Pardew Bags Manager of the Month Award

Last updated : 02 December 2002 By Rob Cooper
Alan Pardew
Alan Pardew: Nationwide League Division One Manager of the Month for November
Pards received the award after the team went on an incredible run that saw them win five games in a row without conceding a single goal during the month of November.

The amazing run of results saw Reading rise to fifth in the league, having only been promoted last season.

The Royals boss told Nationwide.co.uk: We've gone through November without conceding a goal and I am thrilled to win the Nationwide Manager of the Month Award.

"We had a severe test against Brighton on Saturday but we came through with flying colours and showed another side to our game."

"In Nationwide Division One there is a fine line between wining and losing."

The award comes as a timely boost ahead of Saturday's visit from the league's leaders, Portsmouth.

The manager of the month award seems to be cursed with teams reguarly going onto lose their next game once their boss has received the fateful award. Reading will hope to buck the trend this weekend.

The Division Two award went to Wigan boss Paul Jewell who led Wigan to four league wins and a Worthington Cup victory over Manchester City.

It was a month to remember for Rushden & Diamonds as they won all four games, seeing them rise to second in the league. Needless to say their boss Paul Talbot got the Division Three Manager of the Month Award.

Troubled Chester City boss Mark Wright received the Conference Manager of the Month Award. The former Oxford boss allegedly brawled with Southport boss Phil Wilson at the weekend. The FA may decide to end his career in Football Management.