Justin Donawa and partner Keunna Dill are looking forward to a new chapter in their lives after calling time on their football careers in England and moving back home to raise a family.

Donawa played for a number of clubs in England, ending his time there with Hereford FC, while Dill has severed ties with FC United of Manchester.

The pair admit that it was a difficult decision to make but that being closer to their family proved too difficult to resist.

“We decided to move home for family reasons,” Donawa told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s always hard leaving a club when you enjoy being there. But it was much tougher for me because leaving Hereford meant I was also bringing an end to my professional football career in the UK.

“Nevertheless, Hereford is an amazing club with a great fanbase, caring staff and has a history of Bermudian players. I’m grateful that it was the last stop on my journey.”

Dill said she felt the time was right to bring her chapter in England to a close given the support the couple will get in raising their one-year-old daughter, Kaori.

“That chapter is now closed,” she said.

“Mainly our priorities have changed since we’ve had our daughter and that was essentially the main factor behind things.

“Both Justin and I were getting later in our careers and we just thought it was time to move back home.

“The decision was made independent of football, but obviously if we could have both we would love to have done that.

“Being in Bermuda means that we can’t play professionally or semi-professionally, but then being away means we are away from family and friends, and we just chose family essentially.

“But I am very proud of what I was able to accomplish with the resources that I had.”

Dill is coming off an outstanding season with FC United of Manchester, scoring 13 goals and earning the club’s Goal of the Year award for her strike against Crewe Alexandra last month.

“I’ve had a good season this year, finishing with 13 goals, but the one that got selected was definitely my favourite as well,” she said.

“We were losing 1-0 at the time and the goal I scored made it 1-1. It definitely felt good to be recognised for the achievement.”

Dill put on a clinical display of finishing for Bermuda in their final Concacaf Women’s Qualifier against Grenada at Flora Duffy Stadium on Saturday night, scoring four goals as the Lady Gombey Warriors came from behind to win 5-3 in an entertaining affair, with Donawa watching on from the stands.

“I’m extremely proud of her and the performance she had on Saturday night,” he said. “To be able to play for your country and score four goals at home in front of your family and friends is a massive achievement.

“It was even more special because our daughter got to see her mother have one of the best games of her football career, and it’s the first time I’ve been able to watch her play live for Bermuda as well.”

While her club career is now behind her, Dill plans to continue playing for Bermuda.

“My plan is to still stay involved with the national programme,” she said.

“But if while I am here I am not able to maintain my fitness and sharpness and things like that, then it may look a bit different. I might try to be involved in different ways, but my plan is to still play and be involved.”

Donawa has not given up on club football entirely as he plans to resume playing with childhood club Somerset once he and his partner get settled back on island.

“I do intend on playing football and cricket here,” he said.

“But for now I’m just focusing on getting my family and I situated and accustomed to being back home.”