History beckons for hometown hero Aidan Heywood and his Hebburn Town FC team-mates
Hebburn Town host Southport in their first ever National League North fixture on Saturday afternoon.
Aidan Heywood has described his pride at leading hometown club Hebburn Town FC into their first ever competitive fixture as a National League North club as they prepare to face Southport at the Trustmark Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Heywood has enjoyed a remarkable rise with the Hornets since he returned to the club from Shildon during the summer of 2023 and has helped Daniel Moore’s side claim both the Northern Premier League East Division and Northern Premier League Premier Division title over the last three seasons.
The latter of those title triumphs saw Heywood and his team-mates overcome sizeable odds to be crowned as champions and secure what was a historic first ever promotion into the second tier of the non-league game. Meetings with the likes of Morecambe, South Shields and Darlington are on the agenda for the campaign - but it’s a home clash with former Football League club Southport that is first up on Saturday and Heywood can’t wait for yet another historic moment in his hometown club’s rise up the non-league pyramid.
He told The Gazette: “It’s not even something you dream of because you didn’t think this could happen - but it’s something I’m incredibly proud of. I’ve always said being captain of where I’m from, being a community based club, that’s the most important thing. You go out day-to-day, and my Missus hates it, you get the young ‘uns saying oh it’s Aidan. It’s nice. We aren’t a professional club - but we aspire to be as good as we can be and no matter what you say as a footballer, a player, a semi-pro, whatever you call it, you want to play as high as you can. In that role, whether it’s captain or not, you want to be influential on the pitch and that’s something I’ve always aspired to do. I’m really proud but it’s another season ahead and we are all looking forward to it.”
The Hornets have confirmed another local lad will take an influential role on the pitch after Jack Donaghy was named as vice-captain for the season.
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