Lincoln City have been named the best club in SkyBet League One for their matchday family experience.
The EFL’s Family Excellence Scheme, which sees EFL clubs assessed through mystery shoppers, rated the Imps as the best in the division and the third across the whole 72 teams.
The English Football League’s Family Excellence Scheme assesses clubs through mystery shoppers. It rated the Imps as the best in their division and third across the whole 72 teams of the EFL.
The topics taken into consideration include ticket purchase, matchday entertainment, accessibility, facilities and communications.
City were celebrated for the quality of their pre-match communication to supporters, their family entertainment and the service of their fan representatives on matchday.
Rob Noble, the club’s head of supporter services, said: “This is the second time we have reached the Gold standard, and it’s really pleasing to see the improvements we’ve put in over the past 12 months recognised by industry experts.
“The University of Lincoln Fan Village was highlighted as one of the best areas of its type in the country, and our matchday social media described as the best the assessor had seen for the way we used accounts such as Poacher and the Foundation to highlight some of the great interaction going on in every matchday.”
The scheme sees each EFL club receive two mystery family visits throughout the season, with their feedback and reports determining whether the club achieves Family Excellence status.
Lincoln City chairman Clive Nates added: “Everyone at the club and Foundation who helped us achieve Gold standard yet again can be very proud of their achievement. We’re one of only 13 clubs to reach this Standard, but t his is the minimum our supporters now expect on home matchdays.
“As always it is the people who make our matchdays, so thank you to everyone at the club – whether employee, volunteer or supporter – who contributes so much to make each home game special.”
The other teams awarded Gold status were Blackburn Rovers, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Exeter City, Huddersfield Town, now Premier League Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough, Plymouth Argyle, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City, Tranmere Rovers, and Walsall.
Feature Image Credit: Chris Vaughan/Lincoln City FC