NCM League Two awards 2007/08

Last updated : 19 May 2008 By Gary Moss
Manager of the season: Graham Turner, Hereford United

It is difficult to sum up how much Graham Turner has achieved with 'Little Hereford' this season.

After finishing last term without a goal in their final ten outings, Turner somehow transformed the Bulls into automatic promotion contenders.
Turner saw over stunning year


You would have expected MK Dons and Peterborough United to be in the mix this year but to see Hereford up fighting for the title is a true sign of the great work Turner has done this season. To have led the Bulls to the play-offs would have been deemed an over-achievment by many last summer, but to earn 'top three' status is a truly remarkable triumph.

Player of the season: Aaron McLean, Peterborough United

There has been a whole host of top strong goalscoring feats in League Two this season and all of them were arguably in with a shout of taking NCM's player of the season crown.

Mansfield's Michael Boulding scored a hat full in a struggling side, Scott McGleish hit some impressive strikes to help Wycombe to the play-off's and Jack Lester took the PFA award despite the Spireites finishing a disappointing eighth spot.

NCM award Posh's Aaron McLean with the player of the year accolade for being the real best of the best in front of goal.

His 29 league goals saw him claim the League Two golden boot and as he formed an awesome partnership with Craig Mackail-Smith, the former non-league man has emerged as one of the division's top guns.

Some outsanding performances in the cup competitions too show he can play at a far higher level. He has everything to his game and will only get better as the year's wear on.

Young player of the season: Rory McArdle and Kallum Higginbotham, Rochdale

It is perhaps appropriate for NCM's young player of the year to come from Rochdale after it was youth itself which engineered Dale's promotion push this term.

Keith Hill has established himself as a dynamic League Two boss this season,
McArdle was just one part of a youthful Dale side
who insists on playing attractive football with youngsters taking the lead.

Rochdale have really stepped up to the plate this year, coming in fifth placed and making the final of the play-offs.

McArdle has been sterling at centre-back while, Higginbotham the speed demon down the flank has been an orchestrator of their fast attacking play. It is fitting their contribution to a fine Rochdale season goes to these two exceptional talents. They have a good future in our game.

Goalkeeper of the season: Willy Gueret, MK Dons

The first line of defence for the champions and a relaible custodian for the Dons.

Dave Stockdale of Stockport has won many plaudits this season, earning a move to Premiership side Fulham already this summer, but Gueret is highly praised by his cheif Paul Ince and rightly so for his splendid campaign. He could host a save of the season competition on his own such has been his form at times.

Defender of the season: Danny Swailes, MK Dons

The main man in front of Gueret is not too bad either.

Swailes has been a leader by example for the Dons as they have surged to
Swailes was key in Dons backbone
their first ever title and Johnstone's Paint Trophy to complete the double.

He has been the rock for the table-toppers alognisde the also impressive Sean O'Hanlon.

At the heart of the meanest defence in League Two and uncompromising to say the very least.

Midfielder of the season: Keith Andrews, MK Dons

Surprise surprise, another Don, but how can you deny the midfield general of League Two for this award.

Strikers took the lead in the division this time around with it hard to make a call for the best of the bunch, but Andrews stood out a mile in the midfield category.

He is a leader, a warrior and the jewel in Ince's champions. A workman with quality on the ball too.

Striker of the season: Aaron McLean, Peterborough United

Goals, goals, goals is this mans ability.
McLean produced the goals for Posh

Feed McLean and he will score.

NCM's player of the season and striker too. His ability to find the net and drop in deep make him the winner for this while his all round classy swagger saw him make the overall divisional winner.

The 'one who got away' award: Lionel Ainsworth, Hereford United

Pundits were waiting for Hereford to fall away this season, and the January departure of flanker Lionel Ainsworth could have signalled their collapse.

He was creative and a scorer of goals as the Bulls rushed to the higher recahes of the table in the early months of the season.

Championship outfit Watford soon snapped up his services and a dip in United's form was expected. They suffered without him, that cannot be denied, he was a class act at this level but the Bulls fought on.

Probably too good for League Two and looked on course to make the team of the year around Christmas time.

The representative award: Sammy McIlroy, Morecambe

It was the Shrimpers first ever season in the Football League this season and people are quick to forget this after McIlroy master-minded his troops to 11th spot.

They are said to have wilted away from the play-off reckoning but to have finished in the top half of the table at the first time of asking is no mean feat.
McIlroy achieved success on all fronts

They have had a successful term, including flying the flag of League Two with their double Carling Cup giantkilling.

The Shrimps took the scalps of highly fancied Championship sides Wolves and Preston.

While Morecambe should have been finding their feet in the basement tier, McIlroy had his bold team taking on the big guns. Fair play!

Now they must avoid the second season syndrome.

The 'free fall' award: Chester City

The Blues take this award for the second season in succession, after flirting with the automatic promotion spaces before Christmas.

City sunk seeing Bobby Williamson fired and just five points ahead of the drop to the Blue Square Premier. One mighty collapse!

The most improved team: Hereford United

The Bulls were maybe harshly labelled the 'nothing' team of League Two by NCM last season, failing to score in their final ten games of the season.

Well, they managed to muster a third-plcaed finish this season to prove their critics, including myself, wrong.

Thompson's signings failed to deliver
Graham Turner has done a fine job and deserves all the credit.

Good luck in League One!

The under-achievers: Notts County

After a string of promising Summer signings by former boss Steve Thompson, including hot property striker Spencer Weir-Daley plus midfielders Richard Butcher and Neil MacKenzie, it is impossible to believe the Magpies finished just two places above the drop.

The campaign held so much promise with a defence hailed by many throughout the league and the attacking areas strengthned by Thommo.

It just never quite materialised and they continued to struggle.

The over-achievers: Barnet

Paul Fairclough is the master of progress and he proved it once more eeking out a top half finish for the Bees.

It might be harsh to call it over-achieving as they enjoyed some great spells expecially early on and boast some of the division's finest talents.

But when you see highly-rated teams such as Notts County, Brentford,
Jackson gave City initial spurt
Shrewsbury Town and Lincoln City in the bottom half, it is perhaps fair they came higer than expected.

The 'what if' award: Peter Jackson, Lincoln City

After occupying bottom spot of League Two as far in as October this season, the appointment of Peter Jackson to replace the sacked John Schofield converted the Imps' fortunes.

So much so, it was not beyond belief by many for City to forge their way into the play-offs for what would have been the sixth season in succession.

But unfortunately, Peter was revealed to have been suffering from throat cancer later in the season. NCM wish the former Huddersfield man a speedy recovery after undergoing surgery, although from a football point of view, could the Imps have made the top seven under the full stewardship of Jacko?

The 'nothing' award: Accrington Stanley

This is not a nice award to dish out at the end of a great League Two season but Stanley are not exactly basked with compliments from the divsion's followers.

It is not easy for a side of Accrington's size and resources to survive in the Football League two seasons on the bounce, for that they deserve credit, but
Adams Park was Wycombe's fortress
it is fair to say it is a pair of games most sides would prefer not to see on their fixture list.

They have done ever so well to survive again but it is only a matter of time before they sink out of the league.

The 'fortress' award: Wycombe Wanderers

Only four teams took maximum points from Adams Park this season, and Paul Lambert's Wanderers boasted home form of champions picking up 45 points on their own turf.

With only 15 goals conceded, Adams Park did not prove a nice place to travel to this term.

The 'raiders' award: MK Dons

A record of 18 wins on their travels, really speaks for itself in the MK Dons' case.

More points away than at home, the Dons enjoyed life away from Stadium:MK. This could be a very vital factor as they embark on life in League One next season.