last summer, he said he knew he wouldn’t have been entrusted with this opportunity if everything was rosy at Chester.

Well, the then 29-year-old had to ‘glow up’ last summer and one of the youngster managers in senior football left the club sitting pretty. 

A well-deserved third place was a formality even in early April, allowing plenty of preparation for the play-offs.

The Manager of the Season may have been in nappies when football came home in 1996, but what a future he has in front of him.

Nick Haughton knew he had to celebrate his fifth-year anniversary at AFC Fylde properly. 

He’s seen it all in his time at the Coasters - promotion, relegation and Promotion Final defeat at Wembley. 

For a club whose ambition it was to be in the EFL by now, their project needed a kick-start.

The attacking midfielder provided it and has been the stand-out player in the division this term.

Some 26 goals and 11 assists later, he has a winners’ medal around his neck.

Fylde’s Mr Reliable is sure to be a player to watch next season.  

Manager of the Season – Calum McIntyre (Chester)

Player of the Season – Nick Haughton (AFC Fylde)

Vanarama National North League Team of the Season

GK – Harry Tyrer (Chester)

RB – Aaron Jones (King’s Lynn Town)

LB – Danny Preston (Alfreton Town)

CB – Alex Whitmore (AFC Fylde)

CB – Josh Coulson (King’s Lynn Town)

CM – Michael Clunan (King’s Lynn Town)

CM – Declan Weeks (Chester)

CM – Nick Haughton (AFC Fylde)

CF – Kurt Willoughby (Chester)

CF – Glen Taylor (Spennymoor Town)

CF – Gold Omotayo (King’s Lynn Town)