- McDonald’s FAI Future Football 2015 launched in Dublin
- 10,000 children from 165 clubs around the country will benefit from the programme
- McDonald’s to shine a light on the 800 coaches that help run Future Football
- Finals to take place at National Sports Campus
McDonalds is expanding it’s Future Football programme with the FAI to take in 165 clubs across the country, double what the number was when the relationship first came to life in 2013. It is expected that over 70,000 additional hours of activity will be generated by the children taking part.
Now into its third year, Future Football supports grassroots football clubs and is targeted at players aged between seven and ten.
The programme is funded locally but is part of McDonald’s global investment in football from community to the World Cup Finals.
This year will see a focus on the 800 coaches that work within the sport around the country. There will also be elements of player development and club management providing a rounded approach to the brands support for the future of the game.
See Today’s Daily Video for a look at the importance of coaching
There will be unique access to some of the biggest names in world football coaching and rewards by way of VIP days out at Republic of Ireland home matches in the Aviva Stadium.
“I’ve had a number of coaches throughout my career, at grassroots and professional level, who have been a massive influence on me,” said Republic of Ireland and Everton midfielder Aidan McGeady launching the 2015 programme in Malahide yesterday.
“Without these coaches, I wouldn’t be where I am now so I’m delighted to be involved in the McDonald’s Future Football programme.”
“The programme acknowledges, supports and rewards coaches for their hard work in the communities which in turn helps to develop kids at grassroots level so it’s a wonderful initiative and one that makes a real difference.”
As part of the programme, coaches will have access to free coaching workshops, specialising in short sided games that aimed at developing skills in young players. Clubs will also have access to a Club Support Programme and equipment packs.
All the children taking part will enter into an exclusive local McDonalds FAI Future Football Cup event, culminating into six regional finals and an overall McDonald’s National Finals day, which will take place at the newly redeveloped FAI pitches at the National Sports Campus in October 2015.
This will be the future training base of the Republic of Ireland senior team and the main pitch has already been laid as an exact replica of the surface at the Aviva Stadium.
Join us next week for a members’ exclusive look at the development of the National Sports Campus
The McDonald’s Future Football programme has grown significantly since its inception, with 83 clubs taking part in the inaugural year in 2013. That figure grew to 140 last year and this year will see 165 clubs and over 10,000 children take part. In 2015
“The McDonald’s Future Football programme has been a huge success since its inception two years ago,” said Adrian Crean, Managing Director of McDonald’s Ireland.
“Thousands of children and communities around the country have benefitted.”
“The programme continues to grow year on year, with 165 clubs due to take part over the coming months, and this year we want to especially acknowledge the coaches who deliver Future Football.”
“These coaches are the real unsung heroes of grassroots football in Ireland, working tirelessly to develop kids not only as young footballers but people too.”
“Our partnership with McDonald’s on the Future Football programme has been an undoubted success over the past two years – enabling us to drive Player, Coach and Club Development in line with our new Player Development Plan, added John Delaney, FAI CEO.
“We go into this year’s programme with additional growth and added benefits for clubs, rewarding them and the coaches for the hard work that they put in on the ground, and without which we could not have grassroots football in Ireland. We also look forward to continuing to build on our relationship with McDonald’s, a global supporter of football.”
Coming Soon – An Interview with McDonalds Senior Management on countering claims of harmful promotion to young people.
