Newcastle United’s Dan Burn has urged the next generation of local heroes to dig in and chase their dreams after scooping one of the most prestigious awards in North East sport.

The England international, former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards and Great Britain basketball coach Marc Steutel were the big-name winners at this year’s Sport Newcastle Annual Awards Dinner.

And world class potential was in focus at a packed Newcastle Civic Centre as the Rising Stars of cricket, athletics, Rugby Union and more were recognised for outstanding success on the global stage.

“I've always said I'm very proud to be from Newcastle and to be a Geordie and associated with the city,” said Burn, who was presented with the Sporting Success of The Year prize after heading the Magpies to Carabao Cup success at Wembley earlier this year.

“It's something that I never, ever take for granted. And I’d say grit and resilience are key if you want to achieve your goals.

“I feel like I've had so many knockbacks but if you want to do anything in your life, you will have to be uncomfortable and take those knockbacks.

“It's how you react to that and I've always just wanted to put everything I possibly can into becoming a footballer. 

“I would just say that if you're passionate about something and you love something enough then never give up and keep moving forward.”

It was a night of double glory for Newcastle United after the club won Sport Newcastle’s Team of the Year award. The Magpies ended a 56-year wait for silverware and sealed Champions League football for the second time in three seasons.

And the future stars of St James’s Park weren’t forgotten with fast-rising striker Sean Neave picking up the Wor Jackie award and tough tackling Scotland Under 23 defender Charlotte Wardlaw receiving the Jack Hixon award. Newcastle United Academy Director and Sport Newcastle vice president Steve Harper presented both awards.

Olympic and double world champion Edwards has held the world record for the triple jump since 1995 and the Sport Newcastle patron was a popular recipient of this year’s Special Recognition award.

The charity supported a then unknown Gateshead Harrier in the formative years of what would become a stellar career at the highest level.

And former Tyne Tees Head of Sport Roger Tames, chair of Sport Newcastle and host for the night, added: “Jonathan’s journey has been a spectacular one and the fact that we’ve been alongside him every step of the way makes this award very special.

“We were proud to support him as he was making his way to the top. And once Jonathan reached the top he never forgot the backing he had from Sport Newcastle.

“He’s a valued patron and a fantastic ambassador for the charity.”

Adopted Geordie Steutel is no stranger to the Sport Newcastle Annual Awards Dinner and the talented playcaller pipped Eddie Howe for the Coach of the Year award.

The Newcastle Eagles talisman coached club and country to landmark successes throughout 2025 — and even found time to get married!

Steutel led the Eagles to SLB Trophy success before taking the club to a first European final and franchise boss Paul Blake admitted: “It was an amazing season and our supporters made some magical memories. Marc deserves immense credit for everything that he’s achieved at Newcastle.”

On the international stage Great Britain head coach Stetuel anchored this summer’s EuroBasket campaign and steered the rank outsiders to a first win at the tournament since 2013.

But the Eagles’ success at the 2025 Sport Newcastle Awards Dinner didn’t end with the club’s celebrated senior coach.

This year’s Sport Newcastle Community award was presented to the CEO of the Eagles Community Foundation, Sam Blake, in recognition of her 25-plus years driving transformative initiatives across the region.

Sam was instrumental in establishing Hoops 4 Health — a wellbeing programme adopted by basketball clubs across the UK. The former international swimmer was also key to getting the Vertu Motors Arena over the line and moved quickly to repurpose the community venue as a Covid hub at the height of the global pandemic.

On a night when seasoned campaigners mixed with wide-eyed wannabes, the Wilkinson Sword Lifetime Achievement award went to one of the best-loved names in North East sport.

Bryan Beeson lifted squash’s European Over 65 title earlier this year and, more than 40 years after bursting onto the scene, the 53-times capped former England international is still courting success at the highest level.

At the other end of the scale, hot prospect Joy Eze maintained her rapid rise to the top of UK athletics after the sprinter won a first senior call-up to the World Championships. This year’s Sport Newcastle Young Sporting Success of the Year picked up European gold earlier this summer as part of the GB Under 23 relay squad and looks set for another breakout season in 2026.

Hot on Eze’s heels is another North East athlete with the 2028 Olympics in his sights. Heptathlete Luke Pichler, based at Blyth Running Club, is ranked number one in the UK at Under 20 and Sport Newcastle will back the A Level student’s huge potential with annual Platinum Award funding of £1,500 for the next three years.

Both Pichler and Eze are former Sport Newcastle Rising Stars and this year’s list of emerging talent spans 11 sports from weightlifting to lawn green bowls. To date the charity has awarded grants of more than £3m — supporting thousands of young athletes, coaches, volunteers, teams and clubs from across Tyneside.

Each of this year’s Sport Newcastle Rising Stars receives £250 and the full list is as follows: Robbie Bowman (cricket, Durham CCC/Tynemouth CC); Henry Christer (athletics, Gateshead Harriers); Joe Davis (Rugby Union, Newcastle Red Bulls); Jakub Hepurker (gymnastics, City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy); Joshua Hutton (weightlifting, North Tyneside Barbells CIC), Harriet Joll (hockey, Morpeth Hockey Club); Grace Rae (basketball, Newcastle Eagles Women); Cody Sullivan (netball - Seatonians, Grangetown and Leeds Rhinos); Kacee Sultman (lawn bowls, Forest Hall Bowling Club); Aidan Turner (swimming/triathlon, Newcastle Swim Team); Les Yeutembip (football, Newcastle United Academy).

The following businesses supported the 2025 Sport Newcastle Annual Awards Dinner: GLL, SOS Group Ltd and Tier One Capital (Headline Sponsors); Central Employment and Ward Hadaway (Main Award Sponsors); JC Events Ltd, Graphic Packaging International and Wonderstuff (Event Sponsors).

All images Ian Horrocks Photography