Walsall Football Club has been awarded with Family Excellence Status for the 2022/23 season and joins a record number of 66 EFL Clubs in achieving the accolade.
12 Clubs have also been recognised as ‘Gold Award’ winners for the exceptional family experience they provide for supporters on matchdays.
The Family Excellence scheme sees Clubs receive two visit assessments each season, in order to determine the quality of the family matchday experiences they provide. The scheme recognises the continuous improvement and best practice that emerges across the League and rewards Clubs for their efforts in attracting and retaining young supporters.
The League has worked directly with Clubs since the scheme was introduced in the 2007/8 season and during that time junior season ticket sales have risen by 41% with overall sales up by 28%.
The appetite for live football shows no signs of slowing down with crowds for the 2022/23 season across the EFL increasing by 12% compared to the previous season with attendances at an all-time high this century.
SLO Graham Whittaker said: “The club is very proud to have achieved Family Excellence status for the fourth year running. Thanks to the hard work of our staff and volunteers, we were one of the most improved clubs in the EFL from last season to this season and we are looking to continue making further strides in improving the matchday experience in the coming season.”
EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, said: “Our Clubs deserve an enormous amount of praise for the outstanding work they have done in making sure the matchday experience is a welcoming one for all families, which has helped boost attendances across all our competitions.
“From improved engagement with supporters before and after games, to innovative approaches on the matchday itself, such as creating dedicated fan zones and improving catering options, Clubs are pulling out all the stops to enhance their offering and attract the next generation of young fans.
“I would like to congratulate all those Clubs who have achieved Family Excellence status and thank them for their efforts.”
A full list of EFL Clubs to receive Family Excellence status can be found on EFL.com.
