Football League 'Enjoy The Match Campaign'

FOOTBALL LEAGUE FANS URGED TO ‘ENJOY THE MATCH’

The Football League has launched a new campaign, for the 2008/09 season, aimed at encouraging even more families to attend matches at their local League club.

The 'Enjoy the Match' campaign aims to ensure parents can take their children to matches in a family friendly environment. It will focus on removing abusive language and aggressive behaviour from family areas.

Each participating club will proactively steward family areas and display prominent signage discouraging ant-social behaviour. Additionally, clubs will play a PA announcement, voiced by local children, to encourage positive support before each match.

In the run-up to the new season each club’s manager and playing staff will be will be underlining their support by signing a pledge board which will be displayed in the family area of the ground. Supporters are being encouraged to show their support for the campaign by signing the online pledge at www.enjoythematch.co.uk.

The Football League is supporting the campaign with a range of club guidance & resources, matchday programme ads, viral video and a promotional campaign.

Enjoy the Match has been introduced following a 'mystery shopper' exercise staged at all 72 League grounds last season. This exercise revealed that swearing formed a key negative impression on families at 46% of the 144 games assessed.

In launching 'Enjoy the Match' Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said:

'Young supporters will be the lifeblood of our clubs in years to come. It is therefore vitally important that we encourage more parents to bring their children into our grounds by creating a vibrant, family friendly atmosphere at all matches.'