Exeter City is proud to join Clubs across the EFL in celebrating 20 Seasons of the EFL Family Excellence Scheme. This marks two decades of work to create welcoming, inclusive and memorable matchday experiences for families and young supporters.
Launched in 2006/07, the Scheme has played a central role in helping Clubs inspire the next generation of fans, bring families and generations together, strengthen community connections and support the continued growth of junior attendances across the League.
Every Club plays its own part in the story of Family Excellence.
Exeter City is proud of the part we have played by enhancing the family experience at [INSt James Park.
During the 25/26 season, we were awarded gold standard in the EFL Family Excellence awards – for the sixth year running.
The Club was recognised for offering a ‘fantastic family experience, with several standout touchpoints that illustrate the club’s unwavering commitment to the next generation of Grecians.’
Exeter City is one of only 22 to have achieved the gold award out of the 72 clubs in the EFL for the 2025/26 season. We were positioned second in Sky Bet League One and an incredible 4th out of all 72 clubs from across the English football leagues with an average score of 9 out of 10!
And we haven't stopped since then! Over the summer the club has worked on an extensive amount of improvements to the matchday experience. This includes the Grecian Grill - the club's own catering facility that offers local, freshly cooked food at affordable prices, improvements to our kiosk food and drink offering, reduced pricing inside the club bars, improved signage and branding around the stadium. We have also introduced a brand new feature wall outside the Big Bank for photographs.
On matchdays our ambassador team always receive a glowing review for helping new and old fans around the stadium, we also have the very popular Junior Grecians family zone, where all players visit on a matchday!
Fan engagement and satisfaction run through the DNA of our club and is at the centre of our decision-making processes.
To enable the club to continuously improve its supporter experience at SJP we hold Supporter Experience Roundtables throughout the season. These sessions allow us to understand gather feedback, discuss supporters’ experiences and to explore ways we can improve our engagement with supporters and the matchday experience at SJP. The club also offers frequent Fans’ Forums, the Grecian Groups meetings, and has a dedicated Supporter Experience Working Group behind the scenes.
Wilf Walsh, Chair of Exeter City said: “The Family Excellence Scheme has played a key role for the Club in helping families and juniors feel welcome, valued and excited to be part of our matchday experience.
We are really pleased to receive Golf for the sixth straight season for 25/26. Creating a welcoming environment for families is hugely important to us as a supporter-owned club, and this award reflects the work that goes on across the Club to make matchdays at St James Park a positive experience for everyone.
“The recognition is a testament to the hard work of staff and volunteers across the Club, as well as the support of the Exeter City community, in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment at St James Park.”
As the Scheme celebrates its 20th season, we are delighted to recognise the progress made across the EFL and to continue building positive experiences for families at St James Park.
As part of this landmark anniversary season, the EFL will celebrate 20 Seasons of Family Excellence by showcasing further stories from Clubs, supporters, families and staff who have all helped shape the Scheme’s success and continue to make matchdays welcoming for the next generation.