For Shaun Ferrie, Ayr United's recognition as Scotland's best community club is vindication for 15 long years.
When he entered the Football Academy at Somerset Park in October 2007, the project itself was in its infancy.
Back then, creating a pathway from youth football to the United first team was a challenge in itself.
But for Ferrie and those around him tasked with building the Academy brand, the vision was about far more than unearthing the next Stevie Nicol or Dixie Ingram.
Former club chairman, Lachlan Cameron, was clear that he wanted the establishment of an Academy on his watch to be about long term legacy.
It's culminated almost 20 years on with United's setup being crowned best in its field at the recent SFA Grassroots Awards.
Ferrie, now the project's Community Programme Manager, told the Ayrshire Post: "For Lachlan and the guys who got their heads together at the time, it was clear that an Academy had to do more than just create a pathway into first team football.
"That's obviously a driving factor at any football club, but the ability to engage at all levels of the community is even more important to the bigger picture.
"The guys at the time understood that, and it's allowed us to reach the point where we are now."
The United Football Academy now employs 29 paid staff, with an army of more than 100 volunteers helping to make the operation tick.
Everything from mental health sessions to para football and 'weigh to go' programmes complement the Academy's vast wealth of football offerings within the community.
Ferrie, 38, explained: "The football sessions underpin everything that we do but as an offshoot of that, we have been able to develop so much more down the years.
"As a consequence, the age range we have is incredible. Whether it's the young kids coming to our Mini Kickers classes or the folks attending our Football Memories sessions.
"There literally is something for everyone now and the imprint we've been able to get within the community is starting to have a real effect.
"We have built strong links across a range of sectors and that can only develop as we move forward."
The first significant recognition of that was a UEFA report two years ago which flagged the Academy's value to the local community at 10 million euros.
Ferrie said: "It was an unbelievable report for us but I'm not sure that people fully knew what to make of it because the figure was so huge.
"Trying to put a financial value on anything can be hard but we've always known the real importance of the work we're doing here.
"So to be nominated for - and win - an award of this magnitude from the SFA speaks real volumes.
"It's been won by big clubs like Aberdeen, Hearts and Dundee United who obviously have significant community resources, so to be recognised on that level proves we are doing the right things.
"It shows that the future is bright and it's a real pat on the back for everyone who has worked to get the organisation to this point."
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
