OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH MCDONALD’S LEAVES LASTING LEGACY FOR GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

The Football Association and McDonald’s have today announced our 20-year partnership will conclude at the end of the 2021/22 season, leaving a lasting legacy which has helped to change and improve lives through the power of grassroots football in England.

The partnership, which began in 2002 and spans 20 successful years, has been the longest standing commercial partnership in the history of The FA.

During that period, the partnership has provided millions of hours of free football for children across the country and ensured that thousands of grassroots clubs have benefitted from vital support; from training over 20,000 football coaches and running community football days, to equipping thousands of FA accredited football clubs with brand new kits, bibs, balls and items of equipment each season.

McDonald’s will no longer be the presenting partner of the Community Shield, the SuperKicks website or the FA’s Grassroots Football Awards but will continue with its separate participation programme which in the last four years has provided over 5 million hours of football to 5-11 year olds.

Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive, said: “The FA’s partnership with McDonald’s has helped to positively change lives by giving millions of young people the opportunity to get involved and participate in grassroots football.

“The positive impact made by this partnership is something that we are very proud of and we would like to thank McDonald’s for their contribution which has played a huge part in helping to grow and develop the grassroots game in England. We wish them well in their new projects as they continue to help create opportunities for young people to play football across the country.”

Alistair Macrow, Chief Executive Office, McDonald’s UK and Ireland said: “I am passionate about making a meaningful and positive impact on the communities we serve. Our longstanding commitment to grassroots football is one of our very best examples of this. Since 2002 we have worked with our partners at the UKFAs, our franchisees and restaurant teams to give millions of children the chance to enjoy football and to support thousands of football clubs, teams and projects across the UK.

“We are proud of our 20-year involvement in grassroots football and everything we have achieved so far. As we look ahead, our new programme will refocus our investment directly into participation, helping us to increase the impact and reach of the Fun Football programme by providing even more opportunities for communities to enjoy free football. Something enabled by the 20 years of learnings and achievements with the FA in grassroots football. I wish all at the FA well with their new commercial endeavours and thank them for their partnership over the last two decades.”

Source: The Football Association

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