When it comes to the National League and football in general, really, it is usually the goalscorers that get all the glory. However, sometimes, the players who assist those goals are forgotten in the midst of time.
So, here we look at the players that have produced the most assists in a single National League season:
Mark Yeates (Eastleigh FC 26 assists in 44 appearances in season 2018/19)
The Irish left winger produced the most productive campaign of his career in season 2018/19. The current Fleetwood Town boss also scored four goals in the campaign.
His next-best season as a creator was in the previous campaign when he produced 14 goals for his teammates.
Liam Noble (Forest Green Rovers 21 assists in 40 appearances in season 2016/17)
The central midfielder’s record of 21 assists in 40 appearances in season 2016/17 was an impressive one.
This was the highlight of Noble’s National League career when it came to assists, as the well-travelled star produced just four more assists in his 93 appearances in the fifth tier.
His goalscoring record from the centre of the park of 23 goals was respectable, though.
Jai Reason (Eastleigh FC 20 assists in 43 appearances in season 2014/15)
The midfielder made 283 appearances in the National League, producing 50 assists in all. However, the season 2014/15 saw Reason at the peak of his creative powers.
The 2014/15 season also saw the midfielder score ten league goals, the second most prolific campaign of his career in the fifth tier.
Nicky Deverdics (Dover Athletic 17 assists in 45 appearances in season 2015/16)
The former Newcastle academy player produced his most creative campaign in the fifth tier in season 2015/16 when he registered 17 assists.
In the same season, Deverdics also experienced the most prolific campaign of his career in front of goal, scoring 14 times in the fifth tier.
Jamie Vardy (Fleetwood Town 17 assists in 36 appearances in season 11/12)
The former England and current Leicester star, more known for his goalscoring, was at his creative best when he produced 17 assists in season 2011/12.
Vardy also scored a highly creditable 31 goals in the fifth tier to earn himself a big move to Leicester in the summer of 2012, where he has excelled, with his highlight being winning the Premier League title in 2016.
Adam Smith (FC Halifax Town 16 assists in 39 appearances in season 2013/14)
The right-winger’s assist tally of 16 in season 2013/14 was impressive, considering he produced just 25 assists in his 193 National League appearances with various clubs.
Most of his assists in the fifth tier (21) came during his 82 appearances for Halifax.
Shaun Whalley (Southport FC 16 assists in 43 appearances in season 2012/13)
The Accrington Stanley winger excelled in the 2012/13 season for Southport, as he produced 16 assists in his 43 appearances in the fifth tier. He also scored nine goals in the same campaign.
The campaign wasn’t a creative one-off, though, as Whalley had got 14 assists in the previous season. In 117 fifth-tier appearances, Whalley produced 31 assists and scored 28 goals.
Ben Wright (Braintree Town 16 assists in 43 appearances in season 2011/12)
The forward has spent the majority of his football career in the fifth tier, making 136 appearances, scoring 34 goals and producing 23 assists.
However, the 2011/12 season was by far the most successful of his career, as not only did he produce 16 assists, but he also produced a career-best 17 goals in the fifth tier.
Michael Coulson (Grimsby Town 16 assists in 43 appearances in season 2011/12)
The winger was at his creative best in season 2011/12 when he registered 16 assists in 43 fifth-tier appearances. Coulson also found the back of the net eight times for the Mariners in the same season.
In 72 appearances in the fifth tier, he scored 16 goals and produced 16 assists, all of his assists coming in the aforementioned campaign.
Ruben Rodrigues (Notts County 15 assists in 43 appearances in season 2022/23)
The Portuguese forward’s 15 assists in season 2022/23 helped the Magpies to win promotion back to the EFL via the play-offs. Rodrigues also scored 18 goals in the promotion-winning campaign.
However, the 2022/23 season was not his most prolific in the National League for County, as in the previous campaign, he scored 19 goals while also producing nine assists.
In all, Rodrigues made 120 appearances in the National League, scoring 48 goals and producing 24 assists.
Which player on our list enjoyed the most impressive campaign?