A charity football match in honour of Suzanne Duncan, former East Durham College principal, is to take place on Saturday 7th June 2025 from 2:30PM.
Suzanne was the principal of East Durham College for 12 years and after retiring last August, she sadly passed away in September. Suzanne dedicated her life to education at both a regional and national level, and was awarded an honorary doctorate earlier this year from Durham University, which her family accepted on her behalf.
Organised by her sons Benjamin and Lucas Duncan, and husband Steve Duncan, the football match will be raising funds for two organisations. The raised total will be split between ManUp Durham, a peer-to-peer Men’s Mental Health group based in County Durham, as well as StrongMen.org.uk, a national men’s bereavement charity.
The two organisations mean a great deal to the family of Suzanne, with Steve being involved in talks for ManUp Durham to share his own story and experiences with others in similar situations.
The football match will pit Suzanne’s two son’s Benjamin and Lucas against each other with each son having their own team. The event is set to take place at East Durham College’s Houghall campus, a place which Suzanne was hugely passionate about during her time at the college.
In a joint statement, Lucas and Benjamin said: “We always knew we wanted to do something to remember our mam, and when we had this idea, we knew it was the perfect one. Houghall and East Durham College meant so much to her, and we can think of no better place to host the event.”
Steve followed up this statement by saying: “When you lose someone it’s important to know there’s support out there for you. That’s why we’re so happy to raise money for these incredible organisations, who have been a massive support to both me and my family during difficult times. For Suzanne’s legacy to continue in this way, in the place that she worked and loved for so long, supported by so many people who knew her well at the college, is incredible.
“I’m so proud of my boys for organising this event and I know their mam would be too, just as she was incredibly proud of everything they’ve achieved in life.”
The college is working closely with Steve, Benjamin and Lucas to help plan the event, with the college’s sport team organising the match and refereeing, estates team organising the pitch, parking and food and creative industries team organising music and entertainment.
Helen Mccoy, Assistant Principal at East Durham College. She said: “When Steve, Benjamin and Lucas approached us about helping plan this event, we knew we could help make it extremely special. Suzanne was extremely passionate about the college and particularly about Houghall’s redevelopment, and for us to be able to pay tribute to the huge amount she did for East Durham College is a great honour.”
The event will be free to attend, with donations accepted on the day.
The Duncan family has also set up a JustGiving page with the aim of raising £1500. For those who would like to donate ahead of the event, they can do so via this link: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/suzanne-duncan-memorial-cup?utm_medium=CR&utm_source=CL
The College owes a lot to Suzanne and her leadership, during her time at the College she significantly grew the curriculum offer, worked with local schools, employers, and partners to ensure that the College was meeting community need and oversaw significant investment across all College campuses.
Suzanne was a respected and selfless leader who fundamentally cared about learners and the transformational difference FE can make to their lives. She always challenged herself and her team to ensure that learners were always at the heart of all decision making.
