January 2025 Player of the Month announced
Sat 8th February 2025 | League Awards | By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for January 2025 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for January 2025 has gone to Josh Briggs of Padiham. Remarkably he is the first Storks player to win this award since Keiran Fletcher
who won it in January 2011.
Josh played much of his football in the West Lancashire League with Euxton Villa and Hurst Green, before moving up to the NWCFL with Euxton Villa when they got promoted. He has spent the last two seasons at Euxton before moving to Padiham in the summer for his first taste of Premier Division action.
He has been a virtual ever present this season, and January has been his best month.
His first game of January saw his team win 3-1 at AFC Liverpool, Josh getting the third goal of the game. Next came a 4-0 win over Ashton Athletic in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, with Josh getting the third goal of the game. His third game came at home to FC Isle of Man, Josh levelling for Padiham before they won 2-1. Josh picked up Man of the Match in this game. His fourth was a 2-0 win at home to Chadderton, Josh opening the scoring for Padiham.
Josh's best performance of the month came in the game at Pilkington. He opened the scoring in this game early on, and with Padiham hanging onto a 2-1 lead, added his second of the game on the hour to ease the pressure. His performance warranted a second Man of the Match in the month.
The final game of the month came in the Macron Cup at Longridge Town. Josh again opened the scoring in this game - the eighth consecutive game he had found the net * - although Longridge hit back with the game ending 1-1. In the penalty shoot out, Josh also scored from the spot, helping his side to a 4-2 shoot-out win.
A superb month for Josh, who scored in all six games in the month, taking his tally to 18 goals in his last 22 games.
Congratulations to Josh!
* Note Josh went on to make it nine successive games scoring as he found the net in Padiham's opening game in February. A fine and rather rare achievement!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
Ashton Athletic's Joe White has been confirmed as the NWCFL's First Division North Player of the Month for January 2025.
Centre half Joe came through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers, making four appearances for The Trotters in League One in 2019/20. After his release, he played once for Lower Breck but has spent the last four seasons at Ashton Athletic, although spending time at FC United of Manchester and Marine on dual registration forms in the last two seasons.
January didn't get off to the best start for Joe, rested on the bench as his team fell four goals behind to Padiham in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. He steadied the ship upon his introduction though and marshalled his defence through the rest of the game.
Next up was a trip to Holker Old Boys for Ashton. Despite losing 3-2, Joe was excellent as he kept his side in the game with numerous tackles. He even got an assist for Emmanuel Ujahchuku in stoppage time. His performance saw him pick up Man of the Match.
The final game was another defeat for Ashton as they lost 4-2 to Thornton Cleveleys. Again Joe kept his side in the game, and came close to a goal himself as he saw a header hit the bar. For the second game running, his performance saw him pick up Man of the Match.
Congratulations to Joe on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for January 2025 once again goes to Sandbach United, howeber this time it is centre back Ryan Goodwin.
Ryan switched to Sandbach in October from Alsager Town, but he is no stranger to this level having appeared for Stone Old Alleynians and Alsager as long ago as 2017. He has made over a hundred NWCFL appearances, as well as appearances in the Midland League for Stone.
Ryan actually missed the first game of the month for Sandbach as he was in Baku. He was not on holiday though. Ryan is a key member of the Great Britain Handball Team, and he was playing for Great Britain in the European Championship Qualifiers, helping his side to wins over Malta and Cyprus plus a draw against Bulgaria.
Upon returning home, he faced the prospect of three away games with Sandbach inside eight days, the first being a trip to Eccleshall. Ryan gave Sandbach the lead with a goal from close range where he was the first to react to the second ball from a corner. This proved to be the winning goal in a fixture in which Eccleshall will have been bitterly disappointed to have not taken points with Ryan called upon numerous times in the game to make clearances and key tackles.
Next up was a visit to Hyde United, a team three leagues higher in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. This was in the Quarter Finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup, with Hyde playing their full strength team. It was a tricky night for Ryan and his team, with Hyde running out easy winners, but he led with experience to his younger teammates.
The final game of the month was a trip to his old team Alsager, with Ryan giving a master class on the edge of the box and ensuring there was no easy route through for Alsager. He also opened the scoring his side, setting them on the path to victory.
A fantastic month for Ryan, who we also wish the best of luck to with his handball expolits. We will be watching for sure!
Congratulations Ryan!
