Meet the amazing people honoured in our 2020 Grassroots Football Awards

The FAW & McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards celebrate the amazing efforts of grassroots football volunteers, across Wales, who go the extra mile to support their communities.

The awards, launched in March by former Wales star John Hartson, featured mix of categories which reflect the huge range of roles that volunteers play.

In 2020, our People's Award (Grassroots Football Story) received an unprecedented amount of public votes and the winner was Garmon Edwards-Jones, from Denbighshire.

Garmon joins a long list of inspirational grassroots volunteers who have been recognised by the awards programme. 

The youngster joined Kinmel Bay FC's Visually Impaired Group when he was five years old.

During four seasons spent at Kinmel Bay, Garmon learned to love football and, through his patience and dedication, became more confident at mastering skills.

From the start he was determined that he would be in a position to, one-day, to play mainstream football.

Mae Gwobrau Pêl-droed ar Lawr Gwlad Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru a McDonald's yn dathlu ymdrechion anhygoel gwirfoddolwyr pêl-droed ar lawr gwlad, ledled Cymru, sy'n mynd yr ail filltir i gefnogi eu cymunedau lleol.

Mae'r gwobrau, a lansiwyd ym mis Mawrth gan gyn-seren Cymru, John Hartson, yn cynnwys cymysgedd eang o gategorïau sy'n adlewyrchu'r ystod enfawr o swyddogaethau mae gwirfoddolwyr yn eu chwarae.

Yn 2020 cafodd Gwobr y Bobl (Stori Pêl-droed ar Lawr Gwlad) nifer digynsail o bleidleisiau cyhoeddus a'r enillydd oedd Garmon Edwards-Jones, o Sir Ddinbych.

Mae Garmon yn ymuno â rhestr hir o wirfoddolwyr ysbrydoledig ar lawr gwlad sydd wedi cael eu cydnabod gan y rhaglen wobrwyo.

Ymunodd y g?r ifanc yma â Gr?p Nam ar y Golwg Clwb Pêl-droed Bae Cinmel pan oedd yn bum mlwydd oed. Yn ystod y pedwar tymor a dreuliodd yng Nghlwb Pêl-droed Bae Cinmel, dysgodd Garmon yr holl dechnegau pêl-droed a thrwy ei amynedd a'i ymroddiad daeth yn fwy hyderus wrth feistroli sgiliau. O'r dechrau roedd yn benderfynol y byddai mewn sefyllfa rhyw ddiwrnod i chwarae pêl-droed prif ffrwd.

Now 12 years old, he plays as a central holding midfielder in an 11 a-side team. At times he still encounters problems seeing and gauging the ball when it’s in the air, however, because of his dedication to overcome issues presented to him he is considered as one of the most competent players in his team. It has taken a number of years for Garmon to adapt and master the game but the outcome he has achieved is incredible.

Garmon was judged alongside the other regional winners from the Best Grassroots Football Story of the Year 2020 category and was told of his victory in a private video call with Wales international Tom Lockyer. 

Mae bellach yn 12 oed ac yn chwarae fel chwaraewr canol cae cynnal mewn tîm 11 bob ochr. Ar adegau mae'n dal i gael problemau gyda gweld a mesur y bêl pan fydd yn yr awyr, fodd bynnag, oherwydd ei ymroddiad i oresgyn unrhyw broblemau mae’n eu hwynebu, mae’n cael ei ystyried fel un o'r chwaraewyr mwyaf cymwys yn ei dîm. Mae wedi cymryd nifer o flynyddoedd i Garmon addasu a meistroli'r gêm ond mae'r canlyniad mae wedi'i gyflawni’n anhygoel.

Cafodd Garmon ei feirniadu ochr yn ochr â'r enillwyr rhanbarthol eraill o gategori Stori Pêl-droed ar Lawr Gwlad Orau'r Flwyddyn 2020 a chafodd wybod am ei fuddugoliaeth drwy alwad fideo breifat gyda Tom Lockyer, chwaraewr rhyngwladol Cymru.

Jayne Ludlow, Wale’s Womens National Team Manager, said: “It’s been a really difficult year for the whole country, but I’m so pleased we’re able to recognise and celebrate the volunteers who go above and beyond to have a positive impact on their local communities. The tireless work of volunteers like Garmon Edwards-Jones is what keeps the game going. Garmon should be extremely proud of all their achievements and grassroots football in Wales is in a much better place with them being a part of it.”

Dywedodd Jayne Ludlow, Rheolwr Tîm Cenedlaethol Merched Cymru: "Mae wedi bod yn flwyddyn anodd iawn i'r wlad gyfan, ond rydw i'n falch iawn ein bod ni’n gallu cydnabod a dathlu'r gwirfoddolwyr sy'n mynd yr ail filltir i gael effaith gadarnhaol ar eu cymunedau lleol.

"Gwaith diflino gwirfoddolwyr fel Garmon Edwards-Jones sy'n cynnal y gêm. Dylai Garmon fod yn eithriadol falch o’i holl gyflawniadau ac mae pêl-droed ar lawr gwlad yng Nghymru mewn lle llawer gwell gan ei fod ef yn rhan o’r byd yma.”