Argyle Given Gold Family Excellence Award
Argyle have been awarded with a Family Excellence Gold Award for the 2022/23 season.
A record number of EFL clubs - 66 - have achieved Family Excellence status this season, with the scheme recognising continuous improvement and best practice in family engagement across the leagues, and clubs’ efforts to attract and retain young fans of the future. However, only 12 clubs have been rated 'Gold', being recognised for their exemplary work in engaging families on match days.
The Family Excellence scheme sees clubs receive two visit assessments each season, in order to determine the quality of the family match-day experiences they provide. The scheme recognises the continuous improvement and best practice that emerges across the EFL and rewards clubs for their efforts in attracting and retaining young supporters.
From Argyle's two visit reports, we were given a rating of 9 out of 10, ranking number one in Sky Bet League One, and second in the EFL. The average rating was 7.6.
Our report highlighted our powerful connection between club and community, comprehensive pre-match information and clear demonstration of our club values, rating visiting Home Park as 'a fantastic and memorable experience'.
The EFL 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.
Argyle Head of Marketing and Communications Jamie Yabsley said: "We are immensely proud of being awarded Gold status in the Family Excellence scheme. We have had a season of exceptional performance on the football pitch, but it is crucial that we strive for excellence off the field, as well.
"Making sure that visiting Home Park is a safe, inclusive and enjoyable experience for families is a major focus of ours, and is great to see that formally recognised.
"To know that we have been viewed as the leading family match-day experience in League One is very pleasing, and to rank second in the whole EFL gives us all huge pleasure, too.
"Huge thanks should go to our Supporter Relations Manager Dan Pippen, who continues to drive excellence through initiatives such as the Match-Day Volunteers, Pilgrim Pete Kids’ Lunches, and many more such enterprises, and our whole team."
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 match-day 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 match-day 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.”
