March 2026 Player of the Month announced
Tue 21st April 2026 | League Awards | By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for March 2026 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for March 2026 has gone to Jordan Darr of Charnock Richard. This is the second time this season that Jordan has won this award having won it in October 2021, and the first for Charnock since Louis Holt won it in September 2022.
Jordan started his football career at Chorley before enjoying successful loan spells with Skelmersdale United, Bamber Bridge and Northwich Victoria. He also played for Euxton Villa in the West Lancashire League. The highly rated forward signed for Clitheroe in the summer of 2019 before joining the ranks at Charnock Richard on a dual registration in early September. He left Charnock to join Atherton Collieries at the start of the 2020/21 campaign but returned to Mossie Park in December 2020.
The opening game of the month saw Chadderton visit Mossie Park. Trailing 2-1, Darr scored the equaliser on 57 minutes when Ethan Eccleston got clear on the right hand side. He delivered an inch-perfect ball into Darr, who smashed his effort into a practically empty net from six yards.
Next up was a 1-0 loss at Cheadle Town. The closest Darr came to scoring was a header on target in stoppage time that was superbly tipped over the bar by Hodges to secure the three points for Cheadle, with Darr named Man of the Match for Charnock for his contribution.
Barnoldswick Town then visited Mossie Park, with Darr notching his 30th goal of the campaign to double the home side’s lead. It came in the 21st minute, with Spencer Bibby unlocking Barlick’s defence, allowing Darr time and space to stroke home into the bottom right corner.
A trip to Litherland REMYCA followed with Darr notching a double. He scored the second of the game when Spencer Bibby again put Darr in behind, the striker slotting the ball underneath the keeper. Then five minutes later, Matthew Westwell saw a shot strike the post, with Darr was there to tap in the rebound. Once again Darr won Man of the Match.
League leaders Wythenshawe then visited with Darr equalising five minutes before the break as he he slotted home James Nolan's free kick from the left. He was unlucky not to have another when he saw a header from another Nolan free kick cleared off the line.
His sixth and final game in the month saw Darr claim a hat-trick to make it eight goals in March. This was at South Liverpool, with Darr opening the scoring on six minutes when he swept home a James Nolan low cross. He grabbed his second four minutes before the break, with Nathan Nickeas’ volley sent the striker one-on-one and he rounded the keeper before finished into the open goal. Charnock and Darr would find a third on the stroke of half-time. Some brilliant solo skilful dribbling gave the striker enough space to find the bottom left corner, leaving the goalkeeper routed to his spot.
His performance at Jericho Lane saw him claim yet another Man of the Match award, his third of the month.
Congratulations Jordan!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The First Division North Player of the Month for January 2026 goes to Liam Sheppard of Daisy Hill. This is the second time Liam has won this award this season after winning it in October.
The 18-year old striker came through the ranks at Atherton Collieries, scoring a brace on his senior Colls debut last season after impressing in the Colls Youth Team. He joined Daisy Hill midway through last season on duel registrations, and has remained at the club into this season, with March perhaps his best month since joining the club.
Having scored five times in three games in February, Liam continued this form into March where he scored another eight goals in seven games, as well as picking up three Man of the Match awards.
The first game against Steeton in the final match of the league's Groundhop Weekend saw Liam put the Cutters into a deserved lead as he followed up and tapped home Jake O’Brien’s free kick that had hit the post.
Next up came a trip to league leaders Nelson, with Liam scoring twice in the opening six minutes to give Daisy a two goal lead that stunned the home crowd. The first was in the fourth minute when he seized on a slack pass back to race through on goal, round the keeper and roll the ball into the net from a tight angle. Two minutes later, Harry Forshaw won a challenge and played in Sheppard who smashed home a terrific 30-yard shot that ended up in the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar. Nelson hit back to win 4-2 but Liam was named Man of the Match.
He was unable to contributed in the 1-1 draw at Garstang but hit back in the next game with a superb hat trick in a 3-2 win at Squires Gate that saw him again named Man of the Match. He was put through on goal down the right after 28 minutes, and he smashed the ball past the keeper to break the deadlock. Four minutes later, he got a free run in on goal, and he buried a shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net. The hat-trick was complete with the winner two minutes from time, Fionn Murphy crossing to the right hand side of the penalty area where Liam picked his spot to score.
He was on target again at Colne, with the home side having just hit back to make it 2-3 in stoppage time. Liam won a chase for a long ball forward to nip in front of the covering defender and get in a shot that ended up in the back of the net off the inside of the near post.
The final game of the month saw Liam again on target in a 2-1 win over Ashton Town that brought him his third Man of the Match of the month. He played a one-two with Harry Forshaw before slotting the ball under Morgan Newns to double Daisy’s lead.
Congratulations to Liam on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for March 2026 goes to Connor Spiers of Runcorn Town. This is the first time that Connor has won this award and the first time this season that a Runcorn Town player has won this award this season.
