January 2026 paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month announced
Tue 17th February 2026 | League Awards | By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month Awards for January 2026 have been announced this week by the NWCFL.
The Wigan-based company are sponsoring the awards as part of a three year deal. paxsport are offering an exclusive discount for NWCFL Goalkeepers who use the discount code 'NWCFL' on the paxsport.com website. The discount code is now active on the site and can be used immediately.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Goalkeeper of the Month Award for January 2026 has gone to Josh Schofield of Stockport Town. This is the fifth time that Josh has won this award, and his first since winning it back in February 2024.
Josh spent time in the academies of Chester and Blackburn Rovers before joining Stockport County where he signed professional forms in 2020. He moved to Stockport Town, initially on loan, in 2022 and has been there ever since making over 200 appearances for the club.
The first game in January saw title challengers Ramsbottom United visit the Stockport Sports Centre. It was a game of few chances, where Josh could do nothing about the Rammy equaliser after Stockport had taken an early lead. Next up was a midweek trip to AFC Liverpool, and a night to forget for everyone at Stockport Town as they went down to a 4-0 loss.
The month improved though with another Play-Off side visiting in West Didsbury & Chorlton. Stockport took an early lead, with Josh instrumental in them keeping the lead and collecting all three points. He pulled off a superb save on the half hour to deny West, and commanded his box well to secure a ninth clean sheet of the campaign.
It didn't get easier as two days later, the league leaders Wythenshawe arrived in Stockport on the back of a 15-game winning run. It proved to be a tight game with Josh again organising his back line and frustrating the leaders. Stockport took the lead on 76 minutes, with Wythenshawe immediately upping the pressure. On 82 minutes, Josh pulled off a stunning save to deny Wythenshawe, with his team holding on to win 2-0 when they added a late goal. Not only was it yet another clean sheet, but Josh was awarded Man of the Match for his performance.
The fifth and final game of the month saw Stockport travel up to Longridge Town. Josh couldn't stop Longridge from opening the scoring after just five minutes, but another superb save on 38 minutes prevented it from going 2-0. That was key, with Stockport levelling matters just before the break. The second half saw Stockport head in a second nine minutes from time for a 2-1 win, with Josh named Man of the Match once again for his performance.
Five games in the month for Josh, with two clean sheets and just six goals conceded.
Congratulations to Josh on his Award!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The Goalkeeper of the Month award for the First Division North for January 2026 has gone to Ollie Culkin of Ashton Town. This is the first Goalkeeper award for Ashton since Kyle Trenerry won it in February 2025, and the first for Ollie himself.
Ollie fiorst played in the NWCFL with West Didsbury & Chorlton in 2018, before going on to have spells with Atherton LR, Darwen, Ashton United, Euxton Villa and Abbey Hey. He was the goalkeeper in the Play-Off Final that saw him make three saves in the shoot-out to get Abbey Hey promoted. He has since played for Trafford and Alsager Town before moving to Ashton Town in October.
Since January, Ollie has since moved on to Chadderton and he will be presented with his award at an upcoming Chadderton home game.
January started for Ollie with an home game against Darwen. He made several key stops in the first half to keep his side in with a chance, and that was key as Ashton ran out 2-0 winners with Ollie keeping a clean sheet.
Next up was Droylsden, with the wind playing a big part in this game as both sides struggled with the conditions. Ollie kept his side in the game with some vital saves, particularly from dangerous Droylsden free kicks, and earned his side a second successive clean sheet as the game ended goalless.
The third and final game in the month for Ashton came at MSB Woolton. Ollie kept his side in it with some fine saves in the first half, but there was no third successive clean sheet though as Ollie was beaten for the first time from Danny Ventre's penalty kick. Woolton added a second in the second half for a 2-1 win.
Three games played, two clean sheets with just two goals conceded represented a great month overall for Ollie.
Congratulations!
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The winner of the January 2026 Goalkeeper of the Month Award for the First Division South is once again Will Ebbrell of Runcorn Town. It is the fourth time this season that Will has won the award.
Will is in his third season in the league after playing previously for Ashville and Cammell Laird 1907, before moving to Runcorn Town at the start of this season. January saw him extending his excellent record to 14 clean sheets in 27 games played this season, with just 21 goals conceded in total.
The first game in January for Runcorn Town and Will was at home to Shawbury United. Will made an important stop in the 20th minute to prevent Shawbury going ahead. Will went on to keep a clean sheet as Runcorn ran out comfortable winners.
Next was a away game with Market Drayton Town. Will had little to do in this game but was alert and kept his concentration through out as he organised his defence well with another clean sheet recorded.
The third and final game of the month came on at Sandbach United in the Quarter Final of the Edward Case Cup. Again he organised the defence well and was denied a perfect month of clean sheets as Sandbach scored in stoppage time.
Three games played for Will last month, with two clean sheets and just one goal conceded.
Congratulations Will!
