Campion AFC are delighted to announce that Paddy Sykes, Max Dickinson and Sonny Whittingham have all put pen to paper on new contracts ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 season.

Following the departure of club captain Aidan Day, Paddy Sykes now becomes the club’s longest serving player and continues his outstanding journey in red & black having scored an incredible 89 goals in 176 appearances for Campion AFC.

18-year-old Max Dickinson heads into his second season at the club following a stellar breakthrough campaign in which he showcased his versatility across a number of positions while also delivering some hugely important goals. Highlights included a hat-trick at home against Eccleshill United, a brace against Padiham in the FA Vase, and the winning goal against Horbury Town in the NCEL League Cup.

Midfielder Sonny Whittingham also proved to be a crucial addition to the Campion starting line-up after joining the club from Emley AFC last winter. His energetic midfield displays, important goals and consistent performances quickly made him a key figure within the squad.

First Team Manager Lee Ashforth said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to retain Paddy, Max and Sonny for the upcoming season. Paddy is a massive character around the club and his goalscoring record speaks for itself. Max is a fantastic young talent with a huge future ahead of him and showed maturity well beyond his years last season. Sonny came in midway through the campaign and immediately made a big impact both on and off the pitch.

Keeping hold of players of this quality is a huge boost for everyone connected with the club and shows the ambition we have going into the new season.”

Campion AFC General Manager Sheridann Dickerson added:

“Securing the futures of Paddy, Max and Sonny is fantastic news for the football club. These are exactly the types of players we want representing Campion AFC both on and off the pitch.

There is a real sense of optimism and ambition around the club heading into the 2026/27 campaign and these renewals demonstrate a clear sign of intent as we continue building for the future.”

The news comes as another major boost for Campion ahead of the new season in the NCEL Premier Division, with further player announcements and team news set to follow over the coming weeks.