The 24-year old forward played for Greenall Padgate St Oswalds in the Cheshire League before moving to FC St Helens in the NWCFL where he helped them to win the First Division North in 2023/24. He then played the following season for the Stripes in the Premier Division before moving to Runcorn Town at the start of this season.
He had a superb month which saw him score in eight of the nine games in which he played with nine goals scored in the month. He also picked up Man of the Match once in the month.
The first game was at Marine which saw Spiers score the winner as Runcorn won 2-1 in the Liverpool Senior Cup. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he outmuscled a defender before dropping his shoulder and smashing a shot across the keeper into the bottom left corner.
Next was a trip to New Mills with Spiers scoring the only goal of the game after just 65 seconds. Charlie Harland's ball from the back was flicked on by Tom Ruffer to Spiers who was able to move the ball onto his right foot just outside the box and he curled a shot into the far corner. Spiers was named Man of the Match in that game.
A trip to Stafford Town followed with Spiers beating a couple of defenders on 14 minutes to get into the box on the right before pulling the ball back for Jamie Apperley to score. Then 11 minutes later, Spiers who chested the ball down on the halfway line, flicked it in between two defenders to put himself through on goal and fired through the legs of Adam Jenkins to score.
At Wolverhampton Casuals, Spiers again set up the opener as he ran onto a loose ball and was bundled over, with Liam Kennington confidently tucking away the penalty. Then after Wolves had levelled, Spiers got in behind the defence from Will Avon's ball and he took a touch before slotting under the keeper from a tight angle.
He then opened the scoring at Nelson in the Edward Case Cup Semi Final, picking up a loose ball at the start of the second half and racing clear. His shot was saved, but he followed up to score his 12th goal in 12 games.
A rare game without contribution came at Foley Meir as Runcorn won 5-1, before he opened the scoring at Stockport Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup. Put in by Matt Ball around halfway, he drove forwards towards goal, evading a tackle before slotting past the keeper. He then saw a shot cleared off the line before in the second half, teeing up Ed Burthem to score Runcorn's second of the game.
In his eighth game of the month, he was on the scoresheet again at Cammell Laird 1907, tapping in the final goal of the game from close range. And in the last game against Sandbach United that saw Runcorn secure the league title, he scored twice. The first was the games opener as Tom Ruffer's ball sent him through, and he ran to slot past the keeper. He then grabbed the second as Ruffer headed on Charlie Harland's ball, with Spiers racing from halfway to score. He was denied a hat-trick with a fine save that saw Kieran Alley tap home the game's third goal.
All in all, nine games in the month for Spiers, nine goals with three assists and one Man of the Match.
Congratulations Connor!
March 2026 Player of the Month announced
Tue 21st April 2026 | League Awards
By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for March 2026 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for March 2026 has gone to Jordan Darr of Charnock Richard. This is the second time this season that Jordan has won this award having won it in October 2021, and the first for Charnock since Louis Holt won it in September 2022.
Jordan started his football career at Chorley before enjoying successful loan spells with Skelmersdale United, Bamber Bridge and Northwich Victoria. He also played for Euxton Villa in the West Lancashire League. The highly rated forward signed for Clitheroe in the summer of 2019 before joining the ranks at Charnock Richard on a dual registration in early September. He left Charnock to join Atherton Collieries at the start of the 2020/21 campaign but returned to Mossie Park in December 2020.
The opening game of the month saw Chadderton visit Mossie Park. Trailing 2-1, Darr scored the equaliser on 57 minutes when Ethan Eccleston got clear on the right hand side. He delivered an inch-perfect ball into Darr, who smashed his effort into a practically empty net from six yards.
Next up was a 1-0 loss at Cheadle Town. The closest Darr came to scoring was a header on target in stoppage time that was superbly tipped over the bar by Hodges to secure the three points for Cheadle, with Darr named Man of the Match for Charnock for his contribution.
Barnoldswick Town then visited Mossie Park, with Darr notching his 30th goal of the campaign to double the home side’s lead. It came in the 21st minute, with Spencer Bibby unlocking Barlick’s defence, allowing Darr time and space to stroke home into the bottom right corner.
A trip to Litherland REMYCA followed with Darr notching a double. He scored the second of the game when Spencer Bibby again put Darr in behind, the striker slotting the ball underneath the keeper. Then five minutes later, Matthew Westwell saw a shot strike the post, with Darr was there to tap in the rebound. Once again Darr won Man of the Match.
League leaders Wythenshawe then visited with Darr equalising five minutes before the break as he he slotted home James Nolan's free kick from the left. He was unlucky not to have another when he saw a header from another Nolan free kick cleared off the line.
His sixth and final game in the month saw Darr claim a hat-trick to make it eight goals in March. This was at South Liverpool, with Darr opening the scoring on six minutes when he swept home a James Nolan low cross. He grabbed his second four minutes before the break, with Nathan Nickeas’ volley sent the striker one-on-one and he rounded the keeper before finished into the open goal. Charnock and Darr would find a third on the stroke of half-time. Some brilliant solo skilful dribbling gave the striker enough space to find the bottom left corner, leaving the goalkeeper routed to his spot.
