Our 2026 IMG Grading
SCORE 5.71 / 20 • GRADE C
We have received our first IMG grading, with a score of 5.71 out of 20 and a Grade C, finishing 23rd in IMG’s Club Grading Table.
Grading is voluntary for clubs outside Super League, and we chose to take part in our first season. We wanted to understand where we stand against other clubs, where we can improve and what we need to do to increase our score. It also makes sense for us to be part of the grading process from the start.
Taking part this year also gives us something to measure future growth against. The grading rewards year-on-year growth, which can only be measured against a previous year’s submission.
We all want to see Salford in Super League. We know that will take time, but we now have a clear starting point to build from.
UNDERSTANDING OUR SCORE
Our score cannot be directly compared with those from previous years (Salford Red Devils). As a new Club, we do not have the historic data needed to score points in some areas, including previous playing performance, financial accounts and year-on-year digital growth.
The biggest impact is Finance, which accounts for 5 of the 20 points available. It is scored using accounts from previous years. Salford RLFC does not have any previous years’ accounts, so we score 0 out of 5. From next year, Finance can be scored for the first time.
There are positives too. We achieved full marks for our stadium facilities and received no Minimum Standards deductions.
We can also see where more points can come from: growing our attendances and digital audience, broadcasting games and improving our league position.
2026 IMG SCORING
|
Category |
Score |
Available |
|
Fandom |
2.325 |
5.0 |
|
Performance |
1.1765 |
6.0 |
|
Finance |
0.0 |
5.0 |
|
Stadium |
1.7052 |
3.0 |
|
Community |
0.5 |
1.0 |
|
Minimum Standards deductions |
0 |
n/a |
|
Overall |
5.7067 |
20.0 |
FANDOM 2.325 / 5
- Attendance
Our average attendance during the season was 2,336, giving us 1.5 out of the 2.5 points available for attendance.
Increasing our average attendance to 3,000 or more would move us into the next scoring threshold.
- Digital
Digital scoring covers social media followers, engagement and website visits. As a new Club, our digital channels have been built from scratch this year. This has restricted the numbers we have been able to achieve and means we cannot benefit from bonus points for 10% year-on-year growth because there is no previous year’s data to measure it against.
We now have that first year’s data, so future growth can be measured.
- Viewership
Viewership is scored on the number of home league games broadcast live using a minimum of three cameras, with commentary and an on-screen score and clock.
Our matches have been recorded using a single-camera setup, meaning we received 0.5 points in this area.
Five or more broadcasts of that standard would move us into the next scoring threshold.
PERFORMANCE 1.1765 / 6
Performance is calculated using results over a two-season period. As a new Club, we cannot carry across the previous club’s historic playing performance.
Our assessment is therefore based on our first season. This resulted in 1.1765 points. Bonus points are awarded for winning the Championship or the Challenge Cup outright, and we did not earn any this season.
Improved results and league position can increase our score in future years.
FINANCE 0 / 5
We have operated sustainably, within our means and without debt during our first year.
Our lack of historic accounts means we receive no points in this category though.
STADIUM 1.7052 / 3
We achieved the full 1.5 points available for stadium facilities.
Utilisation measures our average attendance against the capacity of the stadium, so increasing attendances can also improve this part of our score.
We do not currently score for primacy of tenure, which considers our ability to secure preferred fixture dates at the stadium, or for LED advertising boards or a big screen.
This gives us an overall Stadium score of 1.7052 out of 3.
COMMUNITY 0.5 / 1
The Community criteria have changed for this year’s grading, with the previous Catchment measure removed.
We have a strong Foundation supporting our Club and the wider community, helping us achieve 0.5 out of the 1 point available in this category.
MINIMUM STANDARDS
No deductions
We received no deductions under the Minimum Standards criteria.
These standards cover areas such as community rugby league, governance, equality, diversity and inclusion, and environmental sustainability. We have women’s, wheelchair, physical disability and learning disability rugby league in place, and all of our required plans have been submitted to the RFL.
LOOKING AHEAD
This is our first score, and we intend to keep improving it.
Thank you to every supporter who has stood with our Club through its first season. We are rising together.
The Directors
Salford RLFC
