Going for Gold

We are extremely proud to have been awarded Family Excellence Gold Award status for 2019/20, reflecting the club’s continued commitment to attracting and engaging families and young fans at Home Park Stadium.

During what became an unprecedented season for EFL football, the scheme recognises that family engagement continued to thrive in 2019/20, despite supporters being unable to attend live fixtures for the final part of the campaign.

Argyle received ‘mystery family’ visits during the 2019/20 Season, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, with the assessors’ feedback and reports determining whether the club would achieve ‘Family Excellence’ status, on top of being named Sky Bet League Two’s Family Club of the Year last month.

The EFL’s Family Excellence Scheme sees each club assessed across a range of touchpoints, in order to reflect and report on the first-time family experience they encounter. The club has strived to continually improve the service and engagement levels available for youngsters and families, and we are proud that this work has been recognised as part of the Family Excellence programme.

The club has invested heavily in the supporter experience in recent years, with a particular focus placed on families. Innovations, including the Family Fan Zone, which offers entertainment, music, activities and games at Home Park before kick-off, and the Family Stand – which provides further entertainment inside the stadium - have proven to be hugely successful with home and away supporters alike.

Based on the assessors’ feedback, Argyle is one of just ten EFL clubs to achieve a Family Excellence Gold Award for the 2019/20 season, in recognition for an exceptional family matchday experience provided across the two club visits.

Argyle Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Parkinson, said: “We are delighted to have received confirmation of our Gold status for another season, on top of winning Family Club of the Year for our division.

“It is just reward for our collective effort to make Home Park an excellent place to visit for families, and we will continue to work hard, in line with our Vision and Values, to make watching Argyle an outstanding experience for all.”

EFL CEO, David Baldwin said, “It is fantastic to see the continued dedication of EFL clubs to provide an exceptional matchday experience for families when attending fixtures across the League.

“I would like to congratulate all those that have achieved Family Excellence status for the 2019/20 season and Luton Town, Peterborough United and Plymouth Argyle for their respective awards, setting a consistently high standard for family engagement.

“We know nothing beats the joy of watching a live fixture and the EFL and its clubs look forward to welcoming the return of fans to stadia, when it is safe to do so. Up until the Covid pandemic outbreak it is clear from the evidence gathered throughout the Family Excellence Scheme, that young fans and families were experiencing a high standard of matchday experience across the League.

"It is testament to clubs’ hard work that the standard of experience offered to families continues to rise, and this will undoubtedly help to ensure a welcoming environment will be provided for all families, once we are able to return to stadia.”