January 2025 Player of the Month announced
Sat 8th February 2025 | League Awards
By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for January 2025 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for January 2025 has gone to Josh Briggs of Padiham. Remarkably he is the first Storks player to win this award since Keiran Fletcher
who won it in January 2011.
Josh played much of his football in the West Lancashire League with Euxton Villa and Hurst Green, before moving up to the NWCFL with Euxton Villa when they got promoted. He has spent the last two seasons at Euxton before moving to Padiham in the summer for his first taste of Premier Division action.
He has been a virtual ever present this season, and January has been his best month.
His first game of January saw his team win 3-1 at AFC Liverpool, Josh getting the third goal of the game. Next came a 4-0 win over Ashton Athletic in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, with Josh getting the third goal of the game. His third game came at home to FC Isle of Man, Josh levelling for Padiham before they won 2-1. Josh picked up Man of the Match in this game. His fourth was a 2-0 win at home to Chadderton, Josh opening the scoring for Padiham.
Josh's best performance of the month came in the game at Pilkington. He opened the scoring in this game early on, and with Padiham hanging onto a 2-1 lead, added his second of the game on the hour to ease the pressure. His performance warranted a second Man of the Match in the month.
The final game of the month came in the Macron Cup at Longridge Town. Josh again opened the scoring in this game - the eighth consecutive game he had found the net * - although Longridge hit back with the game ending 1-1. In the penalty shoot out, Josh also scored from the spot, helping his side to a 4-2 shoot-out win.
A superb month for Josh, who scored in all six games in the month, taking his tally to 18 goals in his last 22 games.
Congratulations to Josh!
* Note Josh went on to make it nine successive games scoring as he found the net in Padiham's opening game in February. A fine and rather rare achievement!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
Ashton Athletic's Joe White has been confirmed as the NWCFL's First Division North Player of the Month for January 2025.
Centre half Joe came through the ranks at Bolton Wanderers, making four appearances for The Trotters in League One in 2019/20. After his release, he played once for Lower Breck but has spent the last four seasons at Ashton Athletic, although spending time at FC United of Manchester and Marine on dual registration forms in the last two seasons.
January didn't get off to the best start for Joe, rested on the bench as his team fell four goals behind to Padiham in the Lancashire Challenge Trophy. He steadied the ship upon his introduction though and marshalled his defence through the rest of the game.
Next up was a trip to Holker Old Boys for Ashton. Despite losing 3-2, Joe was excellent as he kept his side in the game with numerous tackles. He even got an assist for Emmanuel Ujahchuku in stoppage time. His performance saw him pick up Man of the Match.
The final game was another defeat for Ashton as they lost 4-2 to Thornton Cleveleys. Again Joe kept his side in the game, and came close to a goal himself as he saw a header hit the bar. For the second game running, his performance saw him pick up Man of the Match.
Congratulations to Joe on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for January 2025 once again goes to Sandbach United, howeber this time it is centre back Ryan Goodwin.
Ryan switched to Sandbach in October from Alsager Town, but he is no stranger to this level having appeared for Stone Old Alleynians and Alsager as long ago as 2017. He has made over a hundred NWCFL appearances, as well as appearances in the Midland League for Stone.
Ryan actually missed the first game of the month for Sandbach as he was in Baku. He was not on holiday though. Ryan is a key member of the Great Britain Handball Team, and he was playing for Great Britain in the European Championship Qualifiers, helping his side to wins over Malta and Cyprus plus a draw against Bulgaria.
Upon returning home, he faced the prospect of three away games with Sandbach inside eight days, the first being a trip to Eccleshall. Ryan gave Sandbach the lead with a goal from close range where he was the first to react to the second ball from a corner. This proved to be the winning goal in a fixture in which Eccleshall will have been bitterly disappointed to have not taken points with Ryan called upon numerous times in the game to make clearances and key tackles.
Next up was a visit to Hyde United, a team three leagues higher in the Northern Premier League Premier Division. This was in the Quarter Finals of the Cheshire Senior Cup, with Hyde playing their full strength team. It was a tricky night for Ryan and his team, with Hyde running out easy winners, but he led with experience to his younger teammates.
The final game of the month was a trip to his old team Alsager, with Ryan giving a master class on the edge of the box and ensuring there was no easy route through for Alsager. He also opened the scoring his side, setting them on the path to victory.
A fantastic month for Ryan, who we also wish the best of luck to with his handball expolits. We will be watching for sure!
Congratulations Ryan!
