Oldham Athletic has been awarded ‘The Football League Family Excellence Award’ for the 2015/16 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 44 clubs from across all three divisions of The Football League have been given the Award for 2016, 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 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 Oldham Athletic has been recognised as offering superb entertainment for families at SportsDirect.com Park throughout the 2015/16 season, engaging with young fans and families through such initiatives as spooky blues day, santa’s grotto and our junior takeover.
Oldham Athletic is proud to have achieved the Family Excellence Award this season, and chief executive Neil Joy was keen to stress the importance of ensuring the club engages with the next generation of supporters.
He said: ““This is not an award easily achieved or given out lightly and it is great testimony to all the hard work done behind the scenes at the club that we have regained our Football League Family Excellence accreditation.
“It is difficult to single out individuals for mention when it is a team effort but special praise must be to given Wendy Noble (Oldham Athletic Community Trust Operations Manager) and Jenny Warburton (Commercial Manager/SLO) who were tasked specifically with improving our match day offer to families.
“The challenge now is to maintain the standards set and work harder to continue improving our image as a Family Club at the heart of the community.”