Coleen Meets Dedicated Football Mums For McDonald's Mum Of The Year Award 2017

Visiting Mossley Hill Athletic FC Under 10’s boys team in Merseyside, Liverpool, Coleen Rooney met some of the hardworking mums who go above and beyond, sacrificing their own free time for the sake of grassroots football and their own football-mad children.

As mum in one of the UK’s most famous footballing households, Coleen knows first hand the sacrifices family and friends have to make. She was meeting the women as part of her work judging the 2017 McDonald’s Football Mum of the Year award.

She said: “Having kids now we’re pretty much busy I’d say four nights a week and then the games on Saturday and training on Sunday so it is literally, near enough, every day.

“In Liverpool that’s your typical family. Everyone’s a football fan."

Julie Boden, 39, from Liverpool, has always loved football but since bringing up her two football-mad sons, Julie admits the game now takes up most of her life. The mum-of three is Club Secretary for Dynamo Childwall FC (eldest son Jack’s club) and Parent Liaison at Mossley Hill FC Under 10’s team (middle child Louis’ club).

Aside from chauffeuring her two sons between training and tournaments, Everton-fan Julie hits the gym three to four times a week, and also finds time to arrange the club’s subs, kit and tournaments.

She said: “Being a football mum takes up about 75% of my life. For me I just like getting stuck in at every level of the club. Be it collecting all the club member season subscriptions, ordering kits, organising training, tournaments, end of season day outs and festive holiday day outs.

I am just the sort of person that likes to take the reins and if the kids are smiling, happy and enjoying it, then I’ll be there no matter what.”

The Boden Household is split in two with Julie and Louis both Everton season ticket-holders, while husband Colin and Jack support Liverpool (daughter Gracie is the only family member not to like football).

In Julie’s words, “it makes for good fun that way” and if anything Julie is more likely to get riled up when her sons are playing than from the stands of Goodison Park.

“I would never miss the boys’ matches, even when it’s raining. I’ve got my full kit in the car boot: golf umbrellas, wellies, my waterproof, fold up chair and blanket.”

Julie’s dedication to grassroots football means she always puts the game and her kids before herself.

“If I’m going out on a Saturday, I won’t let me hair down as I have to get up early on a Sunday. I always make sure whatever I’m doing the kids lives will carry on as normal.”

Turning 40 this summer, Julie will even delay her birthday celebrations because of football: “I’m going to a football tournament on my 40th!”

Her sacrifices haven’t gone unnoticed though with the coach of Mossley Hill Under 10s ready to nominate Julie for the Football Mum of the Year.

Coach Chris Melling said: “We will definitely nominate Julie. Without Julie the club would really struggle to survive.

“She arranges everything for us and makes sure it works like clockwork.”

Joanne Eustace, 35, also from Liverpool is a fellow football mum who has gone from being a sofa fan of Liverpool FC to walking the touchline for son Charlie’s tournaments and practice.

The mum of four runs her own business with partner Damien who she had two-year-old William with.
Joanne has three older children, including football-obsessed Charlie and two older daughters.

Joanne said: “Every now and then the girls will say ‘we haven’t seen you!’ because Charlie is at football four or five days a week.”

Thanks to her business, Joanne has also been able to buy Charlie’s team hoodies and because she often works from home she’s able to get stuck in with the busy timetable.

The mum of four says the community atmosphere of grassroots football is what makes it so special: “Having a two-year-old, he can pick up so many illnesses but if I can’t get Charlie to practice I know one of the other mums will be able to help – we are all so supportive.”

Both Joanne and Julie met Coleen at McDonald’s launch of its 2017 Football Mum of the Year award.

Julie said: “She was lovely and was just sharing about her kids and you realised a lot of what she does for her kids is the same as us.“

McDonald’s has been involved in grassroots football for the past 15 years and the awards have returned for the third year with people across the UK encouraged to nominate who they think is a deserving football mum.

Coleen added: “It’s brilliant to be a part of this amazing campaign for the third year running. I get to hear so many inspirational stories of mums across the UK doing incredible things to keep kids playing football.

“Obviously football plays a huge part in our home so I know the effort needed just to get youngsters organised and to training on time. I have so much respect for these mums who are taking their involvement in football to another level all to help the game.”

The awards are looking to celebrate those mums committed to keeping grassroots football alive by selflessly dedicating countless hours of their spare time; whether it’s qualifying as coaches, managing the club finances, helping to run their child’s local team or even starting a local team simply so their children and their friends can play.

Joining Coleen on the judging panel for the awards is sports presenter, and mum-of-two, Jacqui Oatley MBE and McDonald’s Head of Women’s and Girl’s Football and England and Liverpool Ladies defender Casey Stoney.

One winner will be crowned in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales with the UK winner going to a special awards ceremony at Wembley Stadium. Coleen and Casey will be present at the awards ceremony at Wembley Stadium, held before the 2017 FA Community Shield, sponsored by McDonald’s.

Nominations for the 2017 McDonald’s Football Mum of the Year open on Wednesday 15 March and close on Sunday 30 April. To nominate a deserving football mum go to: www.mcdonalds.co.uk/awards