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Acklam nets top award
Story courtesy of Burton Mail
Gresley Rovers striker Paul Acklam has been named winner of the Banks’s League Player of the Year title.
Acklam pipped Rovers stalwart Gil Land to win the honour outright, voted him by the league’s players.Gresley stupendous season, dominating the league and reaching the FA Vase final at Wembley, put their players at the forefront of the awards chase.
Manager Frank Northwood said he believed four Moatmen were in the running and added: “I’m delighted for the lad Acklam and it’s another honour for Gresley.”
The award came a s complete surprise for the 30-year-old Long Eaton-based mechanic Acklam.
“I’m totally shocked but well chuffed. I could not believe it when I heard I’d won it, I thought Frank was winding me up when he told me,” he said.
“It’s a great honour, but it ranks second behind my FA Vase medal among the various things we’ve won this past season.
“I expected Kieron Smith to win things like this, not the likes of me. And with Gil voted second that’s even better for the club.”
Acklam’s tally of 31 goals made him Gresley’s joint top scorer with Kieron Smith for last season.
It is the third season running he has finished as the club’s top goal grabber and his Gresley career total is approaching the magic 100.
