Footballing greats help celebrate a decade of McDonald’s support for BSYFC

World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst and former Bristol Rovers & England star Gary Mabbutt teamed up with Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) to celebrate a Festival of Football as part of the Bradley Stoke Community Festival on Saturday 6th June. The event marked a decade of community football support by McDonald’s that has helped thousands of youngsters enjoy the grassroots game.

Some 12 local schools took part in the festival, in which every team is a winner, under the watchful eyes of the football legends.

Each school received prizes of sports equipment, thanks to McDonald’s, as part of its investment in grassroots football development.

The festival marked a landmark for McDonald’s franchisee Mike Guerin, who has supported Bradley Stoke Youth FC for over ten years, providing the club with £25,000 of new kit and equipment and supporting this year’s festival with a £7,000 donation. McDonald’s also helps to provide 14 local schools with free coaching for Year 1 pupils.

Bradley Stoke Youth FC is a FA Charter Standard Club and now boasts 350 players across 20 teams.

Sir Geoff Hurst, who is McDonald’s director of UK football, and Gary Mabbutt presented medals as well as posing for photographs and signing autographs for the aspiring young footballers.

Local McDonald’s franchisee Mike Guerin said:

“Bradley Stoke Youth FC are a great community club and I have been involved with them for a decade now. It is great to see clubs such as this one grow and develop into a key part of the local area. Since McDonald’s first opened a restaurant in Bristol in 1985, we have committed to supporting communities in Bristol and the long term partnership with Bradley Stoke Youth FC is just one example of our continued commitment. Today has been another great day with an incredible community club and I’m sure all of the teams that have taken part today have had a great day with a highlight being receiving their medals from Sir Geoff and Gary.”

McDonald’s director of football Sir Geoff Hurst, said:

“It is thanks to the help of franchisees like Mike Guerin and local volunteers that clubs such as Bradley Stoke Youth FC and families in the area can enjoy the grassroots game. It was a pleasure to be able to visit the club and meet young players from the local area.”

Former England and Premier League footballer Gary Mabbutt added:

“It was great to visit Bradley Stoke Youth FC and see so many young players enjoying themselves out on the pitch and this wouldn’t be possible without the work of passionate volunteers and individuals like Mike who provide so much for not only the players, but also the wider community. It is vital that we continue to provide this support to help as many clubs as possible at grassroots level.”

Photo: The Meadowbrook Primary School team. [Photo credit: McDonald’s]

More Festival of Football photos on Facebook and PicasaWeb.