Inspiring success

12 Jun 2017
This Is Premier League: Peter Crouch, Stoke City

A new report by EY has found that Stoke City being in the Premier League has led to impressive social and economic benefits off the pitch.

Stoke City FC will enter its tenth consecutive Premier League season in 2017/18.

The success of the Staffordshire club on the pitch has led to impressive local economic and social benefits off the pitch, with a new report by Ernst & Young (EY) finding that the club contributed £132 million (Gross Value Added) to the economy, and directly contributed £61 million of tax to public finances in 2015/16.

The club's ongoing achievements have enabled it to attract record signings such as Swiss international Xherdan Shaqiri - and meant that Stoke City has continued to grow its fan base and draw more visitors to the area.

The EY report highlights that the region was hit especially hard by the financial crisis of 2008. However, this was the same year that the club was promoted to the Premier League and Stoke City's success has since been described as a 'beacon of hope'.

Filling the stadium each week has also enabled the club to make continued investments in local infrastructure and to expand its Community Trust, which now works with 11,000 local people each year.

State of the art Academy and training facilities have been built and ongoing development of the stadium includes improved facilities for disabled supporters, as well as filling in corners to increase capacity to beyond 30,000.

Tony Scholes, Chief Executive of Stoke City FC, believes the virtuous circle of the Premier League has a positive impact across the board.

"Our Premier League status has allowed continued investment in the club's future and the region," he said. "Stoke City supporters play a key role in our success and we prioritise our work in local communities. We are proud to be freezing season ticket prices for the tenth consecutive season."

Over the last 15 years, Premier League funding via the Football Foundation and Football Stadia Improvement Fund, has contributed to 99 projects worth a total of £25m to the Region.

These projects focus on improving community sports facilities and football club infrastructure in the lower divisions of football.

David Sidaway, City Director, City of Stoke-on-Trent, believes the role Stoke City FC has played in the health of the local area should not be under-estimated, "Having a Premier League club in the city really puts us on the map and means the city is talked about globally.

"A strong international profile is crucial in attracting mobile investment."

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