Trafford FC are pleased to confirm that Simon Heaton has joined the first-team management staff for the 2026/27 season.

After Tom & Keil committed their futures to the club and with Lee Rick moving on, it was important a third man was brought in to help Trafford push for promotion out of the North West Counties Football League Premier Division.

Simon on joining the club:

I am delighted to join Trafford as part of the 1st team management I met up with Tom and within minutes I wanted to work with him the club want to bounce back and hopefully I can help with that. we have started working straight away and recruitment has been positive already.  I’m Looking forward to the season ahead working with Tom , Keil and the Trafford staff and supporters.

Manager Tom Baker added:

After the departure of Lee Rick in the  summer to West Didsbury & Chorlton, it was really important that I looked to recruit a third man to work alongside me and Keil, I always like working as a three management team. I think it’s really important to have a couple of opinions throughout the season in regards to various things, I think the important thing for me was that we got the right man with the right attributes, I think between the three there’s many boxes that you need to tick as a management team, from coaching, recruitment, knowledge of the level etc.

I felt it was really important going to a new level as in the north-west counties is a level that myself and both Keil don’t  have a great level of experience with regards to the other teams and in regards to players at that level I felt the key factor to who we brought in was going be someone who’s been at that level before I think Simon ticks that box.

He spent 2 to 3 seasons at Abbey Hey working under a strict budget and kept them in the division. He spent a few years before that at New Mills again in the same division working as a three man team with Mike Norton and David Birch, he knows the level really well. He knows the other teams, knows players at the level.he’s a really good guy. He’s really hungry to be successful and be a part of something this season so I once I sat down and met with him it was quite clear that he was the right guy to bring in to work  alongside me and Keil and looking forward to the new season.

Welcome to Trafford Simon!

Trafford FC are pleased to confirm that first-team manager Tom Baker and assistant manager Keil O’Brien will remain in charge for the 2026/27 season.

The duo have committed their futures to the club as preparations begin for the upcoming campaign in the North West Counties Football League Premier Division, following relegation from the Northern Premier League West Division.

The decision ensures continuity within the first-team setup, with the club placing its full support behind Baker and O’Brien as they begin the process of rebuilding and preparing for the new season.

Manager Tom Baker said:

I am really happy to commit to the club for next season,  I sat down and had a good conversation with the Chairman regards to how we move forward and what we needed to do to move forward. I think it’s really important that we reset and we rebuild and we look to go again.

On rejoining the club:

I feel like I came in on the 1st of November with the aim to try and keep the club in in the Northern Premier League West, which didn’t quite happen, I feel like we we’ve done a hell of a lot of good work and I feel like to walk away from that now would’ve been wrong. I feel like the club shown faith in me on in November bringing me in and trusting me with the role of trying to keep  the club in the division. I feel like it’s only fair that I repay that trust in regards to trying to get the club back up next season.

On next season:

It’s going to be really tough, it’s a really competitive league there’s going to be a lot of other teams & clubs that are going to really fancy their chances in regards to promotion but I believe we can be really competitive, I believe that we can carry on the good work that we’ve already done. The first part that trying to keep the core of the squad we’ve got and then looking to build and bringing some new faces in the summer to enhance what we already have, again that’s not going be easy it’s a difficult time in the summer, a lot of players await other options a lot of clubs are trying to sign new players, but I’m confident that Trafford in the North West Counties is still or will be an attractive proposition for for a lot of players and here’s to hopefully a successful 26/27 season.

Speaking on the announcement, Paul Delaney, Club Secretary said:

We are delighted that Tom and Keil have committed to leading the team into the 2026/27 season. They have shown dedication and professionalism throughout a challenging campaign, and we believe they are the right people to continue taking the club forward.

Preparations for pre-season are now underway, with further updates on squad news and fixtures to follow in due course.

Reluctantly and with a lot of consideration, our Football Festival has been cancelled.

Due to wear and tear to the pitch after the season end, the pitch won’t be available as the groundwork is starting earlier than planned as remedial fixes are needed.

The location of the 6v6 pitches will not be safe.

We will be refunding teams that have paid in the near future once everything is sorted. An email will be sent to clubs registered.

Thank you and apologies for any inconvenience.

PD