October 2026 paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month announced
Sat 7th November 2026 | League Awards | By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month Awards for October 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 October 2026 has gone to Joe Bickerstaffe of FC St Helens.
Joe is no stranger to this award having won it three times in the past for Atherton LR, for whom he played 150 games over the last three seasons before moving to FC St Helens in August. It's not the only award he has won though, with Joe named NWCFL Goalkeeper of the Year both last season in the Premier Division as well as the season prior in the First Division North!
October saw Joe have an impressive month as FC St Helens went through the month unbeaten. The first game saw Ramsbottom United take an early two goal lead in their league game, but he marshalled his defence well with his side hitting back in the second half to claim a 2-2 draw. Next was South Liverpool, with Joe keeping a clean sheet, his sixth clean sheet in total since his move from LR.
Northern League side Darlington Town were next in the FA Vase, with another clean sheet kept in a 6-0 win, and it was three consecutive clean sheets in their fourth game of the month when FC St Helens won 1-0 at Euxton Villa, a performance described as outstanding by many in attendance.
The last two games of the month saw the Stripes win 2-1 at AFC Liverpool and draw 1-1 with Bolden Community Association in the FA Vase, meaning that Joe conceded just four goals in his six games this month.
Congratulations to Joe on yet another award!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The Goalkeeper of the Month award for the First Division North for October has gone to James Hodges of Ashton Town. He is the first winner of this award for Ashton since Morgan Newns won it last season.
It is the second time James has won this award after winning it in February 2025 for his former side Cheadle Town. James played over 100 times in the NWCFL for Cheadle as well as Stockport Georgians before that. He started this season at West Didsbury & Chorlton in the Midland League before his switch to Ashton, and he has also represented Hyde United, Chester and Tadcaster Albion.
James' impact at Ashton was immediate. In 13 games this season, Ashton had kept just three clean sheets, and on James' debut against AFC Blackpool at the start of October, that quickly became four. James made some great saves in key moments of this match to ensure the win and achieve his first clean sheet of the month.
The following Saturday saw Garstang visit Ashton, with another good team performance that saw Ashton win 5-0. James maintained his excellent performance standards and achieving his second clean sheet of the month.
His third game of October came away at Uppermill and yet another good performance by James helped Ashton win 4-0, only Ashton's third away win this season.
James' constant barking orders to all his team mates, his organisation of his defence, plus his ability with his feet have all helped him keep clean sheets in every game he played in the month. This ensured that Ashton picked up the maximum nine points available to them.
Congratulations to James for his performances in the month!
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The winner of the October 2026 Goalkeeper of the Month Award for the First Division South is Ryan Taylor of Barnton. It marks a great month for the club with Barnton winning Club of the Month and teammate James Sigworth also winning the Player award.
Ryan has played previously in the NWCFL for St Helens Town and Widnes, and joined the club in the summer having finished last season at Gresford Athletic in the Cyrmu North. He has played in the Cheshire League for the last couple of seasons for Parklands.
It has been a great season so far for Barnton, with Ryan a key part of that success. His high level performances have provided the bedrock to a great couple of months for the club, with the team currently unbeaten in 17 games.
October saw them play seven games with Ryan ever present in all of them. He conceded seven goals in total, so an average of just one a game, and kept three clean sheets.
After conceding once in a 3-1 away win at Shawbury United, Ryan's first clean sheet of the month came in the 6-0 win over high flying Eccleshall in the Edward Case Cup. His performance against Dawley Town helped turn his team's fortunes around, recovering from two early goals conceded to winning 3-2. His second clean sheet came against Cammell Laird 1907 as Barnton progressed in the Cheshire Senior Cup, this followed by a crazy 3-3 game with AFC Bridgnorth.
Perhaps one of his performances of the month came in the 3-1 win at Irlam in the Macron Cup. There was no clean sheet here, but Ryan kept his team in it with some vital saves against the Premier Division side. With the scores locked at 1-1 with ten minutes left, Irlam won a penalty, with Ryan diving to his right to keep out the spot kick. This allowed Barnton to score twice late on for the win. His final game of the month brought clean sheet number three, that coming in a 2-0 win at Foley Meir.
Congratulations Ryan on a great month!
