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The 2013 FA Community Awards, presented by McDonald’s, opened for nominations on Monday, and Community Awards Ambassador Gary Neville is urging communities to nominate their grassroots heroes for one of the eight award categories.
The awards recognise and celebrate those coaches, volunteers, clubs and leagues across England who dedicate their time to grassroots football in their local community. McDonald’s and FA Community Awards Ambassador Gary Neville said:
“These awards help us, each year, to recognise those at the very heart of the game – the true champions of football in England. Without the energy, enthusiasm and continued dedication of these unsung heroes, grassroots football in so many communities would not exist.
“Every budding footballer starts at grassroots level and I can honestly say that without the commitment from coaches and volunteers I wouldn’t have had a stepping stone into the professional game.
“It’s fantastic that McDonald’s and The FA recognise those that give up their time to provide football to thousands of kids across the country and I urge you to nominate your local grassroots hero now.”
To celebrate the launch of the 2013 FA Community Awards, Gary will be re-visiting the grassroots club where his football story began, Bury Juniors FC. The club was founded almost 30 years ago by Gary’s parents, and in that time the club has grown from strength to strength, now offering over eleven age groups the opportunity to play football in their local community. Gary added:
“Bury Juniors was a fantastic place to start playing football. The club has a great atmosphere and I will always be eternally grateful for the free time that the coaches and volunteers sacrificed to ensure that I could play football.”
The club is just one of the thousands of clubs that McDonald’s and The FA has supported over the past 10 years in their bid to help young footballers shine and provide football to local communities across England.
