MCDONALD’S UPS GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL COMMITMENT
McDonald’s has renewed its commitment to grassroots football development in the UK, announcing extensions to its partnerships with the four home nations football associations.
Under the new four-year deal, the restaurant brand plans to introduce a new participation-based programme to provide “five million hours of fun football” for children throughout the UK.
The initiative, which builds on McDonald’s long-standing support for UK football development, will centre on ‘turn up and play’ coaching sessions and further Community Football Days.
It aims to give more than 500,000 children the chance to play football for the first time, as part of a wider focus on supporting accredited grassroots clubs and their volunteers.
McDonald’s launched the new initiative with help from England stars Jordan Pickford and Nikita Parris, who took part in a coaching session with children from around the country.
The Three Lions goalkeeping hero commented: “Growing up, I was lucky enough to benefit first-hand from McDonald’s support for grassroots clubs and their volunteers, so it’s exciting for me to help them announce the renewal of this partnership.
“It’s really important that clubs all over the UK get the support they need but also that we continue to attract young, new players to the sport so we can continue to develop talent.”
Manchester City women’s star Parris added: “Over the past four years we’ve seen some major changes in the game from the growth of disability football to the ongoing rise of the women’s game.
“With the new programme placing even greater focus on participation and opportunities to play, we’re aiming to make football more and more inclusive and open to everyone. We can’t wait to kick this off and I’m sure it will result in grassroots football being in an even stronger position in four years’ time”.
Commenting on the deal, Mark Bullingham, commercial & marketing director at the FA, said: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with McDonald’s, which has delivered so much for grassroots football in England over the last 16 years.
“I am thrilled that we can carry on our partnership and support McDonald’s in their quest to provide fun football for families via Community Football Days and opportunities for children to try football for the first time via ‘turn up and play’ coaching sessions.
“I look forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the next 4 years.”
Paul Pomroy, McDonalds CEO UK and Ireland said: “We are delighted to announce the renewal of our partnership with the UK Football Associations signaling the start of another four years of working together to support grassroots football in every community.
“I’m incredibly proud of everything our grassroots programme has achieved over the past sixteen years and we’re committed to our goals of increasing participation and delivering five million hours of fun football for children by 2022.”
News of the project comes on the eve of the new football season, which kicked off at the weekend with The FA Community Shield supported by McDonald’s.