FOREST Green Rovers striker Jon Parkin has been rewarded for an outstanding season by being named as one of two strikers in the Vanarama Conference Team of the Year.

The experienced forward was named in the star eleven alongside some of the best names in the division in a vote that involved all member clubs submitting the names of who they judged to have stood out over the course of the season. 

Parkin’s 30 goals in all competitions, which included 25 in the Vanarama Conference, was a total that saw him finish as the second highest scorer, earned him a place alongside eventual leading marksman John Akinde in what was judged to be the division’s best front line. 

It was a highly successful first season for the one-time Preston North End and Hull City attacker, who signed at The New Lawn in July 2014. 

He scored his first goal for the club the following month in a 2-1 win over Chester, and struck five league braces throughout the campaign. 

The 33-year-old also netted a hat-trick in the FA Trophy against Didcot Town, with his impressive form subsequently seeing him named the January Player of the Month. 

Parkin was named in the side when it was announced at the Vanarama National League AGM and Congress Dinner at Celtic Manor in Newport last Saturday.

Vanarama Conference 2014-15 Team of the Year: 

Goalkeeper: Graham Stack – Barnet 

Defenders: Andy Yiadom – Barnet, Tom Parker, Shaun Pearson, Lee Brown (all Bristol Rovers)

Midfielders: Kevin Betsy – Woking, Craig Disley,  Nathan Arnold (both Grimsby Town), Lee Mansell – Bristol Rovers

Forwards: John Akinde – Barnet, Jon Parkin – Forest Green Rovers