Nominations are continuing for the 2014 McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards and this week we turn our attention to Irish FA Accredited Clubs – an important component in supporting the long term success of grassroots clubs, through the development of robust processes and procedures. 

By striving to ensure they have appropriate structures in place in terms of good governance, child protection, refereeing, coaching and administration these clubs are laying down a strong marker that they will be providing a fun and safe environment for children to play football for many years to come.

If you know such a club and you’d like it to be recognised please nominate them at www.McDonalds.co.uk/Awards or www.IrishFA.com/CommunityAwards.

Ballymena’s Carniny Amateur & Youth FC won the prestigious Accredited Club of the Year Award at the 2013 McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards.  Formed in 2000, the club has grown over the last 14 years from half a dozen youngsters kicking ball at a local housing estate to a membership of over 300 children and adults.

The club has a thriving McDonald’s Irish FA Games Development Centre, Mini Soccer Centre, seven youth teams and two senior teams. It also holds regular events during school holidays, as well as several initiatives in partnership with the local council and the police encouraging teenagers and ethnic minority groups to become more involved in football.  It was these initiatives and their impact on the local community that most impressed the judges.

Davy Boyd from the Ballymena club was presented with the accolade last year at the Awards event in Derry~Londonderry by football legend and McDonald’s Ambassador Sir Geoff Hurst – 1966 World Cup Winner and the only man to score a hat trick in a World Cup Final.  He was also congratulated by McDonald’s other Football Ambassadors including Pat Jennings, Eric Harrison and Ian Rush.

Speaking after collecting the award, Davy said: “To be nominated for an award was special but to go on and win it was incredible. The coaches, players and parents involved with Carniny Amateur & Youth FC all do a brilliant job in making the club tick and we were thrilled to be named winners of the award.”

Pat Jennings, McDonald’s Head of Northern Ireland Football, said: “The McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards is our way of saying thank you to the coaches, clubs and volunteers who give up their time to help young footballers across Northern Ireland shine.  Clubs like Carniny Youth make such a positive contribution to their community and at McDonald’s we want to recognise this contribution.”

Nominations can be made via www.McDonalds.co.uk/Awards and www.IrishFA.com/CommunityAwards  so log on and fill out a nomination form for a volunteer, coach or club that goes the extra mile for football in your community.

The Awards form a key part of McDonald’s Community Partnership with the Irish FA; a partnership that has been developing grassroots football since 2002 and is helping young footballers shine.  This partnership is delivering a lasting legacy for grassroots football in Northern Ireland through KickStart funding, ongoing coach creation and education, the Club Accreditation Scheme and a number of regional Small Sided Games Centres– all contributing to ‘Better Play for Kids’.

ENDS