As this season's Adobe Women's FA Cup campaign concluded at Wembley Stadium connected by EE, Leyton Orient striker Sammy Rowland was confirmed as the recipient of the Mitre Golden Ball Award and became the first player in history, on the women’s or men’s side, to claim the honour twice.
The Mitre Golden Ball Award recognises and commemorates the top scorer in the Adobe Women's FA Cup, from the First-Round Qualifying stage in September through to the Final in May.
Rowland, who plays for Leyton Orient, produced a stunning scoring run throughout the 2025-26 competition, netting 15 goals, while fending off the likes of Barclays Women's Super League leading scorer Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw of Manchester City to claim the award. Her achievement marks the first time in the history of the competition that any player has won the Golden Ball Award on two occasions, having first won it whilst playing for Hashtag United in the 2022-23 season.
Rowland was invited to the 2026 Adobe Women's FA Cup Final as a guest of The FA, where a special presentation took place before kick-off ahead of the showpiece clash between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City. She was given the honour of carrying the Mitre match ball out of the tunnel and placing it on its plinth as the two finalists lined up ahead of the opening whistle.
Mitre Golden Ball Award winner Sammy Rowland said: "To win this award once was a dream come true, to win it twice is something I still can't quite put into words. I've worked harder than ever this season, and moments like this remind you why you give everything for the game. I'm incredibly proud, for myself, my family, and everyone at Leyton Orient who has been part of this journey."
