The local heroes of the West region were recently recognised thanks to the 2014 Scottish FA Grassroots Awards, presented by McDonald’s.

For over a decade the Scottish FA Grassroots Awards have recognised and celebrated the young players, volunteers and clubs across the six Scottish FA Regions who dedicate their time to grassroots football in their local community.

Craig Milne, a school teacher from Hollybrook Academy Glasgow, has been a major supporter of the Scottish FA school programme since its inception and a driving force within the school to ensure players with a disability have the opportunity to reach their full potential and play the national sport.

Craig runs weekly football classes within Hollybrook and pushes players forward for National Squad selection. Passionate about disability football, he has also volunteered within special Olympics squad Glasgow West, which caters for over 50 footballers per week and has been selected to coach the Great Britain Special Olympics Football Squad in the World Games 2015. Craig goes far and beyond his day job to ensure his students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

During his four years as a PE teacher at John Paul Academy, James Coll has been instrumental in planning, organising and developing the John Paul Soccer Academy for 3rd year pupils, an initiative which is part of the schools Wide Achievement Programme. The academy helps boys and girls whose behaviour, attendance and attitude to schooling is extremely poor by improving their self-belief, confidence and overall performance in school. Mr Coll’s attitude and determination has made the academy a resounding success.

David Richardson started Palace Park FC with his brother and friends with the idea of giving something back to the area they grew up in. They set up the club with three key principles of pride, unity and respect and it is with this ethos the club has grown to over 200 young players in just eight months. David ensures that the club runs for the benefit of the kids, building them as people as well as players. He is always looking for ways to make the club better and his latest mission is to find them a new home.

Amy McDonald is a former Glasgow City & Scotland international. After suffering a bad injury at only 26 years old, Amy has thrown herself into being Glasgow City’s Head of Youth. She dedicates virtually all of her spare time to running the club’s very successful six team youth academy and has pioneered its growth into one of Scotland's finest despite its infancy. She coaches, mentors, organises and drives youth coaches and players to be the best they can whilst enjoying the game they love. She has had a massively positive impact on the club, not to mention the future of Scottish Women's Football.

As winners of a regional Scottish FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Award, they are now in with the chance of winning the national accolade selected by a judging panel of Scottish FA representatives.

The National Awards will be presented to winners at a prestigious ceremony, attended by legends of the game including McDonald’s Head of Scottish Football Kenny Dalglish, held at Hampden Park on September 25th.

McDonald’s Head of Scottish Football, Kenny Dalglish, said: “The Scottish FA and McDonald’s grassroots awards recognise and celebrate the hard work of hundreds of grassroots volunteers across Scotland. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the game, they dedicate countless hours to ensure young players have an opportunity to play and, importantly, enjoy football. It is important that we say thank you to the volunteers and clubs who ensure that grassroots football progresses. I would like to personally thank all of them for their hard work and congratulate them on winning a regional award.”

To find out more about the Scottish FA Grassroots Awards presented by McDonald’s and The Sunday Mail, log on to www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards and follow @2014Grassroots.