October 2026 paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month announced
Sat 7th November 2026 | League Awards
By Martin Fallon
The Winners of the paxsport Goalkeeper of the Month Awards for October 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 October 2026 has gone to Joe Bickerstaffe of FC St Helens.
Joe is no stranger to this award having won it three times in the past for Atherton LR, for whom he played 150 games over the last three seasons before moving to FC St Helens in August. It's not the only award he has won though, with Joe named NWCFL Goalkeeper of the Year both last season in the Premier Division as well as the season prior in the First Division North!
October saw Joe have an impressive month as FC St Helens went through the month unbeaten. The first game saw Ramsbottom United take an early two goal lead in their league game, but he marshalled his defence well with his side hitting back in the second half to claim a 2-2 draw. Next was South Liverpool, with Joe keeping a clean sheet, his sixth clean sheet in total since his move from LR.
Northern League side Darlington Town were next in the FA Vase, with another clean sheet kept in a 6-0 win, and it was three consecutive clean sheets in their fourth game of the month when FC St Helens won 1-0 at Euxton Villa, a performance described as outstanding by many in attendance.
The last two games of the month saw the Stripes win 2-1 at AFC Liverpool and draw 1-1 with Bolden Community Association in the FA Vase, meaning that Joe conceded just four goals in his six games this month.
Congratulations to Joe on yet another award!
FIRST DIVISION NORTH
The Goalkeeper of the Month award for the First Division North for October has gone to James Hodges of Ashton Town. He is the first winner of this award for Ashton since Morgan Newns won it last season.
It is the second time James has won this award after winning it in February 2025 for his former side Cheadle Town. James played over 100 times in the NWCFL for Cheadle as well as Stockport Georgians before that. He started this season at West Didsbury & Chorlton in the Midland League before his switch to Ashton, and he has also represented Hyde United, Chester and Tadcaster Albion.
James' impact at Ashton was immediate. In 13 games this season, Ashton had kept just three clean sheets, and on James' debut against AFC Blackpool at the start of October, that quickly became four. James made some great saves in key moments of this match to ensure the win and achieve his first clean sheet of the month.
The following Saturday saw Garstang visit Ashton, with another good team performance that saw Ashton win 5-0. James maintained his excellent performance standards and achieving his second clean sheet of the month.
His third game of October came away at Uppermill and yet another good performance by James helped Ashton win 4-0, only Ashton's third away win this season.
James' constant barking orders to all his team mates, his organisation of his defence, plus his ability with his feet have all helped him keep clean sheets in every game he played in the month. This ensured that Ashton picked up the maximum nine points available to them.
Congratulations to James for his performances in the month!
FIRST DIVISION SOUTH
The winner of the October 2026 Goalkeeper of the Month Award for the First Division South is Ryan Taylor of Barnton. It marks a great month for the club with Barnton winning Club of the Month and teammate James Sigworth also winning the Player award.
Ryan has played previously in the NWCFL for St Helens Town and Widnes, and joined the club in the summer having finished last season at Gresford Athletic in the Cyrmu North. He has played in the Cheshire League for the last couple of seasons for Parklands.
It has been a great season so far for Barnton, with Ryan a key part of that success. His high level performances have provided the bedrock to a great couple of months for the club, with the team currently unbeaten in 17 games.
October saw them play seven games with Ryan ever present in all of them. He conceded seven goals in total, so an average of just one a game, and kept three clean sheets.
After conceding once in a 3-1 away win at Shawbury United, Ryan's first clean sheet of the month came in the 6-0 win over high flying Eccleshall in the Edward Case Cup. His performance against Dawley Town helped turn his team's fortunes around, recovering from two early goals conceded to winning 3-2. His second clean sheet came against Cammell Laird 1907 as Barnton progressed in the Cheshire Senior Cup, this followed by a crazy 3-3 game with AFC Bridgnorth.
Perhaps one of his performances of the month came in the 3-1 win at Irlam in the Macron Cup. There was no clean sheet here, but Ryan kept his team in it with some vital saves against the Premier Division side. With the scores locked at 1-1 with ten minutes left, Irlam won a penalty, with Ryan diving to his right to keep out the spot kick. This allowed Barnton to score twice late on for the win. His final game of the month brought clean sheet number three, that coming in a 2-0 win at Foley Meir.
Congratulations Ryan on a great month!
