THE Football League has announced the introduction of a 'smoke free' policy, to take effect from the beginning of the 2007/08 season.

This new policy anticipates and exceeds expected government legislation in this area. Consequently, smoking will not be permitted throughout stadium confines from July 2007 onwards.

This move follows an initiative taken by Championship clubs, thereafter The League held lengthy consultations with all clubs. The new policy also takes into account views expressed by more than 43,000 fans in The Football League Supporters' Survey 2006.

Almost 80% of fans participating in the survey advocated the introduction of some form of 'smoke free' policy at matches, with half of all fans wanting an outright ban.

In announcing The League's new 'smoke free' policy Chairman Lord Mawhinney said:

"In re-branding The Football League we made a serious, long-term commitment to encouraging a new generation of supporters to our matches. This is the latest stage in that process.

"We aim to get more families and more young fans going along to watch their local Football League club. This new policy will ensure that doing so does not have a negative effect on their health."

The views of supporters nationwide were a key element in The Football League's decision to introduce a 'Smoke Free' policy, which is set to take effect at all League grounds from July 1.

Almost 80 per cent of the fans who participated in The Football League Supporters' Survey 2006 advocated the introduction of some form of smoke free policy at matches, with half of all fans wanting an outright ban.

Leicester City's Chief Executive Tim Davies, who chaired the League's working party which paved the way for the new policy, says: "Fans around the country were clearly in favour of going smoke free and that certainly mirrored the feelings at my own club.

"Traditionally there have been a lot of smokers at Leicester City, but during the season before last we had a half-time vote during at our home match against Leeds United and 80 per cent of the supporters were in favour of going smoke free.

"We then implemented the policy and I'm pleased to say we've not had one problem. We provide areas outside the stadium for people who still want to smoke, but that doesn't impact on fans inside the ground and everyone seems happy with the way it's worked."

The League's decision has delighted Caroline Flint, the Minister of State for Public Health.

In endorsing the policy the minister said: "It's great to see The Football League taking such a forward looking approach, which goes above and beyond the requirements of the smoke free legislation that is being introduced.

"Second hand smoke kills, so I applaud this move which can only have a positive affect on the health both of staff working at Football League stadiums and of football supporters watching the matches."

The introduction of the new policy followed a unanimous decision by Coca-Cola Championship clubs to move to a smoke free match-day environment. The League then held lengthy consultations with all clubs before finalising the detail of the policy.

Tim Davies explains: "When the working party was set up a couple of years ago we met several times to discuss the logistics of such a move and to look at best practice in football and other areas where a smoke free environment had been implemented.

"Smoking had become a real issue at Championship meetings and, as a major sport, we obviously wanted to promote a healthy lifestyle. So we decided to take an advance stance on the issue, and I'm pleased the policy will now cover the entire Football League."

The League's Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, adds: "In re-branding The Football League we made a serious, long-term commitment to encouraging a new generation of supporters to our matches. This is the latest stage in that process.

"We aim to get more families and more young fans going along to watch their local Football League club, and this new policy will ensure that doing so does not have a negative affect on their health."