Northampton Town have once again achieved the EFL Family Excellence Award!
The Family Excellence scheme sees clubs receive two mystery shopper visit assessments each season, in order to determine the quality of the family matchday 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.
The Cobblers were rated 8.3/10 across a number of areas where clubs were rated, and this ranked the club second in Sky Bet League Two for the family matchday experience offered, and 15th in the entire EFL. In 2021/22 the club were rated 8th in League Two and 32nd overall.
The mystery shopper who attended Sixfields wrote:
"When a family visits the home of the Cobblers for the first time, this season's assessment highlights just how much help they receive. From the comprehensive guidance to the helpful and knowledgeable support from the ticket office team member, the experience gets off to a great start and, on the day, the family area, with face painting, player signings and inflatable goals, gives kids a great experience.
"The energetic mascot, the pizza giveaway and 'shoot the boot' entertainment ensure that kids are kept engaged while inside the stadium too and, it's clear that the Sixfields experience continues to be a very good one."
Chairman Kelvin Thomas spoke of his pride at the award, and the club being ranked so highly.
"As we have said many times, we are very proud of the matchday experience we offer all supporters, particularly for families and young supporters," he said.
"Attendances have risen 10% in a year and are 25% up on a decade ago. That is not just down to results, that shows the work everyone is putting in to make the matchday experience as good as it can be and I think anyone attending Sixfields will have seen, heard and felt the connection between the club and the supporters, and part of that is down to the matchday experience.
"We offer a wide range of matchday experiences for young supporters, including walking out with the players, taking penalties on the pitch, birthday parties, waving flags and so much more that all helps make matchdays extra special for young supporters, win, lose or draw.
"I must say a huge, huge thank you to the staff and our hugely valued volunteers who help make the Sixfields matchday experience what it is. This award is a wonderful tribute to that work.
"Thank you too to IN'n'OUT AutoCentres who sponsor our family area and the half time penalty competition as well as Croyland Car Megastore who support Shoot the Boot and Bella Italia for their backing of Clarence's pizza. A big thank you too to all those families and children who come to Sixfields to support the Cobblers. We are delighted to have been handed this award yet again and to be within the top fifteen ranked family matchday experiences within the EFL."
This is the ninth successive season in which the club have achieved the EFL Family Excellence Award.