Robbie Keane launches initiative supporting grassroots football in Westmeath

St Peters FC of Athlone and Mullingar Athletic will be the first clubs in Westmeath to take part in the McDonald’s FAI Future Football programme, a brand new initiative to support grassroots football clubs and enhance the work they do at local level.

The initiative was launched recently by Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane.

A total of 83 football clubs nationwide are signed up to the Future Football programme, and up to 4,000 boys and girls (under 8, under 9 and under 10) are expected to participate in a range of exciting Future Football events to be rolled out over the coming months.

The two clubs in Westmeath will be championed by the local McDonald’s franchisee, Sean Corcoran, who said: “There is great excitement around the new Future Football programme and we are delighted to be supporting football clubs in the heart of two local communities. We will have a dedicated McDonald’s Football Champion, who will work closely with St Peters Athlone F.C. and Mullingar Athletic in all aspects of the Future Football programme over the coming months.

'The programme will allow us to give back to the local community while promoting, teamwork and respect - values which are very important to McDonald’s.”

McDonald’s FAI Future Football events include free coach education workshops which will deliver best practice for the coaching of Small Sided Games (4 vs. 4 and 7 vs. 7), aimed at developing skills in young players; community Fun Days to be held in 25 locations around Ireland supported by McDonald’s; and a Future Football competition for clubs culminating in a McDonald’s Cup Final, with the chance to play in Aviva Stadium at half time during the Republic of Ireland’s final home qualifier against Kazakhstan on 15th October 2013.

Republic of Ireland and LA Galaxy Captain Robbie Keane, who is the official Future Football ambassador said: “Every budding footballer starts out at grassroots level - it’s where I learned the basic skills of the game. I can honestly say that without the commitment and support that I received from coaches and volunteers at my local club Crumlin United from an early age, I wouldn’t have had a stepping stone into the professional game.'

McDonald’s FAI Future Football is in pilot phase in 2013 and it is planned to expand the programme to include additional clubs over time. Further information is available at: http://mcdonaldsfuturefootball.fai.ie