SIMON PICKS UP VOLUNTEER AWARD

A BALLYMENA teenager has landed a major national football volunteering award.

Simon Boyd, of Carniny Amateur & Youth FC, has been officially recognised by football legends Pat Jennings, Sir Geoff Hurst and Eric Harrison at the inaugural McDonald’s Irish FA Community Awards.

The club were delighted to hear that Simon Boyd had been awarded ‘Young Volunteer of the Year Award’ at the inaugural Awards this week.

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Simon has been with Carniny Youth since his mini soccer days and played for the club in all age groups up to Under 16 level, moving on to Ballymena United and now at Glentoran.

Simon started his coaching career at an early age and still finds time to coach in the Club’s Football Development Centre and also helps out with some of the club’s eleven-a-side teams. He has also taken the first steps on the referee’s ladder and regularly referee’s mini soccer matches for the club.

In fact Simon is a willing volunteer and is often to be seen at any events that Carniny Youth host in the Borough.

It was a fitting tribute wth Simon being a goal keeper himsef that he received the award from NI Goalkeeping legend Pat Jennnings.

“I’m delighted,” admitted Simon.

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“I didn’t really expect to win the award but I guess I must be doing something right.

“Grassroots football is very important in Ballymena. Even in the last 10 years since I was playing Mini Soccer, it has come on in leaps and bounds.

“In Ballymena there’s the Mini Soccer League and there are events for kids on Friday nights.

“We didn’t have that even 10 years ago - it was once a year at the end of the season, so it has come a long way since then,” added Simon.

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Jim Shaw, President of the Irish FA added: “The Irish FA was delighted to join with McDonald’s in hosting the first ever awards programme for grassroots football in Northern Ireland.

“McDonald’s has been the official Community Partner of the Association since 2002 and have been fantastic in their support of grassroots football during this time.

“The Irish FA invests heavily in the grassroots level throughout Northern Ireland - our five star charter mark from UEFA demonstrates the high standard of our coaching programmes - so it was fitting that together with McDonald’s we recognised all those who do so much for grassroots football locally.”

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