MEMBERS of a Deeside club have been awarded a coveted national grassroots football prize.
The FAW & McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards, held in Cardiff on September 20, recognise and celebrate the tireless work of grassroots football heroes who make football possible by consistently supporting their communities by going above and beyond.
The awards are now in their 20th year and it was Connah’s Quay Town FC who joined a long list of inspirational grassroots football heroes who have been recognised by the programme.
Volunteers of the Deeside club were named the national winner of the prestigious Together Stronger Award.
Connah’s Quay Town FC have responded with compassion to the passing of their much-loved player Jamie Wynne.
Tragically, Jamie died 18 months ago, and the club has harnessed their grief to implement a mental health strategy for fans and players alike.
They have worked with the community to create a safe space to talk, promote mental health training, and signpost available support.
The clubs’ initiatives focus on fitness and mental health, the club has produced literature promoting available support, introducing club members to well-being champions within their ranks and providing contact information for key mental health organizations such as Samaritans, Mind, and Shout.
‘Together Stronger’ truly embodies the ethos of the club and their commitment to supporting one another and the wider Deeside community makes them deserving winners of this award.
Volunteers from Connah’s Quay Town FC collected their award from Welsh football legend and McDonald’s Fun Football Ambassador Helen Ward.
She said: “My career would not have been possible without volunteers like those at Connah’s Quay Town FC who dedicate their time and effort to nurturing and expanding grassroots football within their community.
"Connah’s Quay Town FC truly embodies the lifeblood of the grassroots game. I’m so proud to be here in Cardiff to honour these incredible winners. Connah’s Quay Town FC are a testament to their community and an inspiration to those looking to get involved in the grassroots game.
"The FAW & McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards are a special occasion and a chance to show how grateful we are for the hours of dedication volunteers put into make our game possible.”
Queensferry McDonald’s Franchisee Stewart Williams, who is an avid supporter of grassroots football in the Deeside Area, added: “Connah’s Quay Town FC is a shining example of what it means to go the extra mile to make a difference in your community.
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"Their work within Deeside is truly commendable and has made a huge impact. It’s clear to see Connah’s Quay Town FC has a very bright future ahead of them and I am sure they will continue to support the local community in Deeside for years to come.
"It’s always an honour to be involved with the Grassroots Awards and to celebrate the volunteers like Connah’s Quay Town FC who really are the heart and soul of the grassroots game.”
McDonald’s is the longest-standing supporter of grassroots football in the UK, having celebrated Grassroots Heroes at the Grassroots Football Awards for 20 years.
In addition to championing local grassroots heroes, McDonald’s Fun Football has provided over 500,000 children aged 5-11 with free football coaching since 2022. The programme is committed to providing 1 million children with access to free football coaching by 2026.
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