Preston North End 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 Preston North End has been recognised as offering superb entertainment for families at Deepdale throughout the 2014/15 season, engaging with young fans and families through such initiatives as the Junior Whites young supporters club, the family room in the Sir Tom Finney Stand on a matchday and much more.
Preston North End is proud to have achieved the Family Excellence Award this season, and Head of Community at PNE, Andy Haythornthwaite was keen to stress the importance of ensuring the club engages with the next generation of supporters.
“We work hard to engage young supporters with the Club and get them interested in football and Preston North End.
“The number of young fans we have attending our junior supporters Club and coming on a matchday is increasing year on year and it is vital that we have a strong fan base of young supporters to keep generations of fans coming to the games for years to come.
“It’s fantastic to be recognised once again by achieving this award and we will aim to build on what we already do and continue to progress and build relationships with the next generation of supporters.”
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.”
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.
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 Preston North End has been recognised as offering superb entertainment for families at Deepdale throughout the 2014/15 season, engaging with young fans and families through such initiatives as the Junior Whites young supporters club, the family room in the Sir Tom Finney Stand on a matchday and much more.
Preston North End is proud to have achieved the Family Excellence Award this season, and Head of Community at PNE, Andy Haythornthwaite was keen to stress the importance of ensuring the club engages with the next generation of supporters.
“We work hard to engage young supporters with the Club and get them interested in football and Preston North End.
“The number of young fans we have attending our junior supporters Club and coming on a matchday is increasing year on year and it is vital that we have a strong fan base of young supporters to keep generations of fans coming to the games for years to come.
“It’s fantastic to be recognised once again by achieving this award and we will aim to build on what we already do and continue to progress and build relationships with the next generation of supporters.”
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.”
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.