Vita Risk Solutions: Manager of the Month Award, August 2026
In conjunction with our friends at Vita Risk we honour the best Pitching In Isthmian managers of the first month of the campaign
Here are our first quartet of Vita Risk Solutions Managers of the Month winners for 26/27. Congratulations one and all- and a big thanks, once again, to our sponsors for their continued support.
Premier Division
If anyone wondered whether Enfield Town could quickly adapt on their return to our top flight, they are wondering no more. The Towners, under boss Billy Holland, had a magnificent August, soaring to the top of Pitching In Isthmian Premier by winning five of their first six matches. Lewes, Ramsgate, Brentwood Town, Whitehawk and Wingate and Finchley were each on the receiving end of a Town defeat; indeed that four-nil opening day hammering of the Rooks was also victorious in our Performance of the Month poll.
Many congratulations to Billy, who came very close to winning this award with Waltham Abbey on many occasions, but now has one with which to remember his first competitive month in charge at the Dave Bryant Stadium.
North Division
Replacing a legend in the dugout was always going to be a big challenge, but Hashtag United boss Sammy Knott is wearing Jay Devereux’s shoes rather comfortably, the Tags sweeping all before them during the first month of the campaign. Four League matches brought four wins- indeed, it saw the Tags deliver four hidings, walloping AFC Sudbury, Newmarket Town and Tilbury three-nil before defeating landlords Redbridge four-one. This award focuses only on League matches, but we can’t fail to mention the ten-one Cup win over Enfield and the three-one Trophy win over Royston Town, because those victories were similarly impressive.
Congratulations to Sammy, who picks up our first trophy of the season.
South Central Division
Winchester City have adapted rather well to life as an Isthmian club. They started the campaign by sticking five goals past Egham Town, who of course came rather close to grabbing a Play Off place at the end of last season, and followed that by walloping Play Off Finalists Westfield four-nil. AFC Stoneham came next, and that one ended four-one, as finally someone breached City’s backline- and it also meant that they were the only side in the Division to end the first month of the campaign with a perfect record.
Congratulations to City boss Craig Davis, who has some lovely glassware heading his way. Oh, and belated congratulations on your ten years with the club, and four hundred matches!
South East Division
Hastings United would readily admit that the 25-26 campaign was one they’d like to swiftly remove from their memory banks, and they’ll have been helped to do that by the magnificent start their side has made to 26-27 under the management of Ronnie Dolan.
Ronnie spent last season winning the Premier Division title as a player with Folkestone Invicta, so he’ll have become rather used to life at the top of the table- and he has clearly brought that winning mentality with him to Pilot Field. August was a magnificent- indeed, in the League, perfect- month for United, which saw them defeat AFC Croydon Athletic, Eastbourne Town, Ashford United and Crowborough Athletic. The last of those perhaps summed up the newfound resilience of the side, as it saw them come from three goals down after thirteen minutes to win four-three.
Many congratulations to Ronnie, who picked up a trophy in the last month of last season and has another in the first month of this one. United fans will hope that becomes a habit!
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Simply contact them on 01273 980 289, email them on [email protected], or visit their website here and they’ll be delighted to help ensure you get exceptional insurance cover.