U's very proud to gain recognition in Family Awards
Oxford United have 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 the U’s have been recognised as offering superb entertainment for families at the Kassam Stadium throughout the 2015/16 season, engaging with young fans and families through such initiatives as Olly’s Den and the OX4Life initiative.
In announcing the successful clubs, 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.
“Innovation is at the heart of clubs’ success and our partnership with both Channel 5 & Nickelodeon (Nick Kicks) is part of our central contribution in supporting clubs’ work in this important area by increasing the profile of our games among 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 2015/16 season.
Clubs receiving the Award in 2016:
AFC Wimbledon
Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Brentford
Brighton & Hove Albion
Bristol City
Cardiff City
Carlisle United
Charlton Athletic
Chesterfield
Colchester United
Coventry City
Crewe Alexandra
Derby County
Doncaster Rovers
Exeter City
Fulham FC
Gillingham
Huddersfield Town
Ipswich Town
Leeds United
Luton Town
Middlesbrough
Millwall
MK Dons
Northampton Town
Nottingham Forest
Notts County
Oldham Athletic
Oxford United
Peterborough United
Plymouth Argyle
Preston North End
Queens Park Rangers
Reading
Rotherham United
Scunthorpe United
Sheffield United
Southend United
Stevenage
Wigan Athletic
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers
Family Club of the Year
The Football League has already recognised the clubs delivering the very best family experience in each division this season through the ‘Nickelodeon Family Club of the Year’ award at this season’s Football League Awards. Fulham were announced as overall winners, with Doncaster Rovers picking up the League 1 award and Oxford United being crowned League 2 winners.