His performance at Jericho Lane saw him claim yet another Man of the Match award, his third of the month.
Congratulations Jordan!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The First Division North Player of the Month for January 2026 goes to Liam Sheppard of Daisy Hill. This is the second time Liam has won this award this season after winning it in October.
The 18-year old striker came through the ranks at Atherton Collieries, scoring a brace on his senior Colls debut last season after impressing in the Colls Youth Team. He joined Daisy Hill midway through last season on duel registrations, and has remained at the club into this season, with March perhaps his best month since joining the club.
Having scored five times in three games in February, Liam continued this form into March where he scored another eight goals in seven games, as well as picking up three Man of the Match awards.
The first game against Steeton in the final match of the league's Groundhop Weekend saw Liam put the Cutters into a deserved lead as he followed up and tapped home Jake O’Brien’s free kick that had hit the post.
Next up came a trip to league leaders Nelson, with Liam scoring twice in the opening six minutes to give Daisy a two goal lead that stunned the home crowd. The first was in the fourth minute when he seized on a slack pass back to race through on goal, round the keeper and roll the ball into the net from a tight angle. Two minutes later, Harry Forshaw won a challenge and played in Sheppard who smashed home a terrific 30-yard shot that ended up in the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar. Nelson hit back to win 4-2 but Liam was named Man of the Match.
He was unable to contributed in the 1-1 draw at Garstang but hit back in the next game with a superb hat trick in a 3-2 win at Squires Gate that saw him again named Man of the Match. He was put through on goal down the right after 28 minutes, and he smashed the ball past the keeper to break the deadlock. Four minutes later, he got a free run in on goal, and he buried a shot across the keeper into the far corner of the net. The hat-trick was complete with the winner two minutes from time, Fionn Murphy crossing to the right hand side of the penalty area where Liam picked his spot to score.
He was on target again at Colne, with the home side having just hit back to make it 2-3 in stoppage time. Liam won a chase for a long ball forward to nip in front of the covering defender and get in a shot that ended up in the back of the net off the inside of the near post.
The final game of the month saw Liam again on target in a 2-1 win over Ashton Town that brought him his third Man of the Match of the month. He played a one-two with Harry Forshaw before slotting the ball under Morgan Newns to double Daisy’s lead.
Congratulations to Liam on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for March 2026 goes to Connor Spiers of Runcorn Town. This is the first time that Connor has won this award and the first time this season that a Runcorn Town player has won this award this season.
The 24-year old forward played for Greenall Padgate St Oswalds in the Cheshire League before moving to FC St Helens in the NWCFL where he helped them to win the First Division North in 2023/24. He then played the following season for the Stripes in the Premier Division before moving to Runcorn Town at the start of this season.
He had a superb month which saw him score in eight of the nine games in which he played with nine goals scored in the month. He also picked up Man of the Match once in the month.
The first game was at Marine which saw Spiers score the winner as Runcorn won 2-1 in the Liverpool Senior Cup. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he outmuscled a defender before dropping his shoulder and smashing a shot across the keeper into the bottom left corner.
Next was a trip to New Mills with Spiers scoring the only goal of the game after just 65 seconds. Charlie Harland's ball from the back was flicked on by Tom Ruffer to Spiers who was able to move the ball onto his right foot just outside the box and he curled a shot into the far corner. Spiers was named Man of the Match in that game.
A trip to Stafford Town followed with Spiers beating a couple of defenders on 14 minutes to get into the box on the right before pulling the ball back for Jamie Apperley to score. Then 11 minutes later, Spiers who chested the ball down on the halfway line, flicked it in between two defenders to put himself through on goal and fired through the legs of Adam Jenkins to score.
At Wolverhampton Casuals, Spiers again set up the opener as he ran onto a loose ball and was bundled over, with Liam Kennington confidently tucking away the penalty. Then after Wolves had levelled, Spiers got in behind the defence from Will Avon's ball and he took a touch before slotting under the keeper from a tight angle.
He then opened the scoring at Nelson in the Edward Case Cup Semi Final, picking up a loose ball at the start of the second half and racing clear. His shot was saved, but he followed up to score his 12th goal in 12 games.
A rare game without contribution came at Foley Meir as Runcorn won 5-1, before he opened the scoring at Stockport Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup. Put in by Matt Ball around halfway, he drove forwards towards goal, evading a tackle before slotting past the keeper. He then saw a shot cleared off the line before in the second half, teeing up Ed Burthem to score Runcorn's second of the game.
In his eighth game of the month, he was on the scoresheet again at Cammell Laird 1907, tapping in the final goal of the game from close range. And in the last game against Sandbach United that saw Runcorn secure the league title, he scored twice. The first was the games opener as Tom Ruffer's ball sent him through, and he ran to slot past the keeper. He then grabbed the second as Ruffer headed on Charlie Harland's ball, with Spiers racing from halfway to score. He was denied a hat-trick with a fine save that saw Kieran Alley tap home the game's third goal.
All in all, nine games in the month for Spiers, nine goals with three assists and one Man of the Match.
Congratulations Connor!
