Westdyke FC from Aberdeenshire is celebrating after walking away with a top honour at the ninth Scottish FA Grassroots Awards, presented by McDonald’s and the Sunday Mail.
Westdyke FC were named as Best Community Football Club at the awards ceremony held at Hampden Park on the 27th September. The awards celebrate the efforts of the tireless volunteers and clubs who give their valuable time and effort to provide footballing opportunities in communities across Scotland.
Westdyke FC is a real community club with ties across the local area - founded in 1996 Westdyke FC started with just two teams, sixteen years on and the club fields fourteen teams with over 200 members playing from 5-18 years old each week. Twenty five qualified and dedicated coaches give up their time to coach at the club every week helping the club and the community reach a higher standard of grassroots football. The club also have ties with local primary schools and help out at Westhill Academy, the local secondary school, to ensure that the standard of football in the region remains consistently high.
Scottish legend and McDonald’s Head of Scottish Football, Kenny Dalglish, praised Westdyke FC for their commitment to grassroots football in Scotland: “Football in communities is built on the dedication of clubs like Westdyke FC. Without the hard work and dedication of all the grassroots clubs like Westdyke FC Scottish football simply wouldn’t exist. What the club has accomplished over the past year to help develop football in the community is truly worthy of the recognition Westdyke FC received at the awards ceremony.
Graeme Burnett, club coach added: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Westdyke FC has been awarded Best Community Club at this year’s awards and am honoured to be able to accept this award on the clubs behalf. Over the last decade the club has been able to provide football opportunities to young people across Aberdeenshire and this award is testament to all the hard work and time dedicated by everyone involved to making the club the success that it now is. The award is a fantastic boost for everyone at the club and we’re honoured to have been recognised in this way.”
Dalglish added: “As a long-term supporter of football in Scottish communities, McDonald’s is proud to champion those that give up so much of their time, providing young footballers the opportunity to shine in a fun and friendly environment.”
The ninth Scottish FA Grassroots Awards, presented by McDonald’s and the Sunday Mail were held at Hampden Park on 27th September 2012. The awards cover ten categories including Best Volunteer in Youth Football, Best Community Football Club and McDonald’s Franchisee Community Champion Award.
Over the last 10 years McDonald’s has been committed to raising the standards of grassroots football, working alongside the Scottish FA. McDonald’s now support over 4,500 grassroots clubs, have created over 2,000 new community coaches and have seen the launch of 1,800 new football teams. By 2014 McDonald’s will work with the Scottish FA to encourage the participation of 13,000 new volunteers and 10,000 new coaches in grassroots football across Scotland.