The annual McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards, which celebrate 25 years in Northern Ireland this year, recognise the unbelievable 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 national awards ceremony of the McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards is due to take place in October at Belfast City Hall.

The regional awards event was hosted recently at The Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park, where Northern Ireland legend and Fun Football Ambassador Pat Jennings presented the winners with their trophies.

“Through the years 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"

Pat Jennings said: "Without grassroots football volunteers none of this could happen.

“Through the years 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 a fantastic achievement that McDonald’s is on track to deliver over 10 million hours of Fun Football for one million children across the UK by 2026.”

McDonald’s Franchisee Paul Connan added: “McDonald’s is passionate about feeding and fostering communities and supporting local families, and our commitment to grassroots football is a great way for us to demonstrate that.

“The Grassroots Football Awards gives 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."

This year regional winner titles were awarded in the following categories: ‘Club of the Year’, ‘Football for All Award’, ‘Futsal Award’, ‘Wes Gregg Coach of the Year’; ‘Volunteer of the Year’; ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ and ‘The People’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Football’.

The regional winners of ‘Club of the Year’ are:

  • Castlecaulfield Youth FC

  • Berlin Swifts & Swiftettes FC

  • Damolly FC

  • Carryduff Colts FC

The regional winners of ‘Wes Gregg Coach of the Year’ are:

  • Chris Morrow (Castlecaulfield Youth FC)

  • Clare McIlwaine (Crusaders Strikers FC)

  • Mark Lever (Dungoyne FC)

  • Claire Little (Lurgan Town FC)

The regional winners of ‘Volunteer of the Year’ are:

  • Cara Mulholland (Harry Gregg Foundation Youth League)

  • Seamus Harkin (Dungiven Celtic FC)

  • Grainne Pimley (St Malachy’s Old Boys Youth FC)

The regional winners of ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ are:

  • Ben McCormick (Ballykeel Youth FC)

  • Peter Hughes (Coleraine FC)

  • Rebekah Johnston (Rathfriland FC)

  • Joel Mellon (Bangor FC 2016s)

  • Mia Patterson (Damolly FC)

  • Lucas McCullough (Ards Rangers FC)

The regional winners of the ‘Futsal Award’ are:

  • Johnathan Dalzell (Sparta Belfast Futsal Club)

  • Jonny Kavanagh (Claudy Futsal)

  • David Alonso (Omagh Futsal Club)

  • Jonathan Michael

  • Dario Dielininkaitis (Carryduff Futsal Project)

The regional winners of The People’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Football are:

  • Brian Kirker (22nd Old Boys & Ladies FC)

  • Darran McQuoid (Drumaness Mills FC)

  • Samuel McNeill (Harry Gregg Foundation)