Northern Ireland v Lithuania (12/11/2021)

WORDS: NIGEL T ILSON WINNERS OF MCDONALD’S IRISH FA GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL AWARDS REVEALED

The winners of the McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards for 2021 have been announced at an awards ceremony in Belfast. Hosted by radio personality Pete Snodden, the ceremony featured a raft of interviews with well-known footballing heroes, including Northern Ireland senior men’s team manager Ian Baraclough, McDonald’s Fun Football Ambassadors Pat Jennings and Casey Stoney as well as former Northern Ireland captain Aaron Hughes and current Northern Ireland senior women’s team centurion Julie Nelson. Attendees at the event also heard messages of support from Junior Minister Gary Middleton MLA on behalf of the First Minister of Northern Ireland, while Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood and Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson both praised grassroots volunteers for their sterling work in developing football across Northern Ireland. The annual McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards, which celebrate 21 years in Northern Ireland this year, recognise the incredible 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. People’s Award winner Hilbert Willis, 97, is a lifelong fan of Loughgall FC who served the club as a groundsman for 30 years and as chairman for almost a decade, amongst a host of other voluntary roles. The prestigious People’s Award recognises the outstanding contribution made by an individual to grassroots football in their local community and beyond. Ahead of the awards ceremony, Hilbert said: “If I win, it would be for the club because I just love the place. It means everything to me. My heart is in it , and it always was. If there is anything

PEOPLE’S AWARD WINNER HILBERT WILLIS (LOUGHGALL) WI TH PAT JENNINGS AND MC PETE SNODDEN.

happening about the club, there is something wrong if I’m not there.” McDonald’s Fun Football Ambassador Pat Jennings insisted the awards provide a great opportunity to celebrate the fantastic work that takes place at all levels of the grassroots game in Northern Ireland. He said: “Congratulations to all of our award winners, who all work tirelessly in the background of their clubs to keep the local grassroots game alive. “The McDonald’s Fun Football programme gives young people across Northern Ireland the chance to keep fit , healthy and active as well as engage with others in the community. However, it wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of our local grassroots heroes, and it has been fantastic to celebrate with them all again in person.” Through the McDonald’s Fun Football programme more than 75,000 children across Northern Ireland have benefitted from 250,000 hours of coaching, games and fun. 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 its 2022 goal , before vowing to offer 1.5 million more hours in the next 12 months.

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NIR V LTU