Castlederg club wins £1,000 sports grant

FIVE local sports clubs, including St Patrick's Football Club in Castlederg, have each been awarded £1,000 through the Hafner's Sausages Sports Fund 2025.

The £5,000 initiative supports grassroots teams and community groups across Northern Ireland, helping people stay active, connected, and healthy.

The four other recipients of the £1000 Hafner's Sports Grant are North Down Softball Club in Bangor, Alliance Amateur Swimming Club in Belfast, Redmond O'Hanlon's GAC in Poyntzpass, and Enniskillen Rangers Football Club.

Now in its second year, the fund highlights the power of sport to unite communities, promote wellbeing, and inspire participation at every level.

Sarah Harvey, senior brand manager at Arthur Mallon Foods, owner of Hafner's Sausages, said: "Having spent over 20 years as a coach in grassroots sport, I've seen firsthand how local clubs like St Patrick's Football Club can transform communities.

"This year's response to the Hafner's Sports Fund was incredible and choosing just five winners was no easy task for our judging panel."

For the past 12 years, St Patrick's Football Club, Castlederg, has served as a vital community hub, a place where children, young people and adults come together not only to play football but to build friendships, confidence, and essential life skills.

Aaron McNamee, committee member and senior coach, St Patrick's Football Club, said: "With more than 120 active members, the club offers coaching from under-8s through to senior level and has seen rapid growth in girls' and women's participation.

"Our work goes beyond football itself, particularly through our partnership with TAMHI (Tackling Awareness of Mental Health Issues), using sport as a platform to support emotional wellbeing, resilience, and self-esteem.

"This support from Hafner's Sausages means so much to everyone at St Patrick's.

"It allows us to upgrade our training equipment and deliver even better, more engaging sessions for players of all ages.

"Grassroots football is about more than just the game, it's about belonging, confidence, and wellbeing, and this grant will help us strengthen those values across our community."

Sarah added: "Hafner's has always cared about nourishing our communities in more ways than one; with the Hafner's Sports Fund, we are giving back to local clubs that make a real difference to people's lives.

"These are the places where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and future generations are inspired, and we're proud to support them."

The £5,000 Hafner's Sports Fund is part of the brand's wider commitment to supporting local communities and good causes across Northern Ireland.

Specifically, the Sports Fund celebrates the volunteers and leaders who foster teamwork, inclusion, and wellbeing through grassroots sport.