FAW Honours Pembrokeshire Man for His Service to Disability Football in West Wales

Ian Eynon has received the Special Recognition Award at the 2026 FAW & McDonald's Grassroots Football Awards, recognising more than 25 years spent building disability football provision across Pembrokeshire and West Wales.

Eynon's involvement goes well beyond a single role. At Clarbeston Road AFC, he serves as both a trustee and the club's pan-disability coordinator, alongside numerous other voluntary positions he's taken on over the years. He founded the disability section at Clarbeston Road AFC - known as Clarby Warriors - and went on to establish the West Wales Pan Disability League, giving players of every ability a proper structure to compete within. The award comes as he prepares to step back from the role at the end of the current season, closing a career built almost entirely on unpaid, sustained effort.

Clarbeston Road AFC welcomed the news, calling it “richly deserved recognition” for Eynon's commitment to the club over many years. In a message marking the award, the club paid tribute to his longstanding contribution, reflecting just how central his voluntary work has been to the club's identity.

Eynon wasn't the only West Wales winner on the night. Llanelli Town Council was also recognised, named Fun Football Provider of the Year for its delivery of the FAW McDonald's Fun Football programme, which has given young girls from refugee and migrant backgrounds an accessible route into football.

Ron Mounsey, McDonald's franchisee and grassroots football supporter, said both winners reflected the scale of what grassroots football can achieve. “From creating new opportunities for young people from diverse communities to building a lasting legacy for disability football, Llanelli Town Council and Ian Eynon are just two examples of the incredible difference that grassroots football can make,” he said, adding that supporting the sport across Wales was something McDonald's took real pride in.

Full details on McDonald's involvement in grassroots football, including how clubs can get involved, are available at mcdonalds.co.uk/football.