Fed member’s surprise at receiving King’s Police Medal

28 July 2026

A North Wales Police officer who initially dismissed a phone call from the Home Office as a scam has been awarded the King’s Police Medal (KPM).

PC Heidi Goldsack has been recognised for her for services to policing and the football community in the King’s Birthday Honours.

It celebrates her two decades of service and her contribution to football policing in North Wales and the UK.

Heidi said she was initially told about the award while she was policing a Championship fixture between Wrexham and Stoke.

She said: “I was in the middle of dealing with some supporters when my phone rang.

 

PC Heidi Goldsack

 

“I was thinking it’s going to be the British Transport Police saying there’s some risk coming on the train, or something like that, but it was someone from the Home Office saying they’ve got some exciting news.

“I thought it was clearly a scam. I work with the Home Office all the time, they’ve got my email address to contact me, and I couldn’t imagine them working on a Saturday afternoon ringing round people.

“I said I was sorry, that I was really busy in the middle of working a football game, and I’m going to have to get back to you.

“They followed it up with a text. I was working with one of the national football officers and showed it to him, and he agreed it was a scam.”

The Home Office followed it up by sending forms for Heidi to complete, which she believed meant she had been nominated for consideration rather than selected to receive the award.

Chief Constable's call

It was only after a phone call from Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman shortly before the honours list was published that the reality sank in.

Heidi said: “I had a phone call from the Chief Constable to say the King’s Birthday Honours were released at 10.30pm and that she was pretty confident I was going to be listed on them.

“The Home Office had told me not to tell anyone, so I genuinely hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, not even my husband.

“I said to my husband the list was coming out in 30 minutes and apparently, I’m going to be on it.

“He was like ‘what?’ because I genuinely didn’t think it was going to happen.”

Imposter syndrome

Heidi admitted she is still getting her head round the award.

She said: “You get a bit of imposter syndrome.

“I genuinely feel like I’ve just been doing my job.”

She added: “I come from a small village. It's been in the local paper, so I went run in with my friend on Sunday and she felt like she was out with a celebrity because people were clapping me as I ran past.”

Heidi is now in her 22nd year of service and admitted she always wanted to be a police officer.

Dedicated football officer

“I used to walk past the police headquarters, where I work now, and say, that’s where I'm going work, when I grow up," she said.

Heidi became Wrexham’s dedicated football officer in 2014, helping to establish and develop football policing arrangements at a time when the club was competing in the National League and resources were limited.

She said: “We didn't really have a proper football unit then. It was me, and thankfully we had a couple of amazing Specials, who worked most of the weekends, and helped me.”

Working alongside colleagues, partners and the club, she has helped grow the Force's dedicated football policing capability alongside Wrexham's remarkable rise through the leagues.

Her work has included policing domestic and international fixtures, supporter engagement, intelligence gathering, safety planning, and partnership working with football authorities and clubs.

Policing 1,000 matches

She is understood to have been the first female dedicated football officer in Wales and, according to the Force, has played a critical role in the safe policing of more than 1,000 football matches across the UK and abroad.

In 2016 she travelled to France as part of the Welsh policing team during Wales's memorable UEFA European Championship campaign.

She said: “There was a lot of excitement around that. People thought Wales wouldn't make it out of the group stages, and we ended up being out there for quite some time.

“It was amazing, but they're long days. You’re working in the heat and you end up being away from your family.

“I had two young children at home, and remember FaceTiming them and my youngest daughter, who was three at the time, said ‘who's going be my mummy now’, which was quite tough going.”

Football Policing Unit

Her handling of that event was formally recognised with a commendation from the UK Football Policing Unit.

Her expertise has also been recognised with a current secondment to the National Police Coordination Centre, where she is part of the team responsible for planning policing arrangements for UEFA Euro 2028.

The tournament will be hosted by Wales, England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Heidi is also proud of her work to improve the safety and experience and women and girls in football.

She is a strong advocate for safeguarding and tackling inappropriate behaviour towards female staff, particularly matchday staff, and supporters.

Safe environment

Heidi said: “People sometimes dismiss things because it’s football or because someone has had a drink, but it’s not okay.

“I’ve always felt strongly that football should be a safe environment for everybody.

“Most supporters are fantastic, but there’s a small minority who can spoil things for others.

“My priority has always been making sure everyone can enjoy the game safely.”

Chief Constable Blakeman said: “This is a truly well‑deserved honour for Heidi, and I’m absolutely delighted to see her recognised in this way.

Lasting difference

“Over many years she has shown real dedication, professionalism and care in everything she does, making a lasting difference to colleagues, communities and the people she serves.

“She approaches policing with warmth, integrity and quiet determination, and she has helped set the standard for others to follow.

“Heidi should be enormously proud of this achievement – we certainly are.”

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