Boston United boss Graham Coughlan has been named Vanarama National League manager of the month for March.
The temperature has been turned up on the 2024-2025 season – and it’s time to reward the managers keeping their composure under intense pressure.
All those months of toil come down to this – and as every football fan knows, March can often prove to be either make or break.
It was only a few weeks ago that Boston United fans were plotting their National League North away days with an instant return looming large, but last month has totally changed their outlook.
Manager Graham Coughlan has totally transformed their season. From doom and gloom to far from down, the Pilgrims suddenly pack a real punch in the race to avoid relegation.
He steered his side out of the bottom four for the first time since September with big wins over fellow strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge and Braintree Town.
Rejuvenated Boston also beat play-off contenders Rochdale and Southend United – having started the month 12 points from safety, they ended it the right side of the dotted line on goal difference.
The 50-year-old wasn’t the only manager to oversee a late season second wind.
Kidderminster Harriers started March nine points adrift in the title race but ended the month just two points behind leaders Scunthorpe after an incredible run of form that saw them beat their two title rivals.
No fewer than seven wins inside four fantastic weeks changed the complexion at the top of the National League North.
Phil Brown never gave up hope that his side would be in the mix when it mattered and big victories over Farsley Celtic, Scarborough, South Shields, Scunthorpe, Brackley Town, Needham Market and Peterborough Sports thrust them back into the race.
The top end is taking the limelight in the National League South thanks to an incredibly tight title race. But Enfield Town are playing their part in keeping it exciting at the opposite end after a big month saw the north London side pull themselves out of the drop-zone.
Gavin MacPherson and his team said goodbye to February buried in the bottom four but ended March three points clear of the drop zone despite starting the month with defeat to Dorking Wanderers.
He then guided the team to wins over title-chasing Truro City in a classic as well as inspiring success over Salisbury and Hampton & Richmond.
They also claimed encouraging points against Slough Town and Chippenham and have given themselves a real chance of a season at Step 2.
Congratulations to our three big winners!
PICTURED: Graham Coughlan alongside his backroom staff of Lee Bullen, Jamie Raynor, Jumar Kacar, Alex Payne, Adrian Padley and Jason Hatfield.
