During half-time at the Apollon Limassol match at Pittodrie last Thursday this year’s Scottish FA North region Grassroots Award winners were presented with their awards by McDonald’s and the Sunday Mail.
Norman Mackay was presented with the Volunteer of the Year in Adult Football Award for his work with Dyce Juniors FC.
Norman has served in junior football for well over 50 years and has selflessly done almost every job possible during his time at Mugiemoss Juniors and Dyce Football Club, as well as serving on the North Region Football Association Executive Committee and Scottish Junior Football Association.
Alun Harries was awarded Volunteer of the Year in Girls and Women’s Football for his work with Westdyke Community Club. Alun has played a pivotal role in growing the girls and women’s game and has made a huge difference to the development at Westdyke.
He has worked hard to affiliate Dee Vale Ladies to Westdyke, insuring the players have a pathway in the local area to continue to play and enjoy football.
For many years Alun has been instrumental in growing the girls game not only within Westdyke Community Club but across the North Region and beyond.
He has worked tirelessly to ensure the clubs structure has been put in place to now have a full pathway from the youngest girls in primary school, through to the Ladies team.
RGU Sport was presented with the Best Community Football for All Project Award for RGU Streetsport, the charitable arm of RGU Sport.
They devote thousands of hours every year voluntarily driving to hotspots in Aberdeen where criminal and uncivil behaviour exist and roll out a mobile playing surface for children to play football, hockey or basketball for free.
Since starting the project there has been a notable downturn in the type of behaviour which ruins neighbourhoods and ties up resources from the police and fire brigade.
The group have also managed to locate the first ever Cruyff Court in Scotland in Aberdeen.
The Best Disability Project Award was presented to the Grampian Strikers for their work with those living with mental health conditions.
The Quality Marked football group was primarily set up to provide a safe and comfortable environment for those living with mental health conditions such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and major depressive or anxiety disorders.
Almost 100 people have used the group since its establishment, with some members still involved from the start. Many of the group’s previous members have moved on to employment, study and developed their own independent living.
This joint venture is organised and coordinated by staff from NHS Grampian and Aberdeenshire Council and supported by Aberdeen FC Community Trust.
The team play in regular Scottish FA Mental Health fixtures and most recently travelled to the Netherlands to take part in the EASI Cup, where they won the tournament.
The winners will go on to represent the region in the national awards at Hampden with their nomination put forward to the national judging panel, which includes Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish.
The awards are a symbol of the great and regular work that occurs across the North Region through the network of the committed, enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers, the Scottish FA North Region Development staff and the full-time Scottish FA Community Coaches based at Aberdeen FC Community Trust.
On behalf of everyone at Aberdeen FC – we look forward to what ought to be another great year in the community and we wish the national nominees all the very best for the event at Hampden Park in September.
