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23 November 2009

With support from the European Union, Community Relations Council, Pobal and Belfast City Council, the IFA hosted a memorable Football For All Unsung Hero Awards Night in the Great Hall at Belfast City Hall on Saturday 21st November. Charismatic Football For All Ambassador Colin Murray hosted the prestigious event which recognises the Football Volunteers who promote respect through Football and make such meaningful contributions to the community.

Also there to show their support for the IFA’s Football For All campaign and the valuable work of the Unsung Heroes who support Football For All, were Northern Ireland Manager, Nigel Worthington, Belfast Lord Mayor and Football For All Government Champion, Naomi Long, Chief Executive of the Community Relations Council, Dr Duncan Morrow, Belfast Celtic Legend, Jimmy Jones, Rugby Legend and Northern Ireland Football Fan Trevor Ringland MBE and former international Player, Philip Mulryne.

Football For All Unsung Hero Award Winners 2009:

Inaugural FFA Legend Award – Belfast Celtic Legend, Jimmy Jones

FFA Unsung Hero Awards:

1. Crusaders FC’s Mark Langhammer (for visionary cross community work)
2. World United Manager Paul Moffett (for innovative anti-racism work)
3. Lisburn Distillery FC’s Mr. Paul Kalla (for outstanding domestic community relations work)
4. Newtownabbey Striker FC’s Stephen Calvert (for outstanding contribution to women’s football)
5. Moyola Park’s Jillian Lennox (for outstanding contribution to football as an unsung hero)
6. Ballymena’s Billy O’Flaherty (for inspirational community relations work)
7. Special Olympics Ulster’sDeclan O’Neill (for outstanding contribution to disability football)

FFA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER 2009 St Oliver Plunkett’s Jackie Maxwell

Speaking at the end of the night an inspired Northern Ireland Manager, Nigel Worthington, said, “Football For All gives us all a shared and common goal, to make the sport of football more fun, safe and inclusive. Football For All unites the football family in Northern Ireland and it is an honour for me to support this event”.

Nigel Worthington, IFA CEO, Patrick Nelson and IFA President, Raymond Kennedy congratulate Jimmy Jones on his Football For All Legend Award

An emotional Jimmy Jones, commented, “I had a fantastic night and it meant a great deal to me and my family to receive a surprise award”.

St Oliver Plunkett’s Jackie Maxwell, added, “I am surprised and delighted to receive the FFA Lifetime Achievement Award. Football is a big part of my life and to have this recognition from the Football Community is very rewarding”.

Jackie Maxwell celebrates his 75^th Birthday receiving the Football For All Lifetime Achievement Award from former international Player Philip Mulryne

Football For All Ambassador, Colin Murray, summed up his feeling on hosting his third annual FFA Awards, “It just gets better and better very year. The Football For All Awards mean so much to people because they are focused on the most important people in Football the Volunteers who give so much to the community. These Awards are like a family event and I cannot wait to volunteer to support it all over again next year!”

Football For All Ambassador and Host, Colin Murray with Football For All Volunteer Angela McKibben

Note to Editor

Information on Award Winners

• Football For All Legend Award Winner - Jimmy Jones:

Born in Keady County Armagh
Moved to Lurgan area.    
Came to prominence when he was playing for Shankill Young Men
Had been on Linfield’s books for a while, but they didn’t retain him even though he scored a hat trick for them in one match
Joined Belfast Celtic after  Lish Scott, the Celtic manager watched him score six goals for Shankill Young Men.

In 1947/48 season scored 40 goals in a sequence of 31 victories in a row by Belfast Celtic. The team’s overall tally during that period was 120.

In season 1948/49, Jones had already scored 30 goals in 20 matches when he was attacked by a mob at the end of Linfield vs Belfast Celtic match as he left the pitch at Windsor Park.     Only the skill of surgeon Jimmy Withers prevented his right leg being amputated.

By the time Jones recovered from the injuries Celtic had withdrawn from Irish football.

As part of his rehabilitation, Jones had been attending a clinic in Harley Street while training with Fulham.   

Returned home after there were objections to his registration with the London club.  

Returned to playing at the Irish League where he continued his goal scoring feats with Glenavon. His total of 484 league goals remains unbeaten. Add to that the goals he notched up in cup competitions and his career total goes beyond 600+

Was capped for Northern Ireland and once scored a hat trick for the Irish League in the 5-3 defeat of the English League.

Jimmy Jones is the honorary president of the Belfast Celtic Society

• Football For All Lifetime Achievement Award Winner – Jackie Maxwell

Jackie Maxwell has been involved in youth football for more than 50 years.  A founding member of St Oliver Plunkett Boys Club, he has overseen the development of one of the most progress Boys clubs in Northern Ireland.  Hailing from West Belfast, St Oliver Plunkett provide training and match opportunities for teams from U-9 right up to Senior level, and provide an outlet for the youths from Lenadoon. surrounding areas, and even farther afield at the moment the opportunity to not only develop football skills, but develop many positive personal and social attributes.

Some of the players off Jackie’s production line include Northern Ireland Internationals Jim Magilton and Phil Mulryne, with many other going on to grace the Irish and Amateur leagues.  St Oliver Plunkett players also make up a steady number of the IFA centre of excellence age groups.

Every Sunday morning without fail you can find Jackie down at their Lenadoon pitch presiding over the next generation of players and on the lookout for the next Jim Magilton.  He oversees the clubs hugely successful Mini Soccer programme with on average 100 6 -11 year old players regularly turning up to enjoy the craic at what many term ‘Jackie’s Football’.

I will need to check but I believe Jackie is well into his 70’s but still turns up religiously to training, matches and the children’s Mini Soccer programme with the same enthusiasm, passion that he has had for many years.