Lynn It To Win It! Champions Clean Up With Three Awards

By Sam Elliott

It was a season where we entered the unknown, and it was a very unfamiliar challenger who caused shockwaves.

Few of course could have predicted how the Vanarama National League North would eventually be settled, and nothing went as expected on or off the pitch.

Rewind to early summer 2019. King’s Lynn Town were a few minutes away from not even making it into the league, trailing with time running out in their Super Play-Off final in May last year.

Little did they know when they were 2-1 down to Warrington Town quite what was ahead of them.

Not only did they win promotion that day, but incredibly they went on to claim another more than a year later.

As if they don’t have enough awards, they now have three more.


Vanarama National League North Manager of the Year: Ian Culverhouse (King's Lynn Town)

Returning to the club six months after he left, little did he know just what a big decision that would turn out to be.

Not one promotion later but two, Ian Culverhouse didn’t look back.

For a club formed from the ashes of King’s Lynn when financial collapse led to the original club’s closure, he has already secured legendary status.

They may have won the title on the “Unweighted Points Per Game” basis, but the Linnets boss says nothing should steal focus from their achievement.

Winning 19 of their 32 matches, claiming an impressive 64 points, the Walks will welcome National League football next term.

Their stylish brand of football won their many friends and under the former Norwich City defender’s stewardship they are sure to be an asset to the top division when football re-starts.


Vanarama National League North Player of the Year: Adam Marriott (King's Lynn Town)

Making the long trip home from Guiseley on the opening day of the season, Adam Marriott had a sinking feeling.

Not only did his side get battered 3-0, the striker hardly got a kick.

Out of their depth? A harsh call to make one game in but concern was certainly there.

They needn’t have worried. Lynn went on to take the crown against all odds and as for Marriott? Well, he enjoyed his best ever season.

He scored 28 National League North goals and inspired everyone around him.

“It’s not just his goalscoring, his all-round game is fantastic,” his manager said. “We’ve had him for two years now, he is always first to mention the big man next to him (Michael Gash) who puts his body on the line.”

National League defences, you have been warned!


Vanarama National League North Top Goalscorer: Adam Marriott (King's Lynn Town)

When a global pandemic hits, two months is shaved off the season and you still manage to score 28 times, you know you’ve done alright.

Adam Marriott isn’t only the National League North Player of the Year, he got his hands on the Golden Boot as well.

He out-scored Lee Ndlovu of Brackley Town by eight goals, and had ten on Chester’s Akwasi Asante.

Marriott was so good he found the net on average ever 98 minutes.

But bad news for defenders in the National League arrived a few weeks ago. He is staying, and wants to see if he can do something remarkable - fire Lynn to a third straight promotion.

A tall order, but who would rule them out with this man leading the line?

Where next?

Awards All Round As The South's Stars Are Honoured It’s not how anyone wanted it to end, but there were stories aplenty in the Vanarama National League South.
Wembley Awaits For Harrogate Town And Notts County Notts County and Harrogate Town will battle it out for a place in the EFL after both made home advantage count.

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