The McDonald’s Fun Football Festival is returning to Northern Ireland for two days at the end of August, giving children the opportunity to take part in football sessions with professional coaches from the Irish Football Association – in a fun environment.
The events are set to be attended by well-known McDonald’s Fun Football ambassadors Gareth McAuley (Belfast0 and Marissa Callaghan (Coleraine) as well as expert qualified coaches, who will run a host of fun and engaging football introductory sessions. From skills and drills to inflatable games and face painting, there will be something for all the family.
The festivals are free to the public and open to children aged 5-11 and their families. They will be held from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 28 August at Boucher Road Playing Fields in Belfast and on Monday 30 August at Coleraine Showgrounds.
The McDonald’s Fun Football programme is for everyone – it doesn’t matter what your child’s ability is. It’s about getting kids active and giving them an opportunity to have fun with their friends and family
There is no requirement to register in advance to attend either of the fun festivals, however attendees will be required to register upon arrival at the events in line with Covid-19 guidelines.
The McDonald’s Fun Football Festival is a key element of the partnership between McDonald’s and the Irish FA on the grassroots football programme, which also sees Fun Football sessions and the Grassroots Football Awards delivered each year.
Northern Ireland legend and McDonald’s Fun Football Ambassador Pat Jennings said: “This summer McDonald’s is giving thousands of kids across the UK the chance to play football and participate in these unique events for free – and I would strongly encourage families from across Northern Ireland to get involved.
“The McDonald’s Fun Football programme is for everyone – it doesn’t matter what your child’s ability is. It’s about getting kids active and giving them an opportunity to have fun with their friends and family.
“After more than a year of ongoing restrictions, it’s so important now more than ever that kids are given the platform to be active and play sports for the benefit of both their mental and physical health.”
McDonald’s recently celebrated the huge milestone of providing five million hours of free Fun Football to children in the UK a year ahead of their 2022 goal, before vowing to offer 1.5 million more hours in the next 12 months.
The five-million-hour landmark was reached at a Fun Football session under the arch at Wembley Stadium, the scene of the England football team’s heroics this summer at Euro 2020.