January 2026 paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month announced
Tue 17th February 2026 | League Awards
By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month Awards for January 2026 have been announced this week by the NWCFL.
The Wigan-based company are sponsoring the awards as part of a three year deal. paxsport are offering an exclusive discount for NWCFL Goalkeepers who use the discount code 'NWCFL' on the paxsport.com website. The discount code is now active on the site and can be used immediately.
PREMIER DIVISION
The North West Counties League Premier Division Goalkeeper of the Month Award for January 2026 has gone to Josh Schofield of Stockport Town. This is the fifth time that Josh has won this award, and his first since winning it back in February 2024.
Josh spent time in the academies of Chester and Blackburn Rovers before joining Stockport County where he signed professional forms in 2020. He moved to Stockport Town, initially on loan, in 2022 and has been there ever since making over 200 appearances for the club.
The first game in January saw title challengers Ramsbottom United visit the Stockport Sports Centre. It was a game of few chances, where Josh could do nothing about the Rammy equaliser after Stockport had taken an early lead. Next up was a midweek trip to AFC Liverpool, and a night to forget for everyone at Stockport Town as they went down to a 4-0 loss.
The month improved though with another Play-Off side visiting in West Didsbury & Chorlton. Stockport took an early lead, with Josh instrumental in them keeping the lead and collecting all three points. He pulled off a superb save on the half hour to deny West, and commanded his box well to secure a ninth clean sheet of the campaign.
It didn't get easier as two days later, the league leaders Wythenshawe arrived in Stockport on the back of a 15-game winning run. It proved to be a tight game with Josh again organising his back line and frustrating the leaders. Stockport took the lead on 76 minutes, with Wythenshawe immediately upping the pressure. On 82 minutes, Josh pulled off a stunning save to deny Wythenshawe, with his team holding on to win 2-0 when they added a late goal. Not only was it yet another clean sheet, but Josh was awarded Man of the Match for his performance.
The fifth and final game of the month saw Stockport travel up to Longridge Town. Josh couldn't stop Longridge from opening the scoring after just five minutes, but another superb save on 38 minutes prevented it from going 2-0. That was key, with Stockport levelling matters just before the break. The second half saw Stockport head in a second nine minutes from time for a 2-1 win, with Josh named Man of the Match once again for his performance.
Five games in the month for Josh, with two clean sheets and just six goals conceded.
Congratulations to Josh on his Award!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The Goalkeeper of the Month award for the First Division North for January 2026 has gone to Ollie Culkin of Ashton Town. This is the first Goalkeeper award for Ashton since Kyle Trenerry won it in February 2025, and the first for Ollie himself.
Ollie fiorst played in the NWCFL with West Didsbury & Chorlton in 2018, before going on to have spells with Atherton LR, Darwen, Ashton United, Euxton Villa and Abbey Hey. He was the goalkeeper in the Play-Off Final that saw him make three saves in the shoot-out to get Abbey Hey promoted. He has since played for Trafford and Alsager Town before moving to Ashton Town in October.
Since January, Ollie has since moved on to Chadderton and he will be presented with his award at an upcoming Chadderton home game.
January started for Ollie with an home game against Darwen. He made several key stops in the first half to keep his side in with a chance, and that was key as Ashton ran out 2-0 winners with Ollie keeping a clean sheet.
Next up was Droylsden, with the wind playing a big part in this game as both sides struggled with the conditions. Ollie kept his side in the game with some vital saves, particularly from dangerous Droylsden free kicks, and earned his side a second successive clean sheet as the game ended goalless.
The third and final game in the month for Ashton came at MSB Woolton. Ollie kept his side in it with some fine saves in the first half, but there was no third successive clean sheet though as Ollie was beaten for the first time from Danny Ventre's penalty kick. Woolton added a second in the second half for a 2-1 win.
Three games played, two clean sheets with just two goals conceded represented a great month overall for Ollie.
Congratulations!
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The winner of the January 2026 Goalkeeper of the Month Award for the First Division South is once again Will Ebbrell of Runcorn Town. It is the fourth time this season that Will has won the award.
Will is in his third season in the league after playing previously for Ashville and Cammell Laird 1907, before moving to Runcorn Town at the start of this season. January saw him extending his excellent record to 14 clean sheets in 27 games played this season, with just 21 goals conceded in total.
The first game in January for Runcorn Town and Will was at home to Shawbury United. Will made an important stop in the 20th minute to prevent Shawbury going ahead. Will went on to keep a clean sheet as Runcorn ran out comfortable winners.
Next was a away game with Market Drayton Town. Will had little to do in this game but was alert and kept his concentration through out as he organised his defence well with another clean sheet recorded.
The third and final game of the month came on at Sandbach United in the Quarter Final of the Edward Case Cup. Again he organised the defence well and was denied a perfect month of clean sheets as Sandbach scored in stoppage time.
Three games played for Will last month, with two clean sheets and just one goal conceded.
Congratulations Will!
