Preston North End has been awarded ‘The Football League Family Excellence Award’ for the 2015/16 season.

Created in 2007, the Award recognises the outstanding experience provided by clubs for young fans and families as part of a scheme that won the Gold Award at the European Professional Football Leagues’ Best Practice Awards.

A total of 44 clubs from across all three divisions of The Football League have been given the Award for 2016, with a significant increase in the benchmark standard being applied by the judging panel. More than ever this year, Football League clubs are providing families with engaging family areas and offering innovative matchday entertainment that delivers a money can’t buy experience for young fans.

With an increase in the number of juniors and families now attending matches around the country this is both testament to the clubs’ work to attract them, and an indication of the challenge and importance of retaining them for generations to come.

In achieving the award, Preston North End has been recognised as offering superb entertainment for families at Deepdale stadium throughout the 2015/16 season, engaging with young fans and families through such initiatives as the family room located in the Sir Tom Finney stand and the Club’s Junior Whites membership for young North End fans.

In announcing the successful clubs, Football League Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: “The Football League Family Excellence Award continues to provide Clubs with a standard to aspire to. The objective of the Award is to recognise those Clubs who have successfully attracted more families and young fans to matches.

“Innovation is at the heart of Clubs’ success and our partnership with both Channel 5 & Nickelodeon (Nick Kicks) is part of our central contribution in supporting Clubs’ work in this important area by increasing the profile of our games among the next generation of fans.”

The Award recipients are decided by an independent assessment using real families that has been commissioned by The Football League, at all 72 League clubs, during the 2015/16 season.