Club Ethos
At our football club, we pride ourselves on upholding a strong ethos that centres around community, integrity, and respect. Togetherness and team spirit are also essential elements of our football club ethos. We believe that a strong sense of unity and camaraderie is critical to our success as a club, both on and off the field.

These values guide us all in everything we do, both on and off the field, and are integral to our identity as a club.

Community: We believe that football has the power to bring people together and unite communities. As such, we are committed to actively engaging with our local community and building positive relationships with our fans, neighbours, and local businesses. We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported, regardless of their background or identity.

Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct, both as individual players, teams and as a club. We believe in playing fair, following the rules, and respecting our opponents. We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the sport and upholding the values of honesty, transparency, and accountability in all that we do.

Respect: We believe that respect is essential to building strong relationships and creating a positive culture. We treat our teammates, coaches, supporters, and volunteers with respect, and we expect the same in return. We also show respect for our opponents, officials, and the wider football community. We believe in creating a safe and supportive environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Togetherness: We believe that we are stronger when we work together. Our football club values the contributions of every player, team, and volunteer, and we strive to create a culture of inclusivity where everyone feels valued and supported. We encourage open communication, collaboration, and teamwork, and we believe that by working together, we can achieve great things.

Team Spirit: We believe that team spirit is essential to achieving success. We encourage our players teams and volunteers to foster a sense of camaraderie, to support each other through both the highs and lows, and to celebrate our victories as a club. We believe that a strong team spirit helps us to perform at our best, and that it is a key factor in creating a positive and supportive culture.

In summary, our football club is committed to fostering togetherness and team spirit, in addition to our core values of community, integrity, and respect. We believe that by embodying these values, we can not only achieve success on the field, but also create a winning culture that supports the success of our players and teams on and off the field, while also making a positive impact in our local community and beyond.

Our Team Culture & What We’re All About

Introduction: Welcome to the Team!

Welcome to the Heaton Hawks! We’re thrilled to have you join us. To help you get settled in and feel at home, we’ve put together this guide. It’s a summary of what your new teammates believe is important, based on everyone’s collective feedback about our culture, our standards, and how we approach the game. Think of it as a playbook for understanding who we are and what we’re all about.

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1. Our Identity: It’s All About Being “Competitive”

When asked to define our team’s identity, the answer from the squad was nearly unanimous: we are a “Competitive” team. But what does that mean to us? It’s not just about winning at all costs. It’s a specific mindset that shapes everything we do.

try to win each game, but emphasis is more on the way we play, enjoyment we have and how we compete rather than the outcome

For the Hawks, success isn’t just measured by the final score. It’s about the quality of our effort, the way we play together, and our shared enjoyment of the game.

While the overwhelming majority chose “Competitive,” a couple of teammates also identified as “Performance (results focused).” This shows we’re a team that loves to compete the right way, but with a healthy dose of ambition that keeps us focused on getting results. The two ideas work together to define who we are.

This competitive spirit is built on a foundation of shared standards that we all agree to uphold.

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2. The Hawk Standard: What We Expect from Each Other

To achieve our competitive goals, we hold ourselves and each other to a set of key standards. These are the non-negotiables that form the backbone of our team.

• Positive Attitude & Effort We expect every player to bring a positive attitude, give 100% in training and matches, and support their teammates. This means putting the team first, handling mistakes constructively without dwelling on them, and channeling any personal frustrations into positive action on the pitch.
• Commitment & Attendance Showing up consistently for training and games is a cornerstone of our team culture. We understand that everyone has jobs, families, and other adult commitments, but regular attendance and good timekeeping are seen as a direct reflection of your dedication to the squad.
• Fitness Players are expected to take personal responsibility for maintaining a good level of fitness. While we work hard in our sessions, keeping match-fit is something we’re all accountable for, both in and out of official training.
• Teamwork & Trust On the pitch, we succeed or fail together. This means constantly supporting, encouraging, and trusting each other. We are a team first, and that means communicating well and having each other’s backs.

These standards are the foundation for how we approach our shared philosophy on the pitch.

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3. Our On-Pitch Philosophy: How We Play Football

When it comes to our style of play, there’s a clear preference for how we ideally want to approach the game. The majority of the squad believes our best football comes from a “Passing game – playing from the back where possible; progressing forward together as a team with mostly controlled possession, whilst using longer ‘pass’ when needed.”

However, a strong sense of pragmatism runs through the team. Several players emphasized that our core style should be “Flexible to ensure we win no matter what.” This means that while we love to play good football, we are not rigid. We are ready and willing to adapt our style to get the win.

This shared belief in flexibility means we’re all open to different formations and tactics depending on the opponent or the game situation. The most important thing is that any changes are communicated clearly by the coaches so we can execute the plan together as a single, unified team.

Knowing how we like to play, let’s look at how commitment to our standards and philosophy translates into playing time.

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4. Earning Your Minutes: A Guide to Getting on the Pitch

Playing time on the Heaton Hawks is earned, not given. Your teammates have a very clear and consistent view on what it takes to get on the pitch on match day. It’s a combination of performance, dedication, and attitude.

Core Values	Why It Matters
Ability & Performance	Playing well, having a positive impact on the game, and fitting the tactical needs of a match are key.
Commitment & Attendance	Showing up consistently for training and games is a crucial sign of your dedication to the team.
Attitude & Work Ethic	A positive attitude and high effort level during training and games are highly valued.
Fitness	Being match-fit is considered a personal responsibility and essential for competing at a high level.

While everyone wants to play, being a great teammate also means understanding that the team’s success comes first.

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5. It’s a Squad Game: The Team Comes First

One of the strongest beliefs we share is our commitment to squad unity over individual ambition. Players understand and accept that rotation, not starting every game, or being substituted are all part of being on a competitive team.

The key condition is fairness: as long as a teammate has earned their spot through their commitment, attitude, and performance, the coaches’ decision is respected by the squad.

Of course, it’s natural to feel disappointed when you’re not on the pitch, but the collective belief is in trusting the coaches and, most importantly, supporting the players who are playing. It’s a simple but powerful idea that holds us together, one your teammate put perfectly: “We are a team at the end of the day.”

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6. A Final Word

Ultimately, being a Heaton Hawk means embracing a competitive spirit where effort and enjoyment matter as much as the outcome, holding ourselves to high standards, and understanding that the team always comes first. We’re excited to have you bring your skills and energy to the group. Welcome to the team!