To realise this vision, an enterprise-academic partnership with South East Technological University was formed through a series of research studies to;

1. Assess feasibility for scale via a multistage approach that includes determining effectiveness, reach, adoption, acceptability and feasibility (Studies 1 & 3), 
2. Develop an implementation strategy to deliver the FC initiative at scale (Study 2), and
3. Evaluate implementation and effectiveness of the FC initiative when replicated at scale (Studies 4A & 4B).

Study 1:	Status:  Completed
Ethical Approval	South East Technological University (SETU), formerly, Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), WIT2021REC006.
Study Registration	International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number’ registry ISRCTN17438373.
Aim:  This study proposed to evaluate the community-based FC initiative to assess its feasibility for scale-up. Specifically, the study aimed to ascertain the following:  – The feasibility for scale-up of the FC initiative using an Social Return On Investment framework. – The pre-adoption characteristics of participants with a view of establishing participation reach and health risk profile. – The impact of participation in the FC initiative on the biopsychosocial health of participants up to 12 months (12M).
Objectives:  To support these aims, this study sought to: – Develop a ‘Stakeholder Map’ and select participants for research.  – Consult stakeholders to inform outcome measures and draft a ‘Theory of Change’ (ToC) for each stakeholder group.  – Validate the ToC for each stakeholder group.  – Measure outcomes at defined points for each stakeholder group.  – Value outcomes for each stakeholder group.  – Rank outcomes for each stakeholder group.  – Calculate the SROI of the initiative. – Adjudicate the feasibility of replication across future sites. – Profile the reach of the initiative using demographic data collected from participants at baseline. – Assess the cardiovascular disease risk of participants at baseline. – Define the biopsychosocial health impact of participation in the FC initiative up to 12M.
Outputs: 1. Daly S., Egan T., Carroll P., Ormond G. Harrison M., McGrath A., Finnegan L., Richardson N., Krustrup P.  Capturing the wider benefits from football participation: An SROI of a Community Based Football Intervention.  BMC Public Health, 25, 4177 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-25288-2 2. Daly S., Carroll P., Harrison M., Egan T., Richardson N., McGrath A., Finnegan L., Krustrup P. (2025).  More than a game of football:  A 1-year pilot investigation of the impact of participation in a community-based recreational football initiative for men in Ireland on health and cardiovascular risk.  International Journal of Men’s Social and Community Health. 8(1). https://doi.org/10.3138/ijmsch.2024.0006 3. Daly S., Carroll P., Egan T., Harrison M., McGrath A., Finnegan L., Noel Richardson., Krustrup P. (2024) The pre-adoption characteristics of the men in a community-based social intervention: Who wants a game of ball? Journal of Health Promotion and Education.  doi:101080/14635240.2023.2301700   4. Carroll P., Daly S., Egan T., Harrison M., Richardson N., Finnegan L., McGrath A, Krustrup P.  (2023) Football Cooperative, a Community Based Physical Activity Social Intervention for Men: Protocol Paper for a Pragmatic Feasibility Trial.  Journal of Physical Activity Research.  8(1), p16-26. doi: 10.12691/jpar-8-1-4.   5. Carroll P., Egan T., Daly S. (2024).  Football Cooperative:  A Social Return on Investment (SROI), Evaluation Analysis.  Received the ‘Assurance Award’ from SROI UK.  Available www.socialvalueuk.org/reports/

Study 2:	Status:  Ongoing
Ethical Approval	School of Health Sciences Ethics Committees at the South East Technological University (SETU).
Study Registration	International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number’ registry ISRCTN66120372.
Aim: The proposed study aims to conduct translational formative evaluation with a view to developing an implementation strategy for scale up of FC nationally and internationally.
Objectives:  Specifically, the objectives of the study are:  – Synthesise evidence from Study 1 regarding the environmental factors of FC. – Engage in qualitative research to inform the development of a model for replication at scale.  Specially data will be collected from sources that include stakeholders a) from FC, b) with experience of effective scale up of health interventions e.g. GAA Healthy Communities Project and National Men’s Sheds Association, Football Fans in Training, c) who demonstrate best practice in recreational football to scale e.g. Football Fitness in Denmark, The Football Collective in England, Portugal and Faroe Islands and Voetball Lab in the Netherlands. – Draft an implementation strategy for replication and asses it via a modified Delphi study to be reviewed by a panel of stakeholders and experts. – Draft the final implementation strategy.
1. Carroll P., McDermott C., McGrath A., Egan T., Finnegan L., Harrison M., Richardson N., Krustrup P. (2025).  Football Cooperative, a Community Based Physical Activity Social Intervention for Men: Protocol Paper for the development of an implementation strategy for scale up using an ecological implementation design.  Journal of Physical Activity Research. 10(1):18-30. doi: 10.12691/jpar-10-1-3.

Study 3:	Status:  Completed
Ethical Approval	South East Technological University (SETU), SETU2023REC0024
Aims:To examine the PA and CV demands of FC games on participants.
Objectives: – To quantify the PA demands of pick-up football with men. To investigate the CV demands of pick-up football in men.  – To assess whether the PA and CV demands of pick-up football are sufficient to reduce health risk among men.
Outputs: 1. Everard E., Carroll P., Doherty S., Harrison M., Krustrup P. Normative data for gameplay and cardiovascular demands of recreational football among the male general population – the Football Collective initiative. Journal of Strength Conditioning Research(In Press).

Study 4A:	Status:  Ongoing
Ethical Approval	South East Technological University (SETU) Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee Ref: N/A
Study Registration	International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry ISRCTN14888262
Aim:  This study aims to monitor and evaluate the replication process of the FC initiative, emphasizing participatory research approaches to ensure maintenance of effectiveness and fidelity to the evidence-based and ethos of the initiative.
Objectives:  In line with a guide to replicating health interventions, the objectives of this research will be to: – Develop (refine) a replication plan: Outline a vision for replication and case for action in line with the findings from Study 2, – Prepare for replication: secure resources and build a foundation of legitimacy for the replication plan, and – Replicate the intervention: implement the replication plan, making necessary adjustments based on performance data
Outputs: Papageorgiou P., McGrath A., Carroll P., Finnegan L., Egan T., Richardson N., Harrison M., King E., Sheppard R., Krustrup P. Scaling the Football Cooperative: An Implementation Science Protocol for Replicating a Community-Based Men’s Health Initiative. Journal of Physical Activity Research (Under Review).

Study 4B:	Status:  Ongoing
Ethical Approval	South East Technological University (SETU) Research Ethics Committee Ref: SETU/REC/25/26/013
Study Registration	International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry ISRCTN14888262.
Aim:  The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of the FC initiative when replicated.
Objectives:  Specifically, the objectives of the study are as follows: – Conduct a SROI evaluation to assess the social return for all stakeholders involved in the FC initiative. – Assess the biopsychosocial health impact of participation in the FC initiative on playing members. – Assess the health economic impact of participation in the FC initiative on playing members.
Outputs: Ibrahim C., Carroll P., Egan T., Harrison M., McGrath A., Finnegan L., Richardson N., Krustrup P., Daly S. Football Cooperative: A Pragmatic Controlled Trial of a Community-Based Physical Activity Social Intervention for Men when Replicated Using a Social Return on Investment (SROI) Framework Protocol Paper. BMC Journal (In Press)