Notts' February player of the month

Last updated : 26 February 2008 By Paul Smith
Injured goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington has become the first player this season to hold onto his player of the month crown, as he followed up his January success with another win for February.
Pilkington... Second successive win


It caps off a fine start to 2008 on an individual basis, and will be a welcome boost to Pilkington following the disappointing news that he could now be out for the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle in training before the month's final game - the 3-1 loss to Bradford City.

The former Manchester United youngster, now 33, has been in the form of his life and recently declared he was the happiest he has been in football - despite Notts' precarious position towards the bottom of the League Two table.

The news of his injury was a huge blow for the custodian and for Notts, whose fans have grown to acknowledge his increasingly good performances that have seen many herald him as perhaps the best stopper in the division.

Pilkington polled 57% of the votes cast on NCM, with second placed Mike Edwards way back on just 18%.

Pilkington's win came despite missing the last of the five games in the month, as Notts lost to Bradford. The other four games saw Notts draw 1-1 with Grimsby Town and Stockport County, lose 1-0 to Darlington and beat Chester City 1-0.

The ex-Mansfield Town man has produced several consistent displays to go with the sterling efforts he produced in January.

Strachan... Best McParland signing
In third place came two-time winner Adam Tann with 10%, while Richard Butcher, scorer of his tenth of the season against Grimsby, came third with 6%.

Ryan Jarvis and Myles Weston finished joint last, picking up 4% each.

Meanwhile, in an earlier poll NCM users have voted midfielder Gavin Strachan as Ian McParland's best signing so far, narrowly beating former loanee Krystian Pearce into top spot.

Strachan polled 36%, with Pearce on 32%.

Danny Crow, originally signed by Steve Thompson but re-signed on a current loan deal after returning from injury by McParland, came third with 24%, thanks mainly to his matchwinning strike over Chester City.

Another former loanee, Felix Bastians, picked up 4% with both Ryan Jarvis and Craig Lindfield on 4%, and Ali Gibb just 1%.

Player of the month - season so far

August - Richard Butcher
September - Adam Tann
October - Neil MacKenzie
November - Adam Tann
December - Krystian Pearce
January - Kevin Pilkington
February - Kevin Pilkington

Stay tuned to NCM for more polls in the near future, and have your say on all things that matter at Meadow Lane. If you have any suggesstions for polls you'd like to see ran, don't hesitate to contact NCM editors Paul Smith and Gary Moss through the messageboard.