Local community-based football club Killen Rangers FC is the first in Northern Ireland to benefit from a new grants scheme as part of McDonald’s dedicated grassroots football website, McDonald’s Kickstart.

McDonald’s Kickstart Grants allow clubs to apply for one-off funding of between £500 to £2500 for a single project and the Castlederg club received £898 for the purchase of a washing machine and tumble drier.Goalkeeping legend and McDonald’s Head of Northern Ireland Football

Pat Jennings was on hand to make the presentation during a visit to the club. “I’m delighted that through our McDonald’s Kickstart Grants we are able to support local football clubs throughout Northern Ireland.  Clubs like Killen Rangers make such a benefit to the game at grassroots level and to local communities so it is great that McDonald’s can supply tailored support to match the needs of local grassroots football clubs.” 

Killen Rangers FC is a community-based club which boasts five junior, three senior and one ladies team.  It is run by a group of volunteers and according to club Grants Officer Linda Long the provision of the cleaning equipment will be of major benefit; “This McDonald’s Kickstart Grant will greatly assist our club as we rely heavily on fundraising, which in this current climate is difficult; therefore anything which decreases our weekly costs is a tremendous assistance.  Operating nine teams means we have a lot of kits which require cleaning and previously we’d have been paying £15 a kit but now this has been substantially reduced.  It is also much more convenient to have all the kits washed and dried at the club.  I’d like to thank McDonald’s for this support and especially like to thank Pat Jennings for visiting our club to make the presentation.”

McDonald’s is the Official Community Partner of the Irish FA, a partnership that is celebrating ten years this year and is helping young footballers shine. As part of this support McDonald’s launched a new website dedicated to grassroots football, McDonald’s Kickstart, where local clubs can secure funding for development projects, get access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like your child’s chance to walk out as a Player Escort at Windsor Park and useful information on coaching or running a club. 

For full details visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/kickstart

ENDS