​McDonald’s Newry launches grassroots football partnership with Damolly FC U13 and U15 girls

​Underage girls football has been growing rapidly at Damolly with 19 girls participating at the aforementioned age grades, and McDonald’s sponsorship is an exciting development for the club.

The partnership was launched at the Newry restaurant pre-Christmas and Abbie Magee (Northern Ireland International footballer and Games Development Officer for Newry and Mourne), Joanne Patterson (Damolly FC Underage Girls Coach) and Gavin Doran (McDonald’s Newry Business Manager) spoke to the Newry Reporter about the partnership and the opportunity for the growth of women’s football in the area.

‘This will really grow the game down here’

“McDonald's is a huge brand as everybody knows and to have a local team sponsored by them is massive, because it will really grow the game down here, which is what we want,” said Abbie.

“Ten years ago there wasn't a Northern Ireland girls team at this age, and now there are teams at every age group, and it's just growing and growing.

“Girls have so many role models now; two years in a row the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award was won by a woman, which shows that they are now in the spotlight, and that's what we want. It's great that young girls can look up to women who have been there and done it and it gives them a chance to follow in their footsteps.

“It used to be case of not many girls playing football – or when they did, you didn’t hear of it – but now it’s just as popular as the boys football.”

‘We’re excited to see what the future brings’

“It’s fantastic to see McDonald’s get involved with a local club like ourselves; we’re very active in the community and McDonald’s want to support that,” said Joanne.

“In terms of brand alignment, we couldn’t have asked for a better sponsor. When the girls heard that they were going to be sponsored by McDonald’s, they thought that we were winding them up! They’re really excited to go out and wear the logo.

“We have a lot of avid footballers here of the Northern Ireland Women’s team and the WSL in England. Abbie taking time out this evening, as well as the fact that the girls get to have a chat with her as well is really big for them. At the club we’re all about making memories as well as developing players and this is just ideal.

“We’re delighted that McDonald’s see this as a long-term partnership and that will benefit both parties, and we’re excited to see what the future brings.”

‘We want to support more clubs in this area’

“McDonald’s has been fantastic in supporting grassroots football throughout Northern Ireland, but we wanted more clubs in this area. Abbie put us touch with Joanne, and we had a meeting about the club and the girls team in particular, and we think it’s a good avenue to go down,” said Gavin.

“It’s a great chance for us to give back to the local people of Newry and it’s not just a one-off sponsorship, it’s more of a partnership, and they can call on us for any support that they need.

“Abbie is a great role model for the girls to look up to, and for the age group that these girls are in, they can look up to Abbie and see someone who has made a career out of doing what she loves – which was unthinkable 10 years ago.”