Newry City AFC has recently completed the McDonald’s Irish FA Foundation Club Mark scheme. 89 clubs across Northern Ireland have been awarded the McDonald’s Irish FA Foundation Club Mark scheme since its launch in 2014. The scheme offers coach education bursaries, free equipment and 12 hours of coach mentoring to grassroots football clubs with mentoring and encouragement also provided to encourage clubs to aim towards the Irish FA’s Excellence Mark.

Newry City both worked closely with an Irish FA Development Officer over six mentoring sessions to learn more about taking their grassroots clubs to the next level. The clubs can now promote to players, parents and volunteers that they have successfully demonstrated outstanding governance, practice and operating standards that will assist the clubs to grow and raise coaching standards.

Grassroots Development Manager, Ian Stewart stated, “Our Grassroots Development Officers have done a fantastic job working with clubs across Northern Ireland to achieve this standard. It is a credit to the clubs and individuals involved that the community can benefit from their hard work and dedication to football in Northern Ireland. I look forward to seeing Newry City being nominated in the future for a Club of the Year Award as part of McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards.”

Local Ifa RGDO for Newry, Mourne and Down Seamus Heath was delighted with the commitment and dedication from all at Newry City and McDonalds Newry. Seamus commented;

“It was a pleasure working with Darren Mullen and his team of coaches as they rebuild Newry City.”

“It was also ironic that it was Newry City’s U10’s who received the equipment and was presented to club member Marina Binks who also works in McDonald’s Newry.”

Speaking about receiving the award, a delighted Newry City AFC manager Darren Mullen said;

“This award is a sign of the progress being made at the club and is a reward for all of the hard work the youth coaches have been putting in.”

“We are continually trying to build the club back up to a level whereby we have a constant supply of local talent. This will not happen overnight and it’s only through continuous progress that we attain that goal. We now have the skills school, U10s, U15s, U16s and U17s groups that are representing the club and enjoying their football along the way.”

He added, “I would like to thank Seamus Heath and the IFA for their time and valuable assistance in helping us obtain this award.”