01/06/2026
An Open Letter – End of Season 2025/26
Yesterday’s End of Season Presentation brought the 2025/26 season to a close, and what a fantastic day of celebration it was.
Firstly, I would like to thank our incredible EOSP Team who put in countless hours before, during and after the event: Becca Perkins, Maria Blake, Peter Jude, Aime Jude, Ana Chambers, Brooke Robson, Steve Brook, Jason King, Richie Berry, Emma Chapman & Daughter, Marie Wright, Joanne Clark, Ant Clark, Geraldine Marsh, David Blake, Laura Hargreaves, Kieran Duffy, Chloe Milburn and Austin B.
The EOSP is the pinnacle of our football season, and every year this team goes above and beyond to make it a memorable occasion for everyone involved. Your hard work, dedication and attention to detail do not go unnoticed, and the success of yesterday’s event was a reflection of your efforts.
Congratulations to our annual award winners:
⚽ Junior Male Player of the Season – Ryan Sagar
⚽ Junior Female Player of the Season – Maisie Marsh
⚽ Young Male Player of the Season – Mark Green
⚽ Young Female Player of the Season – Jessica Dawson
⚽ Senior Male Player of the Season – Anthony Wilson
⚽ Senior Female Player of the Season – Natasha Wilson
⚽ Volunteer of the Season – Sean Murphy
⚽ Coach of the Season – Michael Smith
These awards represent commitment, dedication, attitude and achievement throughout the season. Every recipient should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments and the example they set both on and off the pitch.
Congratulations also to all of our team award winners recognised yesterday. To be acknowledged by your teammates and coaches is a special achievement and a reflection of the contribution you have made throughout the season.
Grassroots football is built on volunteers, and at Heddon United we are fortunate to have an outstanding army of managers, coaches and officials. The countless hours you dedicate, the sacrifices you make and the passion you bring are the foundations upon which this club continues to grow and thrive. Quite simply, without you, there is no Heddon United.
A special thank you must also go to all of our parents, guardians and families. From early morning kick-offs and training sessions to long away journeys and standing on the sidelines in every type of weather, your support and commitment allow our players to enjoy the game and create lifelong memories.
Thank you also to our committee members who work tirelessly behind the scenes throughout the year. Much of what you do goes unseen, but your efforts ensure the club remains organised, sustainable and constantly moving forward.
A huge thank you also goes to our club and team sponsors. There are too many to name individually, but your support plays a vital role in everything we do and helps create opportunities for hundreds of players across the club. Your backing is genuinely appreciated and never taken for granted.
This season has brought plenty of success, including:
🏆 Under 8 Girls winning the NFL Europa League!
🏆 Under 13 Gladiators winning the West Division Cup!
🏆 Ladies winning the NFL First Division and securing promotion into the FA Pyramid!
🏆 Under 9 Centurions, Under 9 Legionaries and Under 15 Girls with mid season tournament victories!
The Ladies’ promotion represents a historic milestone for Heddon United and is a testament to the hard work, commitment and ambition shown throughout the season. Their place in next season’s Women’s FA Cup is something the entire club can look forward to with excitement and pride.
While we rightly celebrate trophies, league titles and promotions, we are equally proud of the development, confidence, friendships and memories created across every team. Football is about far more than results, and seeing players grow both on and off the pitch remains one of our greatest achievements.
I say this every year because every year it remains true: the club continues to grow beyond anything I could have imagined when Heddon United was formed in 2017. What started as a simple idea has developed into a thriving community football club that now plays an important role in the lives of so many local families.
This season we welcomed 23 squads, registered 334 players and 45 volunteers. The most exciting part is that this growth is set to continue, with new opportunities, new players and further development already being planned for the seasons ahead. The future of Heddon United has never looked brighter.
Looking forward, we have plenty of exciting work planned. Almost £10,000 is being invested into the maintenance programme at Victrix Park, a site we are immensely proud to call home. It is remarkable to think that in 2020 it was little more than a farmer’s field with livestock grazing on it. The transformation that has taken place is a credit to every volunteer, supporter and partner who has contributed their time, effort and vision to creating a facility the entire club can be proud of.
What makes me most proud is not the number of teams, players or trophies, but the community we have built together. Heddon United has become a place where players of all ages can enjoy football, develop as people, make friendships and feel part of something special.
Our ambition remains the same as it was in 2017: to provide the best possible football environment for every player who pulls on a Heddon United shirt. The scale may have changed, but the values have not.
Thank you to every player, volunteer, parent, supporter, sponsor and committee member who has played a part in our journey this season.
Here’s to an even bigger and better 2026/27.
Best wishes,
Liam Duffy
Chairman
Heddon United FC
