“This club has proven that football can be a space for healing, inclusion, and expression,” said Dublin Lord Mayor Emma Blain yesterday at the launch of Bohemian FC’s launched new Social Responsibility and Impact Report. “Sport at its best builds the social fabric of our communities, and Bohemians are leading that movement in Ireland.”

The report, titled “Far More Than Just a Football Club”, was produced in collaboration with Whitebarn Consulting and provides a quantified, evidence-based evaluation of the club’s social, cultural, and environmental impact.

Spanning a six-year period from 2018 to 2023, the study presents a compelling case for football as more than just what happens on the pitch, but as an engine for good within the community in which it is rooted.

“We strive to be a force for good both on and off the pitch,” says COO Dan Lambert in the forward to the report.

“Now we have a valuable foundation on which to continue to track and record our impact beyond league tables.”

“As the club looks forward to an imminent full redevelopment of Dalymount Park and all the opportunities that it will present to us, it is more important than ever that we deliver for our shared communities and wider society.”

 

The Social Return on Investment

Independent consultant Sandra Velthuis of Whitebarn Consulting, who authored the report, candidly admitted she began the project with little passion for football. “If anything, I tried to turn it down,” she said. “But I couldn’t ignore the evidence.” What she found was a club with extraordinary reach both in the lives it touches and the range of programmes it runs.

An investment over the six years in running the club and its initiatives amounted to somewhere in the region of €20 million, but that generated an estimated social value of €51 million

“Significant social value has been created for thousands who engage directly with the club from first team plato street league participants and from children with disabilities to older fans,” said Velthuis.

“Health benefits, skills development, social inclusion, and improved future prospects were among the most commonly cited outcomes.”

“An increasingly diverse and emotionally connected fan base was another key driver of social value.”

The report did not shy away from challenges either, highlighting the risks of overstretching resources and the need for continued volunteer support. Yet, the overall picture was one of resilience, innovation, and tangible impact.

“We’re working with people from all walks of life—many of whom don’t even follow football,” said Amy Carmichael, Head of Community.

“But we see it every day: football brings people together.”

 

Climate Justice

The club also continues to pioneer on the environmental front. Sean McCabe, Bohemians’ Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability, revealed the club’s multifaceted approach to making the green transition equitable and accessible.

He spoke of a proposed new “Clean Air Champions League” in partnership with other European clubs, monitoring urban air quality, and a soon-to-be-launched climate cooperative aimed at giving fans and residents financial and democratic control over the green transition.

“The real crisis isn’t just climate,” Sean noted. “It’s affordability. If people are struggling with bills today, how can we ask them to prepare for tomorrow? That’s where Bohemians, and football more broadly, can play a role—by building economies of scale for change.”

A Club of the City, For the City
Testimonials from school teachers, parents and children from local Paradise Place school, as well as neighbouring GAA Club Na Fianna underscored how Bohemians’ impact ripples across educational, sporting, and civic life.

Jim McElroy, a member of Bohemians’ Pride Committee, captured the club’s inclusive spirit: “When I first saw the pride flag flying at Dalymount, I was so moved. This club has always led by example.”

“We’ve always known our community work had value,” concluded Bohs President Matt Devaney.

“Now we have a report to prove it. As we prepare for a new stadium and a new era, our vision remains the same—to be a force for good, for everyone.”

 

Further Reading for Sport for Business members:

Check out Sport for Business coverage of  Sport for Social Good

 

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

This is a powerful playbook on how sport can reach byond the day to day business of winning matches and make a lasting impact in the lives of the community around them and much further afield.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

The report runs to 46 pages and we will be dipping in and out over the course of the coming weeks and months to highlight more of the areas of impact, leading up to our 2025 Sport for Social Good Conference in partnership with Allianz in October.  To find out more about this and get involved contact rob@sportforbusiness.com.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS

Bohemians, the FAI and the League of Ireland  are among the 300+ members of the Sport for Business community, which includes all of the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies, individuals interested in our world, and an increasing number from beyond these shores taking a keen interest in Ireland.  

Find out more about becoming a member today.

Get the full benefit of a Sport for Business membership by joining us at one of our upcoming events, where sporting and business leadership come together.

Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.

Sign up for our News Bulletins here.