Darran McQuoid, a local volunteer at grassroots football club Drumaness Mills, has been named as a finalist of the prestigious People’s Award at the McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards.
The winner of the People’s Award will be announced at the national awards ceremony at Belfast City Hall next month and will be determined by the public through online votes via the Irish FA website. Online voting for the People’s Award is now open and will close on Friday 26 September. For more information and to place your vote, visit the link below:
https://typeformdeviomedia.typeform.com/to/G9p6SZ6c
For more than a decade, Darran McQuoid has driven the growth of Drumaness Mills’ youth set-up from 12 players to 160 across eight age groups, creating a clear pathway to senior football. He has ensured standards of excellence through accreditation, while also applying his professional background in social care to deliver mental health workshops.
Alongside his voluntary roles as Club Secretary, Head of Youth Development and club committee member, Darran has raised funds for local charities and earned the Spirit of Sport NI Award, cementing his status as a leader in grassroots football.
The annual McDonald’s Irish FA Grassroots Football Awards, which celebrate 25 years in Northern Ireland this year, recognise the unbelievable work and commitment of football clubs and volunteers who give up their time and make a long-lasting impact on young people and communities across Northern Ireland.
The regional awards event was hosted recently at The Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park, where Northern Ireland football legend and Fun Football Ambassador Pat Jennings presented the winners with their awards.
Pat Jennings said:
“Without grassroots football volunteers, none of this could happen. Through the years I have witnessed first-hand the significant impact that McDonald’s Fun Football has had, and continues to have, on the lives of young people in Northern Ireland. It is a fantastic achievement that McDonald’s is on track to deliver over 10 million hours of free Fun Football for one million children across the UK by 2026.”
McDonald’s Franchisee Paul Connan added:
“The Grassroots Football Awards give us a great opportunity to celebrate our local grassroots football heroes, who are the beating heart of the game we all love here in Northern Ireland. Congratulations to the winners.”
