By Jake Gable
October 29 – The European Professional Football Leagues’ (EPFL) Best Practice Awards have recognised The Football League in England as its Golden Award winner at their ceremony in Paris.
The prestigious prize comes on the back of the league’s “Family Excellence Award” – a scheme first launched in the 2005/06 season where mystery representatives analyse the matchday experience at clubs nationwide to determine whether or not they are deserved of the Family Excellence Award.
The Award seeks to improve the stadium experience for families through benchmarking, sharing of best practice and training.
Collecting the award on behalf of The Football League, Chief Executive Shaun Harvey, said: “This is a fantastic achievement by Football League clubs given that we were in competition with top flight leagues from the whole of Europe. It is fitting reward for the commitment our clubs have made to getting the next generation of football supporters into their grounds.”
In the 2012/13 seasons, 47 clubs were presented with the Award with eight of those clubs securing it for the sixth consecutive season. Four clubs earned the award for the first time during 2012/13 in what has been praised as a positive scheme in a generation where soaring ticket prices are affecting stadium attendances throughout the UK.
Andrea Brown, The Football League’s Customer Services Manager, added: “Every season the Family Excellence Award helps clubs raise the bar in terms of the matchday experience for families. Better matchday entertainment and efforts to rid family areas of foul language and abusive behaviour are just some of the areas where significant progress has been made. This has led to more and more families viewing football as a good environment in which to spend time together.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735580273labto1735580273ofdlr1735580273owedi1735580273sni@e1735580273lbag.1735580273ekaj1735580273. Jake Gable is a reporter for laliganews.tv