McDonald’s Renews FA Sponsorship

McDonald’s has renewed its sponsorship agreement with The Football Association for a further four years with the reported £10m deal setting ambitious targets to raise standards and increase participation across every aspect of English grassroots football.

Over the next four years, the new partnership will see The FA and McDonald’s focusing on achieving specific targets to support 200,000 coaches and 400,000 volunteers through the McDonald’s and FA networks.

The partnership will also work towards the objective of ensuring that 75% of all youth clubs are awarded FA Charter Standard status – which in turn will help to deliver 150 Charter Standard Leagues before the end of 2014.

As The FA’s Community Partner for the last eight years, McDonald’s has helped drive the training and recruitment of over 10,000 community coaches and one in four of its restaurants supports a local football club through the restaurant and club-twinning programme launched earlier this year.

The new partnership will focus on improving standards at grassroots level to help those coaches play an even greater role in their local communities through The FA Charter Standard League programme.

McDonald’s will also continue as the presenting partner of The FA Community Shield and will work with The FA to make the weekend into a celebration of grassroots football as the new 2010/11 season kicks-off.

McDonald’s will continue to reward clubs and volunteers with tickets to the event to thank them for their contribution to the game.

The FA Charter Standard League kitemark award recognises quality leagues which deliver The FA’s wide-ranging Respect programme and creating more opportunities for more players to play the game.

The FA Charter Standard League programme assesses the ability of leagues to provide a high-quality, safe, and enjoyable experience.  It also encourages leagues to continuously improve through ongoing support from County FA staff.

The FA and McDonald’s aim to give high-profile recognition for the tens of thousands of volunteers who make the sport happen at the grassroots level every day over the next four years.

McDonald’s will also partner The FA’s education arm, FA Learning, providing education, mentoring and membership schemes across grassroots football.