Value of Football

Social Return on Investment

In 2018, Scotland became one of the first countries in Europe to participate in a landmark UEFA study, with the goal of illustrating the unique benefits of football participation nationwide.

Created by European football's governing body, the Strategic Return on Investment (SROI) Model was created to provide National Associations with a tool to understand the value of football participation at all levels. From grassroots and community football clubs to national and government levels, the report aimed to provide tangible evidence of how football can serve to improve the lives of those living within Scottish society.

The model saw experts from educational institutions across Europe assist with the research into the benefits of grassroots participation, including the University of Birmingham and Malmo University.

A regional case study focusing on Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire was also established, allowing for a closer examination of the societal impact of football at a local level.

As a result, the Scottish FA was able to place a monetary value on participation in football for the first time whilst simultaneously highlighting the strength of Scotland's volunteer infrastructure.

The report concluded that the total number of registered players involved in the game are worth over £500m annually to Scotland and if we extend the model to include all participants, grassroots football provided over €1 billion of value to Scottish society the first time such a figure could be accurately attributed to the sport.

Consequently, the findings delivered by the report have provided the Scottish FA with valuable insight into how best to promote participation at all levels moving forward, as the association consistently strives to promote Football For All across Scotland's communities.

2020 UEFA GROW SROI model 

In 2020, a UEFA pilot project selected Ayr United Football Academy and Spartans Community Football Academy to determine their tangible value of their participants and programmes to their respective communities.

The study shows that the pair deliver millions of euros of benefit to their local areas, from savings in health care costs to volunteer programmes and investment in infrastructure.

The UEFA GROW SROI model allows for a monetary value to be placed on mass participation in football across a spectrum of economic, health and social outcomes.

This latest phase of the research shows that Spartans contribute more than €6 million euros in value to the local community, including:

• €2.5 million euros from investment in infrastructure
• €1 million euros in value from volunteering
• €1.5 million euros value in subjective wellbeing
• €170,000 euros in improved mental health
• €100,000 euros in reducing Type I and Type II diabetes

Ayr United, meanwhile, contributed almost €10 million euros in value to the surrounding community, including:

• €4.8 million euros in subjective wellbeing
• More than €500,000 euros in improved mental health
• €275,000 value in tackling dementia
• €250,000 in combatting absences from school
• €350,000 in educational attainment

The model, which is already in the process of being rolled out to other countries across Europe, will now be made available to other community clubs across Scotland, with the intention of creating an online tool that allows clubs to input their own data to calculate their value to the local community.