Here's Your December National League North Award Winners!

By Sam Elliott

You can slip cigarette papers between four or five clubs at the top of the Vanarama National League North.

So you get a measure of just how difficult it was for our panel to settle on the December big winners!

In the end, it was decided that Scarborough Athletic manager Jonathan Greening just could not be ignored.

He is playing a huge part in the rebirth of a club who are very much alive and kicking again - and in a year of almost non-stop highs, they ended 2022 in fitting style.

They finished it third, just two points off top spot with a game in hand after their promotion in the summer - leaving the tipsters who called a struggle eating their words.

The Seadogs saw off two fellow promotion contenders, inflicting only a second League defeat since October on Darlington as they also beat Peterborough Sports.

Only two sides have taken all three points from their trip to Southport in the first half of this season, so a 1-1 draw is a much better result than it looks on the surface.

But it was the brilliant Boxing Day win over the Quakers that really got everyone talking.

Home comforts always help. At the turn of the year, only Chester had beaten Scarborough in front of their own fans in a league match since 21 November 2021.

The Manager of the Month has the Seadogs soaring!

Chorley are now on the charge and 2023, you have been warned.

Putting themselves firmly in the promotion picture after a stellar send off to the year, Connor Hall has helped mastermind their resurgence.

After Andy Preece just lost out on the top boss gong the decision makers knew the club had to be honoured.

Hall bagged three goals in four games across the month and he edged out team-mates Ollie Shenton and Harvey Smith, who were also under consideration.

Chorley beat Curzon Ashton and AFC Fylde in the Vanarama National League North, and also grabbed a good draw with Hereford. They ended 2022 unbeaten at home in ten and also gave Notts County a real fright in the FA Trophy.

Well done to our big winners!

Where next?

Stones Sack Hak As Hayrettin Pays Price For Slump In Form Maidstone United have dismissed manager Hakan Hayrettin following six straight National League defeats.
Craig and Jayden Are The South's Shining Stars in December It’s high time we introduced you to the Vanarama National League South’s big winners for December.

Match centre

Vanarama National League North
Vanarama National League South

Latest photos