July/August 2025 Player of the Month announced
Sat 6th September 2025 | League Awards | By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for July/August 2025 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for July/August 2025 has gone to Lewis-Simon Byrne of Chadderton. This is the second time that he has won this award after picking it up in September 2024.
Lewis first signed for Chadderton at the start of last season after playing for the previous three seasons in the First Division North at Bacup Borough. His performances and earned him a move to Bury where he scored 11 goals to help them to the Premier Division title. Not only that but he finished last season as the Premier Division Leading Goalscoerer. Now he is back at Chadderton this season and has started this season like he finished the last.
After missing the opening day of the season, Byrne scored in his first game in a 3-1 defeat at Wythenshawe. He then bagged the winner as Chadderton came from behind to beat Stockport Town 2-1 in the Emirates FA Cup.
Next was a home game against South Liverpool where he got on the scoresheet just after half time. He then added two more inside five minutes in midway through the second half to complete his hat-trick, with Chadderton winning the game 7-2.
Another brace followed at Barnoldswick Town, Byrne opening the scoring and scoring the third goal in a 6-0 rout. A tight game at Irlam followed with Byrne not on the scoresheet but battling hard in a 1-0 win.
August finished with him scoring the opening two goals against FC St Helens in a 4-1 win, the first coming from the penalty spot. And he rounded off a great month with the first and third goals in an FA Cup upset as Chaddy won 3-1 at Bishop Auckland.
He played seven games in total, scoring in six of them with 11 goals to his name already.
Congratulations Lewis-Simon!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The First Division North Player of the Month for July/August 2025 goes to Sam Smith of Maghull, the first win of this for the club since last October when Darren Brannigan picked up this award.
Despite being just 19 years old, this is Sam's fourth season playing at NWCFL level. He started at Lower Breck in 2022/23 before moving to Barnton, and he was with the Jam Town club for the following season. Last season he was a little nomadic with spells at Barnton, AFC Liverpool and South Liverpool before settling at Maghull. Now he has firmly established himself at the club and helped his side to the top of the First Division North.
In the opening game of the month at home to Squires Gate, he was on the bench with Gate leading 2-0. His performance when coming on helped his side battle back to a 2-2 draw with teammate Nathan Peet scoring deep in stoppage time.
That performance earned him a starting berth in the next game against Droylsden, and he repaid his managers faith instantly with the opening goal after just three minutes. Maghull dominated to go 4-0 ahead with the final score 4-3. Next up was a 5-0 win over Nelson, with Smith getting the last two goals for Maghull.
Another brace followed in the next game as Maghull beat Frickley Athletic in the FA Cup. Again he opened the scoring on three minutes, and added another with the third goal of the game as Maghull took control. The final game saw yet another brace, this time scoring the opening two goals in a 3-1 win at Steeton.
In total, five games, with Sam scoring seven goals in four of those games.
Congratulations to Sam on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for July/August 2025 goes to forward Matthew Hearsey of Stafford Town. He made history last season by winning the first three Player of the Month awards of the season, and has began this season in the same vein.
Stafford's exploits last season was spearheaded by Matthew, who went on to win the Overall First Division South Player of the Year award at the Annual Dinner in June. He has started this season in the same blistering form that he did last.
The first game in saw Stafford beat Eccleshall 2-0, with Matthew getting both goals in the second half. Another 2-0 followed against Wolverhampton Sporting Community, with scoring the second of those midway through the second half. Matthew also won Man of the Match in this game.
Stafford then travelled to Cammell Laird 1907 with Matthew scoring the opening goal in a 4-1 win. Another 4-1 win followed against Barnton, with Matthew scoring a hat-trick to seal the win with the scores 1-1 at half time. This brought Matthew his second Man of the Match win of the month.
The final two games of the month for Stafford were both 1-0 wins, at home to Tividale in the FA Vase and at Allscott Heath in the league. Matthew scored the decisive goal in both of these games, ensuring that he scored in every game that Stafford played in the period.
Congratulations Matthew!
