Across:
8 Posers would say (CHEESE) cheerleaders empty larder (‘cheerleaders’ empty ‘larder’ = cheees = CHEESE),
9 Early hit (early hit) played (= anagram indicator) (early hit = HEARTILY) with enthusiasm (HEARTILY),
10 Dislikes abandoning kids (‘dislikes’ abandoning ‘kids’ = iles = ISLE) in Capri, for example (ISLE of Capri),
11 College (C-) is for everyone (-ALL) – take heart (CENTRE) (CALL CENTRE), it’s supposed to answer your concerns (CALL CENTRE),
12 Two (2) types of ceremony (‘pomp’ x 2) curtailed (p) (‘pomp + pomp’ without ‘p’ = POM-POM) for ball (POM-POM),
14 Leave (GO) with Thomas (TO M-) and Jenny (jenny/donkey = -ASS) (GO TO MASS) – it’s the Christian thing to do (GO TO MASS),
15 A number of instruments on display (PANEL) at rock (= anagram indicator) discos in US (discos in US = DISCUSSION) (PANEL DISCUSSION) for Talking Heads (PANEL DISCUSSION for talking heads),
18 Tom (CAT-) English (-E-) from gruesome (-GORY) (CATEGORY) class (CATEGORY),
20 Jean’s (jeans = DENIMS) life lost in minefields (‘life’ lost in ‘minefields’ = mineds = DENIMS),
22 A (A-) play (= anagram indicator) returned (returned = -D-ENTURER) covering volume (-V-) (ADVENTURER) by a hero taking risks (ADVENTURER),
24 Driver (golf CLUB) upset (= reversal indicator) in Istanbul car-pooling (in ‘IstanBUL Car-pooling’ = bulc = CLUB),
25 One cadet (one cadet = ANECDOTE) fishing (= anagram indicator) for an account that’s unreliable (ANECDOTE),
26 Respected (respected/eminent = AUGUST) American (A-) university (-U-) gets most of 14 down (most of ‘gusty’ = GUST) (AUGUST).
Down:
1 Cry out of hypocrisy (‘cry’ out of ‘hypocrisy’ = hypois = PHYSIO) with one of those having to deal with strain (PHYSIO),
2 Not there (HERE) on the borders of Hertfordshire (on the borders of ‘HErtfordshiRE’ = HERE),
3 Approved of (WELCOMED) friend of dancer (friend of Santa’s Dancer = Comet) briefly (t) (‘Comet’ without ‘t’ = -COME-) consumed by SEAL (weld = WEL-D) (WELCOMED),
4 Sample of sliced halloumi (sample of ‘sliceD HALloumi’ = DHAL) served in an Indian restaurant (DHAL),
5 Pre-election promise (TAX CUT) to charge (TAX) Nick (nick = CUT) (TAX CUT),
6 Tablet (STONE-) is for two family members (ma + son= MASON) (STONEMASON) and one of the chisellers (STONEMASON),
7 Building (= anagram indicator) for sale (for sale = AL FRES-O) around castle (-C-) (AL FRESCO) outside (AL FRESCO),
13 Wish (PREFERENCE) to park (P-) what one got from previous employer (-REFERENCE) (PREFERENCE),
14 One of the chaps (GU-Y) over the road (street = -ST-) (GUSTY) is full of bluster (GUSTY),
16 A (A-) Cork town (-BANDON-) with back roads (back ‘roadS’ = -S) (ABANDON) and ditches (ABANDONS),
17 Delay run (delay run = UNDERLAY) all over the place (= anagram indicator) – runner should go over it (UNDERLAY),
19 Another (= anagram indicator) potion? (potion = OPTION) Take it or leave it! (OPTION),
21 Moment (MO-) old republic (USSR) drops resistance (r) (‘USSR’ without ‘r’ = -USS-) to Spain (-E) (MOUSSE) is sweet (sweet/dessert = MOUSSE),
23 Raises (= reversal indicator) some bucks (deer = REED) found along the side of the river (REED),
24 Some uppity teams go crazy (some uppity ‘teamS GO Crazy’ = sgoc = COGS) with minor players (COGS).