The Coasters can add yet another trophy to their cabinet next month after being named President’s Cup Winners for the 2013/14 season!
The magnificent President’s Cup is awarded to the club with the best overall points average in the League’s Fair Play Tables across the three Evo-Stik leagues.
Following the publication of the Evo-Stik NPL’s final fair play tables of the season on Saturday, the Premier Division’s AFC Fylde, Lancaster City in First Division North and Brigg Town in First Division South, are all looking forward to collecting £1000 in prize money for topping their respective 2013-14 divisional tables.
AFC Fylde will be presented with the trophy at the Evo-Stik League Presentation Night in Blackpool on Saturday 14th June.
The Evo-Stik NPL FA Respect manager, Phil Bradley points to the fact two of the past four winners of the FA’s National Respect and Fair Play Awards, AFC Fylde and Lancaster City, were among the Evo-Stik NPL’s own winners once again as further evidence that Respect brings its own rewards.
Bradley said: “It amazes me that managers cannot see that fair play can only be an asset to a club. Successful managers tell me, in the words of one such manager, that it is a ‘no brainer’ as less cautions obviously mean less suspensions.
“A club that is strict on discipline is able to run a squad perhaps one or two players lighter than otherwise would be the case and on the same budget. They can therefore bring in better players and less suspensions also means a more settled team.
“It would seem that good discipline starts very easy with clubs taking a zero tolerance policy towards dissent cautions and foul and abusive language dismissals. It is no coincidence that in the Premier Division for example AFC Fylde, Skem and Chorley had just five dissent cautions between them with two of those clubs promoted to the Conference.”
Ever since his arrival as Manager in November 2011, Dave Challinor has instilled an impecable disciplinary record within the First Team squad and this trophy is just reward for that hard work.
This caps off a fantastic season for them as they have already picked up the Lancashire FA Challenge Trophy, the Doodson Sport Cup and were crowned Play-off Champions a week ago, meaning they won promotion to the Conference North for the first time in our history.