Town Awarded Gold for Family Excellence
Wednesday, 20th May 2026 14:03

Town have been awarded Gold in this season’s EFL Family Excellence Scheme, which recognises clubs’ efforts towards creating a welcoming experience for families visiting stadia.

The Blues previously attained Gold in their last appearance in the Championship in 2023/24 and are among 22 clubs to achieve that level this season with 32 awarded Silver. Huddersfield Town were crowned Family Excellence Club of the Season.

Over the course of the the season, clubs are visited twice by family assessors, who evaluate every stage of the matchday experience, from purchasing tickets to leaving the ground assessing numerous factors, among them stadium accessibility and facilities, and how clubs engage and communicate with families.

Town were praised for “an abundance of outstanding experiences for families attending their first games at Portman Road”, achieving an average score of 9.0, with the FanZone singled out for providing “an excellent space for fans to gather in before the match”.

EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch said: “We are incredibly proud to see clubs excelling in the EFL’s Family Excellence Scheme this season.

“Their success reflects their dedication to creating welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable matchday experiences for families across the country.

“The scheme is designed to support clubs as they grow their family offer, enabling them to inspire lifelong connections with supporters and engage the next generation of fans.”

Photo: Matchday Images

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Steelmonkey added 15:43 - May 20

Well with no correspondence received from ITFC yet as regarding the safe standing in the lower North, I’m a little pissed off to say the least as I haven’t been consulted or indeed want it.
Why can’t the club come out and say if all of the lower stand is being converted or just some blocks.
If they are taking away my seat then I’ll expect a reduction on the season ticket price, as I’m at the age of not wanting to be jostled and squashed into a smaller space.
I’ve supported this club for over 58 + years, and if this is what the club is coming too then Mr Ashton can stick it where the sun don’t shine.

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Bazza8564 added 17:07 - May 20 Steel Monkey. What has safe standing in the North got to do wiht this award? And what is going to change? 99% of people stand anyway, they are just adding railing to make it compliant. They aren't taking your seat away, jut putting a safety rail up in front and putting the seat back.....
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Z765765 added 17:15 - May 20 A great achievement by all at the club who work extremely hard to make the family experience such a good one at Portman Road. And these sorts of things don’t happen without sponsorship and support from the CEO and owners.
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armchaircritic59 added 18:02 - May 20

Steelmonkey, if you have a genuine greivance with the club, take it up with them, or just be a bit patient. It can work wonders sometimes. I should know, I was waiting for a refund of some money that was taken out of my bank account by mistake in mid last December, I was told it could take up to 6 weeks, worst case scenario. I just got it 5 days ago! I know patience isn't a common thing in todays world, more's the pitty.

Steelmonkey added 02:57 - May 21

Bazza8564 I don’t think making a safe standing lower tier very welcoming imo.
If they are just putting up rails in front of the seating as you say how is that going to increase the capacity?
Isn’t that their aim or have I got it wrong?
Why can’t the club come out and explain the whole thing properly with drawings of how it will look and work, surely they have mock ups. Instead of thrusting it upon you after you’ve booked your season ticket.
What about us older generation of supporters who have minor disabilities like hip and knee replacements because these do not work like the real joints and are unable to stand for 90+ mins, or able to afford seating in other parts of the ground and if the seats are being retained then if those in front of you stand it’s then impossible to sit and see the game. As it will be for shorter people.
When I first started attending games back in the late 1960’s there were hand rails dotted about on the terraced steps of the north and on more than one occasion I found myself pushed forward by the crowd ending up several steps down the stand, do you remember the incident at Ibrox where people died? As I understand it these rails will be the complete length of the terrace so that shouldnt happen. I just feel the club are running rough shod over the fans because I’m sure that not everyone who sits in the lower is 100% behind it.

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BeachBlue added 07:04 - May 21 I'm genuinely proud to see this news. Our family club approach is a hallmark of ITFC
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Bazza8564 added 08:31 - May 21

SteelMonkey, it's exactly the same as block A and V1 and 2 which have been in there for 2 years. The capacity changes will be archived by the relocation and rebuilding in the disabled areas and the creation of a new disabled front row along the front of the north as per the briefing on the ITFC website, The rails make SS legal, it's been going on since 1992 down there anyway, this is just bringin in a complaint way of allowing it. You will still have your seat