United achieve Football League Family Excellence Award
Carlisle United Football Club has been awarded ‘The Football League Family Excellence Award’ for the 2014/15 season.
Created in 2007, the Award recognises the outstanding experience provided by clubs for young fans and families as part of a scheme that won the Gold Award at the European Professional Football Leagues’ Best Practice Awards.
A total of 42 clubs from across all three divisions of The Football League have been given the Award for 2015, with a significant increase in the benchmark standard being applied by the judging panel. More than ever this year, Football League clubs are providing families with engaging family areas and offering innovative matchday entertainment that delivers a money can’t buy experience for young fans.
With an increase in the number of juniors and families now attending matches around the country (in the last six seasons junior attendance in The Football League has risen by 31% compared with a 6% increase in overall attendance during the same period), this is both testament to clubs’ work to attract them, and an indication of the challenge and importance of retaining them for generations to come.
In achieving the award Carlisle United has been recognised as offering superb entertainment for families at Brunton Park throughout the 2014/15 season, engaging with young fans and families through such initiatives as our Junior Blue match day mascot scheme and a range of knock-down prices for our junior category fans.
The club is proud to have achieved the Family Excellence Award this season, and deputy managing director Suzanne Kidd was keen to stress the importance of ensuring the club engages with the next generation of supporters.
"We're constantly looking at ways to engage with our fans, as has been shown with the use of the club inflatable, face painting and other fun activities ahead of kick off for our home games during the important run-in," she said. "We're looking to take this further next season, starting with our Family Fun Day in July."
In announcing the successful clubs, Football League Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “The Football League Family Excellence Award gives clubs a standard to aspire to when planning their efforts to attract more families and young fans to their matches.
“It is hugely encouraging to see so many clubs receiving the accolade, demonstrating The Football League’s ongoing commitment to securing the next generation of fans.”
Six clubs secured the award for the eighth year running – Doncaster Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Ipswich Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers. York City has been awarded the accolade for the first time.
The award recipients are decided by an independent assessment using real families that has been commissioned by The Football League, at all 72 League clubs, during the 2014/15 season.
For more about The Football League visit www.football-league.co.uk.
Clubs receiving the Award in 2015:
AFC Bournemouth
AFC Wimbledon
Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Brentford
Brighton & Hove Albion
Bristol City
Burton Albion
Cardiff City
Carlisle United
Cheltenham Town
Colchester United
Crewe Alexandra
Dagenham and Redbridge
Derby County
Doncaster Rovers
Fleetwood Town
Fulham
Huddersfield Town
Ipswich Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
MK Dons
Morecambe
Northampton Town
Notts County
Peterborough United
Plymouth Argyle
Preston North End
Reading
Rochdale
Scunthorpe United
Sheffield Wednesday
Shrewsbury Town
Southend United
Stevenage United
Tranmere Rovers
Watford
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers
York City
