Exclusive:'The best thing I have done' - Hebburn Town captain issues heartfelt rallying call ahead of title decider
Hebburn Town captain Aidan Heywood looks ahead to Saturday’s Northern Premier Premier Division title decider.
Chasing promotion with his hometown club is child’s play for Hebburn Town captain Aidan Heywood.
Since returning to South Tyneside after spells with Team Northumbria and Shildon, the versatile defender has helped the Hornets secure promotion into the Northern Premier League Premier Division and now has his focus set on a historic promotion into the second tier of the non-league game.
Despite being viewed as relegation candidates ahead of the season, Daniel Moore’s men will be crowned as champions if they can see off Rushall Olympic at the Trustmark Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
‘The best moment of my life...if’
Speaking to The Gazette as his young daughter played happily in the background, the Hornets captain admitted securing a first ever promotion into the second tier of the non-league game would be the greatest moment of his life - apart from one notable occasion.
He told The Gazette: “It would be the best moment of my life if we were to win the league - at least from a sporting perspective.
“It will be the best thing I have done. In life, other than my little one being born, it will be the best thing I have experienced in my life other than having my little girl.
“This is a remarkable level of football and if we get up, we are one promotion away from what is effectively the fifth tier of professional football now.
“It would be a privilege and an honour to help take this club into the National League North and it would mean so much to do it with my hometown club. This would be spoken about when I’m old and grey but we are just focused on getting the job done.”
A spirit of togetherness and a desire to prove the doubters wrong has fuelled Hebburn’s unexpected push for promotion.
After a disappointing second half of last season as injuries and suspension decimated Moore’s squad and left the Hornets to be satisfied with a lower-half finish, little was expected ahead of the current campaign.
The loss of club captain, top goalscorer and talismanic striker Amar Purewal provided an early blow last summer - but the signing of experienced frontman Gary Martin has more than filled the void he left behind.
Several other shrewd additions such as Newton Aycliffe midfielder Ethan Wood and on-loan Hartlepool United youngster Campbell Darcy have also played a part in the outstanding progression witnessed over the last nine months.
‘In this together’
However, it is the spirit fostered throughout a mentally and physically challenging pre-season that has provided a strong resilience and laid solid foundations for an outstanding campaign, no matter what comes to pass on Saturday afternoon.
“We are all in this together, from the players, the coaches, everyone at the club,” explained Heywood when asked how his side has surpassed all expectations.
“The boys turn up, we train hard, we just want to win games and keep wining games. That’s always our aim. It’s not about drawing, we want wins and we are ready for that last push to achieve something remarkable for our club and our town.”