Lisburn Youth complete Club Mark scheme

Eighty-nine clubs across Northern Ireland have been awarded the McDonald’s Irish FA Foundation Club Mark scheme since its launch in 2014.

The scheme offers coach education bursaries, free equipment and 12 hours of coach mentoring to grassroots football clubs with mentoring and encouragement also provided to encourage clubs to aim towards the Irish FA’s Excellence Mark.

Lisburn Youth FC worked closely with an Irish FA Development Officer over six mentoring sessions to learn more about taking their grassroots clubs to the next level.

The club can now promote to players, parents and volunteers that they have successfully demonstrated outstanding governance, practice and operating standards that will assist the clubs to grow and raise coaching standards.

Grassroots Development Manager, Ian Stewart stated, “Our Grassroots Development Officers have done a fantastic job working with clubs across Northern Ireland to achieve this standard.

“It is a credit to the clubs and individuals involved that the community can benefit from their hard work and dedication to football in Northern Ireland.

“I look forward to seeing Lisburn Youth FC being nominated in the future for a Club of the Year Award as part of McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards.”

Lisburn Youth FC was inaugurated in 1972.

The club has now grown beyond all recognition in the 43 years that has followed from only one team at u13 in the year of formation to now having sides competing from U7 as well as having an academy which takes children from as young as two and a half years old.

Throughout the years the club has not changed its goals or objectives and the formula has proved successful.

Amongst those who have worked with Lisburn Youth FC, are: David Healy, Aaron Hughes, Jonny Evans, Damien Johnson, Ben Kennedy, Daniel Devine, Sammy Clingan, Alan Mannus,, Josh Magennis, Colin Murdoch, Stephen Robinson, Paul McVeigh, Andy Smith, Peter Kennedy, Gary Hamilton.

If your club is interested in the McDonald’s Foundation Club Mark scheme then contact your regional Grassroots Development Officer.