McDonald's Fun Football Returns to Northern Ireland: Spring 2024

The highly anticipated McDonald's Fun Football programme is making its return across Northern Ireland, offering free football sessions for children aged 5-8 in partnership with the Irish FA Foundation.

Programme Overview

Free Four-Week Sessions The programme delivers structured football activities across twelve venues in Northern Ireland, providing children their first taste of football in an inclusive, fun-filled environment. Our online booking system makes registration simple and straightforward for parents.

Venue Schedule 2024

Ulster University Jordanstown: Starting 3 March
Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen: Starting 16 March
Brook Activity Centre, Dunmurry: 18 March - 8 April
Avoniel Leisure Centre, East Belfast: 30 March - 20 April
Bangor Aurora: 1-22 April
Abbey GS Newry: 21 March - 11 April
Ballymena Showgrounds: 27 April - 18 May
Roe Valley Leisure Centre: 26 April - 17 May
Bishop's Field Sports Centre, Derry-Londonderry: 26 April - 17 May
Hillsborough Village Centre: 4-25 May
Maghera Leisure Centre: 4-25 May
Tandragee Leisure Centre: 5-26 May

Programme Impact

The McDonald's Fun Football initiative has achieved remarkable success in Northern Ireland, with detailed statistics available.

Over 75,000 children have participated
250,000 hours of coaching delivered
Exceeded UK-wide target of 5 million hours ahead of schedule
Additional 1.5 million hours committed for the coming year

Expert Endorsement

"Fun Football introduces children and families from all communities and backgrounds across Northern Ireland to interactive coaching sessions and events. Young boys and girls can learn about our great game in a fun, relaxed and inclusive environment."

Pat Jennings, McDonald's Fun Football Ambassador and Northern Ireland goalkeeping legend

Booking Information

How to Register

Parents can secure their child's place through our streamlined booking process.

Visit Pitchbooking's Irish FA Partnership Page
Select your preferred venue and dates
Complete the registration process

FAQs

Who can participate? Children aged 5-8 years old

What is the cost? All sessions are completely free of charge

What should children bring?

Comfortable sportswear
Water bottle
Weather-appropriate clothing
Football boots (recommended but not required)

How long are the sessions? Each programme runs for four weeks with weekly sessions

Partnership Success

The collaboration between McDonald's, the Irish Football Association, and Pitchbooking demonstrates a successful model for grassroots sports development. The programme utilises Pitchbooking's innovative booking platform to streamline registration and venue management, ensuring efficient programme delivery across Northern Ireland. Learn more about our venue management solutions and how we support large-scale sporting initiatives.

Need Help? Visit our comprehensive Knowledge Centre for detailed guides and support documentation.