2025 Winners

McDonald's Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards 2025

The winners of the McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards 2025 have been crowned following the national awards ceremony which took place at Belfast City Hall.

Club of the Year: Berlin Swifts and Swiftettes

This award is designed to recognise, celebrate and promote the inspirational work by clubs who provide high quality opportunities for both children and adults in the game. Berlin Swifts and Swiftettes have become a cornerstone of their local community, embodying the values of inclusivity, development and a positive football culture.

Football Restaurant of the Year: McDonald’s Boucher Road

This award recognises the McDonald’s restaurant in Northern Ireland that has gone above and beyond to provide crucial support and partnership to their local grassroots football club or clubs. Led by Franchisee Paul Connan and Supervisor Katrina Fox, the Boucher Road restaurant has gone above and beyond to forge strong links with Cumann Spóirt An Phobail (CSP) and Sandy Row FC.

Young Volunteer of the Year: Mia Patterson (Damolly)

This award recognises the contribution young people make in the community within grassroots football. The category is open to young people from 14 to 24 years of age that make a significant impact in helping to support and develop opportunities for people to participate in the local game. Mia was one of the first youth volunteers to get involved with Damolly and has registered an impressive 400 voluntary hours across the last two years.

Futsal Award: Jonny Kavanagh (Claudy Futsal)

The Futsal Award looks to recognise an individual or club who have championed the introduction of Futsal in their community. Jonny is the founder and head coach of Claudy Futsal and runs four sessions each week for children and young people aged 3-16.

Football for All Award: Peter Leonard (Rosario)

The Football for All award celebrates an individual or club who has put inclusivity at the heart of the ethos of their club and has excelled in promoting ‘Football for All’. In 2022, Rosario had no dedicated Football for All section, until Peter stepped forward with a vision to change that. Alongside a few volunteers, he launched a pilot programme that was instantly inundated with interest from players and parents eager for a place where football could truly be for everyone.

Volunteer of the Year: Grainne Pimley (St Malachy’s Old Boys Youth)

This award recognises the countless hours that dedicated volunteers across Northern Ireland give to help their local club or the local grassroots game. Grainne is community and events coordinator at St Malachy’s Old Boys Youth and has responsibility for how the club interacts with the community as well as ensuring that the kids have a sense of accomplishment from playing football.

Wes Gregg Coach of the Year: Clare McIlwaine (Crusaders Strikers)

This award, which is in memory of highly respected football coach and colleague Wes Gregg, recognises the contribution of qualified coaches at a grassroots club or Fun Football provider. Someone who encourages people starting, staying and succeeding in football through high quality coaching and who adapts their approach to find new ways to keep their players engaged. Clare is the lead coach of the U15s at Crusaders Strikers and has taken the team since they were only 6 years old in the club’s development programme.

People’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Grassroots Football

Each year, the hotly contested People’s Award recognises the outstanding contribution that an individual has made to football in their local community and beyond.  And ‘outstanding’ is certainly a fitting description of the contribution made by all of this year’s People’s Award finalists. The People’s Award is decided by public vote and this year’s finalists were Darran McQuoid from Drumaness Mills, Brian Kirker from 22^nd Old Boys & Ladies and Samuel McNeill from the Harry Gregg Foundation Youth League.

The 2025 winner of the People’s Award, Samuel (Sammy) McNeill, remains an active grassroots referee at the age of 83, with a career in officiating that spans more than five decades. Recently honoured by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, he is the oldest referee still working in Northern Ireland and continues to serve youth football through the Harry Gregg Foundation Youth League. Renowned for his fair approach and ability to foster respect, Sammy is admired for bringing communities together, inspiring young players and demonstrating the lifelong rewards of staying active and engaged in the game.

Brian Kirker has dedicated over three decades to his club, the 22nd Old Boys & Ladies, beginning as a 14-year-old player alongside his father before injury shifted his focus to coaching. He has managed both men’s and women’s teams, contributed to youth development and took on the role of club secretary more than ten years ago. Brian has been central to driving community outreach, mental health awareness and cross-community initiatives, while also maintaining and developing facilities at Clarendon. His commitment reflects a lifelong passion for grassroots football and the positive impact it can have on individuals and communities.

For more than a decade, Darran McQuoid has driven the growth of his club’s (Drumaness Mills) youth set-up from 12 players to 160 across eight age groups, creating a clear pathway to senior football. He has ensured standards of excellence through accreditation, while also applying his professional background in social care to deliver mental health workshops. Alongside his voluntary roles as Club Secretary, Head of Youth Development and a community committee member, Darran has raised funds for local charities and earned the Spirit of Sport NI Award, cementing his status as a leader in grassroots football.