March 2025 Player of the Month announced
Fri 11th April 2025 | League Awards | By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for March 2025 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for March 2025 has gone to Sam Burns of Lower Breck. He is the first Stockport player to win this award since Jawed Jabrin who won it in October 2022.
Sam came through the ranks as a youngster at Blackburn Rovers, with loan spells at FC United of Manchester and Scunthorpe United. After leaving Blackburn he moved to Super League Greece 2 side Panachaiki before joining Bootle for a short spell. He then moved to Bury at the start of 2023/24 before stepping up to Warrington Rylands, and moved to Lower Breck in October this season, making 34 appearances this season.
March has been the best month for Sam in a Breck shirt, playing in all eight games, scoring eight goals and picking up five Man of the Match awards. His first game of the month was at Longridge Town, where he scored two goals in his sides 5-1 win in a Man of the Match performance.
Next up was a home game against West Didsbury & Chorlton where he helped his side to a 3-1 win. Then onto FC St Helens at home, where he again scored two goals and picked up Man of the Match. The fourth game of the month saw him play against South Liverpool, with Sam scoring his sides fourth goal in a commanding 6-0 win.
The fifth game saw Breck visit AFC Liverpool, where in a tight game they won 2-0 with Sam winning Man of the Match. Another Man of the Match performance came against Colne, scoring the third goal for Breck in a 3-1 win. And it was a hat-trick of Man of the Match wins against Stockport Town, Sam scoring Breck's second goal in a 2-0 win.
The final game of the month saw him again on the scoresheet, his eighth goal in the month and his tenth goal in ten games. This was in his side's 4-0 away win at FC Isle of Man, with Sam hitting the final goal of the game.
Congratulations Sam!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for March 2025 goes to Alex Dodd of Daisy Hill, the first time win of this for the Cutters since September 2022 when Connor Hughes picked up this award.
Alex first broke through in the North West Counties League for Charnock Richard, playing for them in two seasons from 2017/18 before moving to then Northern Premier League side Colne. He was instrumental in keeping Colne in the division, with a loan spell following at Barnoldswick Town in 2021/22. He signed for Daisy Hill at the start of last season, and has firmly established himself in the midfield since at the Westhoughton based club, making over 60 appearances since joining the club.
In the opening game of the month at Droylsden, Alex joined the game as a substitute in the second half and helped his side to see out the game for a 2-1 win that ended Droylsden’s unbeaten home league record.
The middle of March saw back to back home and away league games with AFC Blackpool, and in the first game at Daisy Hill, Alex’s strong running and good distribution were key elements in a game that saw Daisy create a number of good chances, but in the end had to settle for a 1-1 draw. He won Man of the Match in this game.
In the return match at the Mechanics Ground a week later, Alex once again turned in a quality performance that was topped by a goal. Daisy Hill won 3-1 with Alex again named Man of the Match.
He rounded off the month with a third successive Man of the Match award in the game against Euxton Villa on the final Saturday in March, that game ending 2-2.
Congratulations to Alex on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for March 2025 goes to midfielder Tom Ruffer of Runcorn Town. He is the first Runcorn player to win this award since Joel Ankers in September last season.
Tom came through the highly rated Chester Youth setup, playing for Vauxhall Motors and Runcorn Linnets before switching to Runcorn Town in 2021/22. The following season saw him step up to Widnes before moving to Burscough, followed by a spell in Wales at Flint Mountain. He rejoined Runcorn Town in October and has been instrumental in their improvement this season.
The first game in March saw Runcorn travel to then title chasing Stafford Town. They won 5-1, with Tom crossing for Matty Vickers to head home the third and threading the ball through for Danny Clark to complete the scoring. This saw him named Man of the Match by the opposition.
The second game was at home to Abbey Hulton United, with Runcorn winning 1-0 thanks to Tom's 16th minute goal. Next up was a trip to Cheadle Heath Nomads which the home side won 2-1, with Tom again on the scoresheet for Runcorn.
The final game of the month came at home to Foley Meir. Tom was on the scoresheet again for the third successive game to open the scoring, with the game ending 2-2.
Four games for Runcorn in the month with Tom scoring in three and winning Man of the Match in the other.
Congratulations Tom!
