Listen to Liam Scully, CEO of Lincoln City, talk with the English Football League (EFL) about the important relationship between the club and the city.
When Scully talks about the interdependence between the club and local commerce, he is highlighting one of the IEP’s Pillars of Positive Peace: Sound Business Environment. Particularly on match days, the club drives footfall to local shops and restaurants, serving as an economic engine for the community’s financial health. Moreover, the club plays a role in maintaining social rituals and “soft social interactions” — which is related to another pillar: Good Relations with Neighbours.
In relation to another global agenda for development and peace, such mobilization efforts discussed by Scully align directly with a few Sustainable Development Goals, namely SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. The club integrates itself into the “heartbeat” of the city and ensures that the local economy remains inclusive and resilient. Furthermore, through the outreach work of its community trust — especially in tackling isolation during the COVID19 pandemic — the club contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.
This demonstrates that a football club can function as a foundational structure that strengthens the social fabric and economic resilience necessary for a stable peaceful society.
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