Pat Jennings, McDonald’s Head of Northern Ireland Football, Match of the Day pundit and former Arsenal Captain Martin Keown and Northern Ireland Women’s Captain Ashley Hutton launch new deal at Stormont alongside deputy First Minister.

Grassroots football clubs across Northern Ireland are set to benefit from a new four-year partnership between McDonald’s and The Irish Football Association. The new programme will focus on supporting the Foundation Mark scheme and their volunteers to help raise the standards of grassroots football across Northern Ireland and improve the experience for everyone involved.

As part of the programme, McDonald’s will be giving Northern Ireland Foundation Mark clubs with a junior team the opportunity to order a brand new adidas strip every year for the next four seasons. This equates to over 2,100 kits over the course of the four-year partnership.

To celebrate the announcement, former Arsenal captain Martin Keown, joined with McDonald’s Head of Irish Football, Pat Jennings and Northern Ireland Women’s Captain Ashley Hutton to launch the new deal and kit scheme at the PlayBall Facility on the Stormont Estate. They were joined by the deputy First Minister who lent his support to the new community partnership.

McDonald’s Head of Head of Northern Ireland Football Pat Jennings said:

“McDonald’s has been a dedicated champion of grassroots football helping to grow the game in communities across Northern Ireland. Over the last 12 years the McDonald’s and the Irish FA have developed a lasting legacy for grassroots football and have consistently helped to raise the standards of the game in Northern Ireland and give more young people the opportunity to enjoy football. 

“It is great news that McDonald’s is announcing four more years of commitment to grassroots football through its Community Partnership with Irish Football Association. Without partnerships such as this, grassroots football wouldn’t exist and top flight football would suffer as a result.”

Speaking at the Stormont Estate, McDonald’s Football Ambassador Martin Keown said:

“Northern Ireland has a history of bringing through talented children into the highest levels of the game. But it all starts at a grassroots level; I am pleased to be in Northern Ireland today to support the new deal launch between McDonald’s and The Irish Football Association. I look forward to watching football grow at grassroots level and the impact that it has at all levels of the game here.”

The deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness said: “I congratulate The Irish Football Association and McDonalds for their commitment to grass roots football.

"Sport has the power to change lives and this announcement will make a significant difference at community level which is the heart beat of local football.

“Partnerships like this announced today are vital and will strengthen existing structures and create new opportunities. This is good news for clubs, coaches, volunteers and players and will no doubt help in the search for the next Pat Jennings, George Best or Ashley Hutton.”

Michael Boyd, Director of Football Development at the Irish FA:“The Foundation Club Mark scheme is a kitemark for grassroots clubs and is a key priority for The Irish FA so we’re delighted that McDonald’s is renewing its commitment to supporting the programme for a further four years.  Through this and the other key elements of the new programme, including small sided games, coach education and our Awards event we will raise the standards at grassroots clubs through better safety, better advice, better coaching for better coaches, better kit, better support and better recognition for volunteers.  McDonald’s has been a long-term advocate of the grassroots game in Northern Ireland and we look forward to building on the great work that’s already in place.”

To find out more about McDonald’s new partnership with The Irish Football Association and the community club kit scheme visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/betterplay 

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For more information contact:Simon Tiernan on 07932545978 or email simon@aikenpr.com or Shane Finnegan on 07764 534 565 shane@aikenpr.comNotes to editors:McDonald’s and The Irish Football Association Community PartnershipMcDonald’s has been community partner with Irish FA for the past 12 years. During this time they have helped support hundreds of grassroots clubs to raise of the standards of grassroots football across the country.As part of our continued commitment to improving the standard of grassroots football across Northern Ireland, McDonald’s has renewed its partnership with The Irish FA for the next four yearsThe partnership will focus on supporting Quality Mark clubs, to help raise the standards of grassroots football through better safety, better advice, better coaching for better coaches, better kit, better support and better recognition for volunteers.

McDonalds Accredited Kit SchemeOver the next four years, each season McDonald’s will work with The Irish Football Association and their official kit suppliers (adidas) to give away brand new kits to Foundation Club Mark clubs with a youth team in Northern Ireland.

McDonalds Better PlayWhether it’s organising a kick-about for kids, or making sure they have the best kit for the next season through the new McDonald’s Kit Scheme, McDonald’s is there, teaming up with the national FAs across the UK to help support Better Communities, Better Kits, Better Kick-Abouts, Better Clubs, and ultimately, Better Play.Take a look at - www.Mcdonalds.co.uk/betterplay