March 2025 Player of the Month announced
Fri 11th April 2025 | League Awards
By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for March 2025 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for March 2025 has gone to Sam Burns of Lower Breck. He is the first Stockport player to win this award since Jawed Jabrin who won it in October 2022.
Sam came through the ranks as a youngster at Blackburn Rovers, with loan spells at FC United of Manchester and Scunthorpe United. After leaving Blackburn he moved to Super League Greece 2 side Panachaiki before joining Bootle for a short spell. He then moved to Bury at the start of 2023/24 before stepping up to Warrington Rylands, and moved to Lower Breck in October this season, making 34 appearances this season.
March has been the best month for Sam in a Breck shirt, playing in all eight games, scoring eight goals and picking up five Man of the Match awards. His first game of the month was at Longridge Town, where he scored two goals in his sides 5-1 win in a Man of the Match performance.
Next up was a home game against West Didsbury & Chorlton where he helped his side to a 3-1 win. Then onto FC St Helens at home, where he again scored two goals and picked up Man of the Match. The fourth game of the month saw him play against South Liverpool, with Sam scoring his sides fourth goal in a commanding 6-0 win.
The fifth game saw Breck visit AFC Liverpool, where in a tight game they won 2-0 with Sam winning Man of the Match. Another Man of the Match performance came against Colne, scoring the third goal for Breck in a 3-1 win. And it was a hat-trick of Man of the Match wins against Stockport Town, Sam scoring Breck's second goal in a 2-0 win.
The final game of the month saw him again on the scoresheet, his eighth goal in the month and his tenth goal in ten games. This was in his side's 4-0 away win at FC Isle of Man, with Sam hitting the final goal of the game.
Congratulations Sam!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for March 2025 goes to Alex Dodd of Daisy Hill, the first time win of this for the Cutters since September 2022 when Connor Hughes picked up this award.
Alex first broke through in the North West Counties League for Charnock Richard, playing for them in two seasons from 2017/18 before moving to then Northern Premier League side Colne. He was instrumental in keeping Colne in the division, with a loan spell following at Barnoldswick Town in 2021/22. He signed for Daisy Hill at the start of last season, and has firmly established himself in the midfield since at the Westhoughton based club, making over 60 appearances since joining the club.
In the opening game of the month at Droylsden, Alex joined the game as a substitute in the second half and helped his side to see out the game for a 2-1 win that ended Droylsden’s unbeaten home league record.
The middle of March saw back to back home and away league games with AFC Blackpool, and in the first game at Daisy Hill, Alex’s strong running and good distribution were key elements in a game that saw Daisy create a number of good chances, but in the end had to settle for a 1-1 draw. He won Man of the Match in this game.
In the return match at the Mechanics Ground a week later, Alex once again turned in a quality performance that was topped by a goal. Daisy Hill won 3-1 with Alex again named Man of the Match.
He rounded off the month with a third successive Man of the Match award in the game against Euxton Villa on the final Saturday in March, that game ending 2-2.
Congratulations to Alex on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for March 2025 goes to midfielder Tom Ruffer of Runcorn Town. He is the first Runcorn player to win this award since Joel Ankers in September last season.
Tom came through the highly rated Chester Youth setup, playing for Vauxhall Motors and Runcorn Linnets before switching to Runcorn Town in 2021/22. The following season saw him step up to Widnes before moving to Burscough, followed by a spell in Wales at Flint Mountain. He rejoined Runcorn Town in October and has been instrumental in their improvement this season.
The first game in March saw Runcorn travel to then title chasing Stafford Town. They won 5-1, with Tom crossing for Matty Vickers to head home the third and threading the ball through for Danny Clark to complete the scoring. This saw him named Man of the Match by the opposition.
The second game was at home to Abbey Hulton United, with Runcorn winning 1-0 thanks to Tom's 16th minute goal. Next up was a trip to Cheadle Heath Nomads which the home side won 2-1, with Tom again on the scoresheet for Runcorn.
The final game of the month came at home to Foley Meir. Tom was on the scoresheet again for the third successive game to open the scoring, with the game ending 2-2.
Four games for Runcorn in the month with Tom scoring in three and winning Man of the Match in the other.
Congratulations Tom!
