The winners of this year’s McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards have been crowned following the national awards ceremony, which took place at Belfast City Hall.
The annual awards, which celebrate 24 years in Northern Ireland this year, recognise the work and commitment of football clubs and volunteers who give up their time and make a long-lasting impact on young people and communities across Northern Ireland.
The event was supported by a number of politicians, including Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Andrew McCormick.
Delivering a message to the winners and finalists at the awards ceremony, Gordon Lyons said: “Our grassroots football volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities. The time, energy and passion they invest are felt in every corner of Northern Ireland. They are role models for our youth and their work has a lasting, positive impact on society.
“Grassroots football is about much more than what happens on the pitch. It teaches our children important values like teamwork and respect – lessons that shape communities and live long beyond the final whistle.”
“The important work being carried out by the Irish FA and McDonald’s ensures that the game continues to thrive at every level, and that all young people in Northern Ireland, regardless of their background or ability, have the chance to play football,” he added.
Boxing legend Carl Frampton and Northern Ireland hero Pat Jennings, who is a long-standing McDonald’s Fun Football Ambassador, were also among the guests at the event.
Carl Frampton said: “As a dad of young children who are involved in local grassroots football in Northern Ireland, it was fantastic for me to meet and congratulate the winners and finalists at the awards ceremony.
“The dedication and time that these volunteers give every week across the year is amazing, and when I saw the work they were doing at my kids’ club it inspired me to start helping out with my daughter’s team. Without them grassroots football simply wouldn’t exist. Congratulations to everyone.
“It’s brilliant to see the huge impact that McDonald’s and the Irish FA has on communities across Northern Ireland through the Fun Football programme. Long may it continue.”
McDonald’s Fun Football Ambassador Pat Jennings also heaped praise on the award winners and nominees and said that without grassroots volunteers none of it would be possible.
He added: “Having been a Fun Football Ambassador for almost 20 years now, I have witnessed first hand the significant impact that McDonald’s Fun Football has had, and continues to have, on the lives of young people in Northern Ireland.
“It is fantastic to see that McDonald’s has reached 500,000 children across the UK since the new Fun Football programme launched in 2022.
“On a more local level I have also seen the crucial support that the McDonald’s franchisees from across Northern Ireland have provided to local grassroots football clubs, be that kits or essential football equipment or even by hosting community events. It’s very encouraging to see.”
McDonald’s franchisee Paddy Cusack said McDonald’s is passionate about feeding and fostering communities and supporting local families, adding that its commitment to grassroots football is a great way for the company to demonstrate that.
He also pointed out: “The Grassroots Football Awards give us a great opportunity to celebrate our local grassroots football heroes, who are the beating heart of the game we all love here in Northern Ireland. Congratulations to the winners.”
In 2022 McDonald’s launched its new Fun Football programme, which will provide over one million kids aged 5 to 11 with the opportunity to enjoy free football coaching across the UK.
The programme will deliver over 10.5 million hours of Fun Football by 2026, making it the largest grassroots participation programme in the UK. It is delivered in collaboration with the Irish FA, Scottish FA, The Football Association of Wales and a network of national coaching providers in England.
This year’s winners of awards in Northern Ireland were:
Amateur Club of the Year - Fivemiletown United, Co Tyrone
Football Restaurant of the Year - McDonald’s Crescent Link, Derry-Londonderry
Young Volunteer of the Year - Jessica Bell (Antrim Town Women and Girls)
Futsal Award - CJ Jones (Afrimeripean Futsal Club, Craigavon)
Football for All Award - Ards FC Inclusion
Volunteer of the Year - Neil Megaw (Richhill AFC, Co Armagh)
Junior Club of the Year - Bangor Swifts Juniors
Wes Gregg Coach of the Year - Samantha Greer (Antrim Town Women and Girls)
People’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Football - Colin Caswell (Lisburn Youth)
Main image: Fun Football Ambassador Pat Jennings with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Carl Frampton and Paddy Cusack, McDonald’s franchisee, at the awards ceremony.
The award winners
