Exeter City receive Family Excellence Award from the Football League

Exeter City are delighted to announce that the club has been awarded the Family Excellence Award by the Football League. The announcement was made at St Andrew’s, the home of Birmingham City, on Wednesday 8 May.

Each of the 72 Football League clubs receives two visits a year from a mystery family who judge the club on more than 70 supporter touch-points on a matchday. The clubs have to achieve a minimum score of 75 per cent on each visit and that there must be an improvement in the second report to prove on-going commitment.

Last year, Exeter City lost their status as a holder of the coveted Family Excellence Award. This was against a backdrop of a record 52 clubs receiving the accolade. Because the Supporters’ Trust is the club’s majority shareholder and because of City’s massively successful commitment in the wider community agenda through the Football in the Community Trust, this was an embarrassing blow.

Chairman Edward Chorlton and the Football Club Board saw regaining the award as one of the priorities for the 2012/13 season. Efforts were put into every area of matchday experience to ensure that the club would be recognised by the League as a club committed to making the experience a positive one for every supporter that comes through the turnstiles.

Richard Knight, the club’s volunteer Head of Customer Relations, said: “Exeter City received the green light and exceptionally strong endorsements from all six judges – two from Championship clubs, two from League 1, Supporters Direct and an independent expert.

“Lessons have also been learnt. Matchdays at Exeter City are extremely busy – and the mystery family missed so much that we can be reasonably optimistic of further progress next year.”

Exeter City Chairman Edward Chorlton commented: “I am delighted that Exeter City have once again received this important endorsement as a family-friendly football club. In particular I want to thank Richard Knight for leading the turnaround together with all those involved in looking after those attending games including the stewards and security staff, the gate and catering staff and the many volunteers involved on matchday.”

For next season Exeter City are looking for additional supporters to volunteer as Ambassadors to help raise standards even higher. Supporters who are prepared to help for the hour before matches meeting, greeting supporters and answering questions, either on a regular or ad-hoc basis, are asked to contact richard.knight@exetercityfc.co.uk.

To help next season’s efforts and reward the teams who have made a difference this year, sponsors of steward jackets, information kiosks and blazers for the Ambassadors/Receptionists would be warmly welcomed.