Family-friendly Blades win Football League Award

11th May 2016

Sheffield United 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 (which features 72 clubs) 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. In achieving the award, Sheffield United has been recognised as offering superb entertainment for families at Bramall Lane throughout the 2015/16 season, engaging with young fans and families through such initiatives as providing tickets via the Club's United Cashback scheme to encourage more youngsters to attend games, a Fans Guide on the Club's website, entertainment on the Family Stand concourse on match days and the overall look of the concourse. Sheffield United Operations Director Dave McCarthy said: "A great deal of work has been put into how Sheffield United not only attracts youngsters to Bramall Lane, but also the journey of new supporters to the stadium, how they purchase tickets, are provided with information and how we interact with the children and their parents when they enter the stadium. "The facilities have been improved and we intend do work with supporters over the summer to further improve what we offer - we certainly won't be resting on our laurels as there is still work to be done." Football League Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: "The Football League Family Excellence Award continues to provide Clubs with a standard to aspire to. The objective of the Award is to recognise those Clubs who have successfully attracted more families and young fans to matches. 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 2015/16 season.