This year, the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 tournament kicked off in Holland on the 16th July and will continue until 6th August. It is the perfect opportunity during the summer holidays to celebrate the game and get the children involved. Ms C loves a kick about in the garden but is reluctant to take it any further because none of her friends play football. However, with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 tournament underway in The Netherlands, this is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the game and inspire the children to get involved. Have you and your family been watching it? We’ve been supporting England and hope they can go all the way!
Did you know that McDonald’s is one of the key sponsors of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 tournament? McDonald’s UK is the longest standing supporter of grassroots football in the UK and this year they celebrate the 15th anniversary of its community programme.
Through this programme, McDonald’s has helped recruit and train more than 30,000 coaches and helped over 7,000 clubs achieve their Club Accreditation, raising standards across the country. McDonald’s has also provided over 230,000 free kits to accredited clubs, recognised hundreds of volunteers via its Community Awards, provided much needed equipment to local clubs through its franchisees, and this summer will host dozens of Community Football Days at grassroots clubs, to encourage youngsters to get active and participate in the game. McDonald’s has consistently promoted a ‘football for all’ approach to community football, encouraging children and young adults to play and enjoy football, regardless of gender or disability.
Since its inception in 2002, the McDonald’s Player Escort programme has provided thousands of boys and girls with the chance to stand beside football superstars and experience the roar of the crowd first hand. For more information on this community programme, please click the link to find out more here.
Mr C and Mr K have long been big fans of football and Ms C also loves playing football with them. Whenever we have a spare weekend, they will all be in the garden kicking a football around or playing badminton.
Mr C loves showing them all the different tricks you can do with the football with ‘keepy uppies’ and getting both kids to try it. Does your daughter play football or does she want to? Ms C certainly loves playing together as a family!
Yesterday, it was the England vs Portugal game and they all were getting cosy and ready to watch the match together. This is a great opportunity for young girls to be inspired by professional sportswomen.
England made 10 changes to the team from the team that played Spain earlier in the week. There were no issues with a lack of cohesion though as England took the lead when Duggan scored after just 7 minutes and we thought this might become a rout. However, Portugal settled into the first half and capitalised on England’s sloppy play, with Mendes equalising after 17 minutes. After half time, England played better and any nerves were quickly settled by a goal from Parris after 48 minutes. The game finished 2-1 and now England will face France on Sunday in the quarter finals!
We don’t always get a chance to sit together to watch a football match. I am so glad that this tournament is held during the summer holidays in the evening, where we were all able to watch it together.
How does your family spend time together to watch football? Do you all get your face painted with your nation’s flag or dress in your nation’s colours?
As I am the youngest in the family, I used to follow my dad wherever he went. I always remember how my dad got me into watching football by bringing me to a stadium to watch it live. I remember the atmosphere and energy made it so much fun and exciting to watch live! Currently, we don’t have the leisure to get both children to watch live in the stadium but we get them together to watch it live with us on the big screen instead. Ms C is definitely interested to play football together as a family to keep fit! And I can’t wait to find out more about the local community football sessions and get them on the McDonald’s Player Escort programme! Best to sign on to their newsletter to get their news!
Do check out McDonald’s Football Ambassador Casey Stoney’s training masterclass on receiving for beginners on the McDonald’s YouTube channel!
Disclosure: This is a collaboration post.