17 April 2019

Wales legends Ryan Giggs and Loren Dykes are urging people across Wales to nominate their local grassroots football heroes.

The nominations for the 2019 McDonald’s FAW Grassroots Football Awards are now open. The awards shine the spotlight on the army of grassroots volunteers and football clubs all over Wales, celebrating the impact they have among their local communities.

Wales manager Ryan Giggs is hoping that local communities across the UK will put forward their grassroots heroes before nominations close on 5 May:

“The awards are about recognising people in the area who give up their time – for free – and bring so much joy to many children. My first experience of organised football was playing for my Sunday league team, of the volunteers, parents and the coaches that help out. It’s invaluable.”

Coaches, volunteers and clubs do not have to be top of the league to apply. The FAW Trust are looking for clubs who are making a real difference to their communities and are particularly welcoming nominations for the females in the game and those from BAME communities.

In April, Wales defender Loren Dykes became just the second female player in Welsh football history to reach 100 international caps and believes there are many women worthy of the spotlight:

“My mother was the main inspiration behind my love of football. When I was younger, there weren’t many female football role models, so my family not only got me into football but kept me going too.

“But there have been some great changes to the women and girls’ game in Wales and now we have female footballers who are real role models and they deserve recognition. But every day Mums, coaches and volunteers are inspiring children to play football and they deserve recognition.”

Having worked with the FAW Trust over the past 17 years, McDonald’s is the longest-standing supporter of grassroots football in Wales and continues to champion the tireless work of those volunteers who dedicate countless hours to provide safe, fun football to children and young adults regardless of age, gender or disability. The hugely popular awards are supported by several football legends, including John Hartson, Ian Rush and Jayne Ludlow.

The awards feature a wide variety of categories which reflect the huge range of roles that volunteers play, including Coach of the Year, Club of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Football Mum of the Year and Community Project of the Year.

Nominations for the 2019 McDonald’s FAW Grassroots Football Awards are now open. To nominate a grassroots football club or volunteer go to funfootball.cymru