July/August 2025 Player of the Month announced
Sat 6th September 2025 | League Awards
By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the Player of the Month Awards for July/August 2025 have been announced by the NWCFL.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Player of the Month Award for July/August 2025 has gone to Lewis-Simon Byrne of Chadderton. This is the second time that he has won this award after picking it up in September 2024.
Lewis first signed for Chadderton at the start of last season after playing for the previous three seasons in the First Division North at Bacup Borough. His performances and earned him a move to Bury where he scored 11 goals to help them to the Premier Division title. Not only that but he finished last season as the Premier Division Leading Goalscoerer. Now he is back at Chadderton this season and has started this season like he finished the last.
After missing the opening day of the season, Byrne scored in his first game in a 3-1 defeat at Wythenshawe. He then bagged the winner as Chadderton came from behind to beat Stockport Town 2-1 in the Emirates FA Cup.
Next was a home game against South Liverpool where he got on the scoresheet just after half time. He then added two more inside five minutes in midway through the second half to complete his hat-trick, with Chadderton winning the game 7-2.
Another brace followed at Barnoldswick Town, Byrne opening the scoring and scoring the third goal in a 6-0 rout. A tight game at Irlam followed with Byrne not on the scoresheet but battling hard in a 1-0 win.
August finished with him scoring the opening two goals against FC St Helens in a 4-1 win, the first coming from the penalty spot. And he rounded off a great month with the first and third goals in an FA Cup upset as Chaddy won 3-1 at Bishop Auckland.
He played seven games in total, scoring in six of them with 11 goals to his name already.
Congratulations Lewis-Simon!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The First Division North Player of the Month for July/August 2025 goes to Sam Smith of Maghull, the first win of this for the club since last October when Darren Brannigan picked up this award.
Despite being just 19 years old, this is Sam's fourth season playing at NWCFL level. He started at Lower Breck in 2022/23 before moving to Barnton, and he was with the Jam Town club for the following season. Last season he was a little nomadic with spells at Barnton, AFC Liverpool and South Liverpool before settling at Maghull. Now he has firmly established himself at the club and helped his side to the top of the First Division North.
In the opening game of the month at home to Squires Gate, he was on the bench with Gate leading 2-0. His performance when coming on helped his side battle back to a 2-2 draw with teammate Nathan Peet scoring deep in stoppage time.
That performance earned him a starting berth in the next game against Droylsden, and he repaid his managers faith instantly with the opening goal after just three minutes. Maghull dominated to go 4-0 ahead with the final score 4-3. Next up was a 5-0 win over Nelson, with Smith getting the last two goals for Maghull.
Another brace followed in the next game as Maghull beat Frickley Athletic in the FA Cup. Again he opened the scoring on three minutes, and added another with the third goal of the game as Maghull took control. The final game saw yet another brace, this time scoring the opening two goals in a 3-1 win at Steeton.
In total, five games, with Sam scoring seven goals in four of those games.
Congratulations to Sam on a fine month.
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The First Division South Player of the Month for July/August 2025 goes to forward Matthew Hearsey of Stafford Town. He made history last season by winning the first three Player of the Month awards of the season, and has began this season in the same vein.
Stafford's exploits last season was spearheaded by Matthew, who went on to win the Overall First Division South Player of the Year award at the Annual Dinner in June. He has started this season in the same blistering form that he did last.
The first game in saw Stafford beat Eccleshall 2-0, with Matthew getting both goals in the second half. Another 2-0 followed against Wolverhampton Sporting Community, with scoring the second of those midway through the second half. Matthew also won Man of the Match in this game.
Stafford then travelled to Cammell Laird 1907 with Matthew scoring the opening goal in a 4-1 win. Another 4-1 win followed against Barnton, with Matthew scoring a hat-trick to seal the win with the scores 1-1 at half time. This brought Matthew his second Man of the Match win of the month.
The final two games of the month for Stafford were both 1-0 wins, at home to Tividale in the FA Vase and at Allscott Heath in the league. Matthew scored the decisive goal in both of these games, ensuring that he scored in every game that Stafford played in the period.
Congratulations Matthew!
