McDonald’s Thornbury has been named Football Restaurant of the Year, claiming the prize at the annual FA & McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards.
The restaurant, a proud sponsor of City’s disability side, was presented the award at the official ceremony at Wembley Stadium on Sunday August 4 - by England World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst.
The FA & McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards recognise and celebrate the tireless volunteers who dedicate their lives to the grassroots game.
The awards are now in their 10th year, with the team from McDonald’s Thornbury joining a long list of inspirational grassroots football heroes to have scooped the prize.
After five years of McDonald’s sponsorship and funding, Bradford City Disability Football Club has grown from having just one team to over 200 members, ranging from four to 60 years old.
Judges were impressed by the restaurant’s consistent support for the club, from fundraising and travelling all around the UK to support them, to helping raise awareness in the local community.
The team from McDonald’s Thornbury accepted their award from football legend Pat Jennings ahead of the 2019 FA Community Shield.
During the half-time break, Duncan Taylor from the restaurant and Jaimie Dorward from Bradford City Disability FC joined Sir Geoff Hurst on the pitch in front of 77,000 supporters.
Hurst, still the only player to net a hat-trick in a World Cup final, said: "Having been involved with the Grassroots Awards since the beginning, the winning stories never fail to impress me.
"McDonald’s Thornbury should be extremely proud of its work and grassroots football in Bradford is a much better place with McDonald’s Thornbury as part of it.
"It was a pleasure to meet the team from McDonald’s Thornbury and I hope they continue their extraordinary commitment to football for many years to come."
Duncan Taylor, who owns and operates the McDonald’s Thornbury restaurant, said: "It is a huge honour to be named Football Restaurant of the Year.
"I am so proud of the efforts my team put in to support grassroots football, this year.
"They have worked hard to cultivate a great relationship with Bradford City Disability Football Club.
"It has been a pleasure to see them grow from strength to strength and raise the profile of local disability football."
To find out more about all of the 2019 FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Football Award winners, CLICK HERE.