By KLTV Newsdesk –

New assessment highlights grassroots club’s impact on young people, volunteers, families and the wider community

Linthwaite Football Club has published a new evidence-based social value assessment showing the club generates an estimated £1.27 million in annual social, economic and health value for the Kirklees community.

The assessment, produced through Proof of Play, found that every £1 invested in the club delivers an estimated £1.39 in social value back into the local area.

Founded in 1984, the club now supports 406 players, including 332 young people, across multiple age groups.

Affiliated with West Riding FA, Linthwaite FC also holds England Football Accredited 3 Star status.

More Than Football

The report identifies the club’s greatest impact as the wellbeing benefits created through regular participation in structured sport.

Football provides young people with opportunities to build confidence, friendships, discipline, resilience and routine, benefits that extend well beyond the pitch.

But the assessment also shines a light on the scale of volunteer commitment underpinning the club’s success.

Linthwaite FC is supported by 78 volunteers who collectively contribute an estimated 21,528 hours each year. the equivalent of more than ten full-time members of staff.

The report values that volunteer contribution at £448,000 annually, taking into account both the replacement cost of volunteer time and the wellbeing benefits volunteering creates for those involved.

James Carter, Club Secretary at Linthwaite Football Club, said: “Seventy-eight volunteers. Every week, they give up their evenings and weekends – coaching, refereeing, running the bar, keeping the lights on.

“The assessment values their contribution at £448,000 a year. I’m not sure that surprises anyone who knows this club. But seeing it written down in black and white is something else.”

Evidence Behind the Impact

The assessment was created using Proof of Play, a social value calculator developed by the Football Mental Health Alliance to help grassroots clubs demonstrate the value they already provide within their communities.

Danny Matharu, founder of the Football Mental Health Alliance and creator of Proof of Play, said: “Grassroots clubs like Linthwaite FC are often described as valuable, but they’re rarely given the evidence to prove it. That’s what Proof of Play is designed to change.

“Linthwaite FC isn’t just running football teams. It is creating wellbeing, structure, belonging, volunteer opportunities, and community value every single week.

“When a club in a place like Linthwaite can show £1.27 million of annual social value, it changes the conversation with funders, councils, sponsors and local partners.

“This is exactly the kind of club that deserves to be seen properly.”

Supporting a Community Facing Inequality

Linthwaite FC operates within an area ranked IMD Decile 7. Grassroots sports clubs often play a significant role, helping young people stay active and connected, providing trusted environments for families, and offering adults meaningful opportunities to volunteer and contribute locally.

Proof of Play uses nationally recognised social value methodologies, including HM Treasury’s WELLBY approach and Sport England’s Year 2 Social Value Model.

The final figure includes a 40% deadweight adjustment to account for benefits that may otherwise have occurred elsewhere without the club’s involvement.

Even after this adjustment, Linthwaite FC’s annual social value is estimated at £1.27 million.

Hidden Challenges Within Grassroots Football

The assessment also highlights the often unseen support responsibilities carried by grassroots clubs.

Using national prevalence data, the report estimates that around 57 players at the club may be neurodivergent, while approximately 81 players are statistically likely to experience a mental health difficulty during the season.

While these figures are not diagnoses, they illustrate the level of pastoral and community responsibility many grassroots clubs now manage, often with limited funding, restricted resources and a heavy dependence on volunteers.

Building a Stronger Case for Future Support

For Linthwaite FC, Club officials believe the report provides a practical evidence base for future discussions with funders, sponsors, governing bodies and local stakeholders.

James added: “If you’re a volunteers-only football club in a place like Linthwaite, nobody hands you a grant just because you’ve been here since 1984. You have to make the case.

“What Proof of Play has done is give us the evidence to make that case properly – to the County FA, to funders, to the council.

“We’ve always known what this club means to this community. Now we can say it.”

The club’s Proof of Play data will also contribute to wider regional social value reporting through West Riding FA’s aggregated insights, helping demonstrate the broader contribution grassroots football makes across the region.