Stoke City’s CEO, Tony Scholes

“When we got promoted we were the bookies favourites to go straight back down. If you’d offered us 10 years in the Premier League then I think all of us – myself, Peter Coates, John Coates – we’d have bitten your hand off!”

Tony Scholes, Stoke City CEO

Since 2007, Stoke City has become a mainstay in the Premier League, first under Tony Pulis and most recently with Mark Hughes at the helm. There seems a relative air of stability at the Staffordshire club which has brought considerable economic and social benefits to the region.

In partnership with financial services group EY, business leaders and local dignitaries from Stoke and the wider Staffordshire gathered at the bet365 Stadium for the launch of the first Economic and Social Impact Assessment in September.

The report, the first of its kind for the club, found the economic contribution to the local area during the 2015/16 season totalled £132m and supported 2,200 jobs.

“We’ve always known we’ve had a big impact in the area both socially and economically and I’m delighted for the first time we’ve been able to deliver a number on that,” said Tony Scholes who was clearly delighted with the findings of the report.

And he’s good reason to be cheerful. Since the club achieved promotion in 2007, revenues have steadily grown from £11m during their final year in the Championship to £119m in 2015/16, which saw them finish 9th in the league.