Andy Forbes has won this season's inaugural National Game GLS Merit Award in the inaugural non-league paper national game awards for 2004.

The prolific Winchester City striker (picured left) scored a staggering 76-goals for the Sydenhams Wessex League champions last season and could be making the step up to the professional game this summer after attracting interest from several Football League clubs.

Forbes' sensational scoring powers helped City to collect the league title in addition to winning the FA Vase at Birmingham City's St. Andrews stadium recently.

David Emery, the Non-League Paper Editor in Chief said: "We've long felt the Non-League game deserves its own awards to honour the players, officials and fans who help make the national game great.

"Our readers have voted in their thousands over the last few weeks, truly making these the fans awards."

The full list of winners will be published in this Sunday's (May 30th) issue of The Non-League Paper in a special 16 page awards supplement.

City's director of football David Malone has put a £30,000 price tag on the head of Forbes, who signed on a free transfer from local rivals Andover two years ago.

"We've had one or two approaches from clubs about Andy, but no-one has followed them up at this stage," said Malone this week.

Reports that City skipper Danny Smith had turned down an approach from Weymouth are unfounded. "I've had no contact with Weymouth and I don't know where these stories come from," he said. "I'm still keeping my options open about the future at the moment."

The 24-year-old former AFC Bournemouth midfielder is out of contract with City and has expressed a wish to play in a higher grade of football.