There are only a few hours left to nominate your grassroots football hero in the 2013 McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards so make sure you’ve nominated that deserving person at www.irishfa.com/communityawards .

Nominations remain open until midnight tonight (23rd August) so if you know a coach, club or volunteer that deserves recognition for their contribution to the beautiful game at grassroots level and to the local community please fill in the online nomination form. The grassroots awards initiative is an important part of McDonald’s Community Partnership with the Irish FA, a partnership that is helping young footballers shine.  This is delivering a lasting legacy for grassroots football in Northern Ireland through ongoing coach creation and education, a series of regional Small Sided Games Centres and a Club Accreditation Scheme which will raise standards for local clubs by ensuring they have appropriate structures in place. 

McDonald’s Kickstart is a website where local clubs can secure funding for development projects, get access to once-in-a lifetime opportunities like your child’s chance to walk out as a Player Escort at Windsor Park and useful information on coaching or running a club.

For full details visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/kickstart

Goalkeeping legend Pat Jennings spearheads the programme through his role as McDonald’s Head of Northern Ireland football.  He attended the awards event in Belfast last year and is looking forward to recognizing more grassroots heroes at this year’s awards, which will take place in Derry/Londonderry on September 27th.

“The McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards 2012 was a great experience and it was an inspiration to meet the local coaches, clubs and volunteers who do so much for the game at grassroots level.  I’m looking forward to meeting our new grassroots heroes at the 2013 awards in September and rewarding their amazing efforts for the game we all love.” 

Nominations can be made at www.irishfa.com/communityawards